How to write a will in the UAE as an expat: a step-by-step guide

By MyHaven Team·Published 19 September 2026·8 minute read

Writing a will in the UAE is one of those tasks that sits permanently on the to do list, not because it is complicated, but because it is unclear where to even start. Which court? What documents? Does it need a lawyer? Here is the process broken into five clear steps, plus what it actually costs and how long it takes.

Step 1: Check that you are eligible

UAE will registration for the routes below, ADJD, DIFC and Dubai Courts, is built for non-Muslim individuals. This follows Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status, which allows non-Muslims in the UAE to choose how their estate is distributed rather than following the default statutory framework. Inheritance for Muslim UAE or GCC nationals follows a separate legal path.

Two other eligibility points catch people out:

• You do not need to live in the UAE. What matters is that you hold UAE assets: a property, a bank account, an investment. Expats who have since relocated but kept a UAE apartment or account are exactly who this is built for.
• You need to be 21 or older to register a will yourself. That is separate from the age that matters inside the will: children under 18 need a named guardian, and any inheritance left to a minor is held on trust until they turn 18.

Step 2: Choose which registry fits your situation

There are three main routes for registering a UAE will, ADJD, DIFC and Dubai Courts, and they differ in eligibility, language, witness requirements and cost. In short: ADJD tends to be the most accessible and affordable option for straightforward UAE assets, DIFC suits more complex or internationally structured estates at a higher cost, and Dubai Courts sits in between. Read the full comparison in DIFC vs ADJD vs Dubai Courts.

Step 3: Gather what you will need

Before you start drafting, it helps to have on hand:

• A clear picture of your assets: property, bank accounts, investments, business interests.
• Full names, dates of birth, nationalities and addresses of everyone you are naming (beneficiaries, guardians, executors), exactly as they appear on their passports.
• Your own passport photo page, and Emirates ID (front and back) if you are a resident.
• A decision on guardianship if you have children under 18, more on which below.

Step 4: Decide on the details that actually matter

This is the part a generic template cannot do for you. A will is not just who gets what. It is a set of decisions worth thinking through properly.

Asset distribution

Who gets what share of your UAE property, savings and investments. This is where a registered will overrides the default 50/50 spouse and children split that otherwise applies under UAE intestate succession law.

Guardianship

A UAE will names two guardian roles for children under 18: an interim guardian who can act immediately, ideally someone already based in the UAE, and a permanent guardian for the long term. It is worth naming an alternate for each, and, importantly, asking each person before naming them. A guardian who finds out from a legal document is a guardian who might say no when it matters most.

Inheritance for minors

Any money or assets left to a child are held on trust rather than handed over directly, and released when the child turns 18. You can name a trustee to manage this, and it does not have to be the same person as the guardian.

Assets outside the UAE

A UAE will covers your UAE assets. Property or accounts held in another country generally follow that country’s own law and usually need a separate will made there, written so the two do not contradict each other.

Step 5: Draft, review, translate, register

Once the details are settled, the practical process itself is fairly quick.

1. Draft. Answer a structured set of questions about your assets, beneficiaries and guardianship. This typically takes around 20 minutes with a platform like MyHaven, and produces an immediate English draft.
2. Review and approve. Read through the draft, make any changes, and approve it.
3. Expert review and Arabic translation. Your will is checked by the legal team and translated to Arabic by a certified legal translator, since that is the version the court reads. With MyHaven, the finished will in English and stamped Arabic is typically ready within seven working days of approval.
4. Register with the court. For ADJD, this is completed by video call rather than an in-person visit, with no witnesses required. Standard appointment timing depends on court availability; a fast-track option can bring registration down to around two weeks.

No office visits are required at any stage of this process.

What it costs

Two separate figures, paid to two different places:

• Service fee. What you pay a platform or lawyer to prepare, review and translate the will. With MyHaven this is 699 AED for a single will or 999 AED for mirror wills (one each for you and a partner), including guided questions, legal team review, Arabic translation and support through to registration.
• Government registration fee. Paid directly to the court, separate from the service fee. For ADJD this is 950 AED for a single will or 1,900 AED for mirror wills.

There is no hidden layer beyond these two figures. If you want registration expedited, an optional fast-track notarisation fee may apply on top of the standard court fee.

Common mistakes expats make

• Assuming a home country will automatically covers UAE assets. It usually does not. A foreign will typically needs legalisation and translation before a UAE court will act on it, which adds time exactly when speed matters.
• Not naming an alternate guardian. If your first choice is unavailable or unable to serve, an alternate keeps the decision with you rather than the court.
• Forgetting that joint accounts freeze too. A joint bank account does not guarantee your spouse uninterrupted access. It freezes along with everything else until a court authorises release.
• Treating a will as a one time task. Marriage, divorce, a new child, or a property bought or sold are all reasons to update a will. It is not meant to be permanent.

Writing a UAE will does not require a law firm retainer or a string of office visits. MyHaven takes you from your first question to a registered ADJD will entirely online: a guided questionnaire, a draft built around your actual family and assets, legal team review, Arabic translation, and support through your court appointment, from 699 AED. See how it works, or start the assessment to find out what you need.

MyHaven is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It explains how the process works so you can make your own decisions. What that means