Assets
DIFC Courts Wills Service
DIFC Courts Wills and Probate Registry Rules
In short
The DIFC Courts Wills Service lets non-Muslim individuals register a will governing their UAE assets, so that those assets pass under the will rather than under default succession principles. Registration is available regardless of residency, and the service covers property, shares, bank accounts, guardianship of minor children and full estate wills.
- Instrument
- DIFC Courts Wills and Probate Registry Rules
- In force
- 2015, extended UAE-wide in 2019
- Regulator
- DIFC Courts Wills Service
- Applies to
- Non-Muslim individuals aged 21 or over with assets in the UAE. Residency is not required for most will types.
What it requires
| Obligation | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Register rather than simply sign | The will takes effect through registration with the Wills Service, which is what gives the DIFC Courts probate jurisdiction. |
| Keep it current | Update on marriage, divorce, new children or significant changes in assets. |
| Match the will type to the assets | Property, business owner, financial assets, guardianship and full wills each cover different ground. |
Why registration matters
A will drafted abroad may be respected, but enforcing it over UAE assets can mean translation, legalisation and a local court process, during which bank accounts can be frozen and property transfers stall. A registered DIFC will gives the DIFC Courts jurisdiction over probate for the covered assets, with a process designed for that purpose.
For families with minor children the guardianship will is the part that matters most. It allows interim and permanent guardians to be appointed, which addresses the gap that opens immediately if both parents die while resident in the UAE.
How it sits alongside a Foundation
A will disposes of assets owned personally at death. A Foundation holds assets that are no longer owned personally at all. Families with meaningful wealth usually use both: the Foundation for the business and investment structure, the will for personal assets, guardianship and anything that stays outside.
Where a Foundation already holds the main assets, the will becomes shorter and simpler, but it should still exist. Personal bank accounts, a car, a home held in personal name and household contents all need a route.
Common questions
Who can register a DIFC will?
Non-Muslim individuals aged 21 or over with assets in the UAE. For most will types residency in the UAE is not required, although the assets covered must be UAE assets.
Does a DIFC will cover assets outside the UAE?
It is designed for UAE assets. Assets elsewhere should be dealt with by a will in the relevant jurisdiction, drafted so the two documents do not revoke one another.
Can Muslims register a DIFC will?
The Wills Service is available to non-Muslims. Muslim estates in the UAE are dealt with under the applicable personal status framework, and specialist advice is needed for estate planning in that context.
Check the source
This page summarises the position as at September 2026. Laws and regulations change. The authoritative text is published by the regulator: DIFC Courts Wills Service. Nothing here is legal advice.Compliance is a calendar, not a project
Six recurring obligations across four different bodies, and nobody sends a reminder. We track them for DIFC entities so renewal is never the moment you discover a gap.