Wills & Testament — frequently asked questions

Bank accounts — including joint ones — are frozen until a court order is issued, and distribution follows UAE statutory rules rather than your wishes. Settling an estate without a will commonly takes 6–18 months. A registered will avoids most of this.

Not by default anymore. Since the 2023 civil personal status law, a non-Muslim estate without a will passes 50% to the surviving spouse and the rest equally between children. A registered will is still strongly recommended — it lets you decide the distribution yourself and appoint guardians.

AED 10,000 to register a single full will, or AED 15,000 for mirror wills covering both spouses, plus drafting fees if a lawyer prepares it. Later amendments cost AED 550.

Yes — a notarised Dubai Courts will costs about AED 2,167 (AED 4,334 for mirror wills) plus Arabic translation, and Abu Dhabi's ADJD registration is lower still at around AED 950. We help you choose based on where your assets are and your budget.

DIFC wills are in English and, since Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025, their probate orders are directly enforceable with Dubai banks, DLD and the RTA. Dubai Courts wills are far cheaper and work well for simpler estates but operate in Arabic. It usually comes down to estate complexity versus cost.

Yes — and it's one of the strongest reasons to register one. Without an appointed guardian, the court decides who cares for your minor children.

All UAE-sited assets — property, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, company shares and personal belongings. A will can also be drafted to cover worldwide assets, though enforcement abroad depends on each country's rules.

A drafted will, your passport (plus Emirates ID for residents) and two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries. Registration is usually completed in a single appointment, with the certificate issued the same day.

Yes — wills can be amended or rewritten at any time; at DIFC an amendment costs AED 550. Marriage, children or new property are the usual triggers to update.

Yes, but Sharia governs the estate: fixed shares apply to two-thirds, and you may freely will up to one-third to non-heirs such as charities or friends. We can guide you through registering a Sharia-compliant will.