Guide
DIFC Wills: Complete Guide to Costs, Process, and Alternatives (2026)
Written by Anton PirinenFounder & CEO of BlanketA DIFC will is registered through the DIFC Courts Wills Service. The service offers a common-law registration framework, several will types, and virtual or in-person registration. Its published fees depend on the will type; professional drafting is optional and separate.
Key Takeaways
- A DIFC Full Will costs AED 10,000 for one testator or AED 15,000 for mirror wills
- Property Wills cost AED 7,500 / AED 10,000; Financial Assets, Guardianship, Digital Assets, and Business Owners Wills cost AED 5,000 / AED 7,500
- A lawyer is not mandatory: a testator may self-draft, use an available template, or appoint a registered Wills Draftsman
- UAE residence is not required; the current DIFC FAQ says the testator must not be Muslim and must never have been a Muslim, as well as meeting the age and asset or guardianship criteria
- Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 gives the DIFC Enforcement Judge jurisdiction over DIFC-registered non-Muslim wills; Dubai Courts assistance is used where Article 32 applies
- DIFC does not publish a universal completion time; preparation and appointment availability vary
What Is a DIFC Will?
A DIFC will is a will registered with the DIFC Courts Wills Service under the DIFC wills framework. Registration creates an electronic original held through the service and records the testator's instructions for later court administration.
The official DIFC Wills FAQ says the Wills Service administers registration and maintains the registry. It does not draft wills, select beneficiaries, or provide legal advice.
Registration does not make every later estate step automatic. Probate and enforcement depend on the will, the assets, their location, the competent court, and applicable law.
DIFC Will Eligibility
According to the current DIFC Wills FAQ, a person may register if they:
- are not Muslim and have never been a Muslim;
- are at least 21 years old; and
- have assets in the UAE and/or minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah.
A UAE residence visa is not required. Eligibility for a particular will type still depends on the assets or guardianship arrangements that type is designed to cover.
DIFC Will Types and Limits
The official guidance describes six will types:
Full Will
A Full Will can address movable and immovable assets in the UAE and can include assets outside the UAE, subject to the law where those foreign assets are located. It may also include guardianship provisions for minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah.
Property Will
A Property Will covers up to five real-estate properties, or shares in properties, situated in the UAE.
Financial Assets Will
A Financial Assets Will covers up to ten UAE bank or brokerage accounts. Confirm with DIFC whether a particular product or holding fits the service definition before drafting.
Guardianship Will
A Guardianship Will records nominations concerning minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. The competent court retains authority and considers the child's best interests; registration should not be described as guaranteeing a particular appointment.
Digital Assets Will
The DIFC Digital Assets Will uses a non-custodial wallet built on Hedera. Its specialised workflow differs from merely listing a cryptocurrency wallet or online account in a general will.
Business Owners Will
A Business Owners Will covers up to five shareholdings in UAE companies. Company constitutional documents, shareholder arrangements, free-zone rules, and other applicable requirements may still affect a transfer.
DIFC Will Registration Process
1. Select the will type
Match the official asset and guardianship limits to your circumstances. More than one limited-purpose will may be relevant, but overlapping documents should be coordinated carefully.
2. Prepare the will
The DIFC Wills FAQ says a testator may prepare their own will, use an available DIFC template, or engage a registered Wills Draftsman. Professional drafting or legal advice is optional, and provider fees vary.
3. Book registration
Follow the current DIFC portal instructions and choose virtual or in-person registration. The Wills Service may check the document for compliance with its registration requirements, but that is not personal legal advice.
4. Sign with witnesses
Two witnesses are required. DIFC wills are signed and held electronically: the electronic will is the original, and a copy is shared with the testator after registration.
5. Keep the plan coordinated
Review the will after material changes to family, assets, residence, or other wills. Amendments and replacement registrations are subject to the current DIFC rules and fees.
DIFC does not publish a universal end-to-end completion time. Drafting complexity, corrections, and appointment availability all affect timing.
DIFC Will Costs
The DIFC Courts fee schedule published the following registration fees on 23 July 2026:
| Will type | Single | Mirror |
|---|---|---|
| Full Will | AED 10,000 | AED 15,000 |
| Property Will | AED 7,500 | AED 10,000 |
| Financial Assets Will | AED 5,000 | AED 7,500 |
| Guardianship Will | AED 5,000 | AED 7,500 |
| Digital Assets Will | AED 5,000 | AED 7,500 |
| Business Owners Will | AED 5,000 | AED 7,500 |
These are DIFC registration fees, not a universal total cost. A lawyer is not mandatory. If a testator chooses a registered Wills Draftsman, lawyer, tax adviser, translator, or other professional, that provider sets a separate fee. Check the DIFC schedule again before payment because registry fees can change.
Enforcement Under Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025
Article 31(5) of Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 gives the DIFC Courts' Enforcement Judge jurisdiction over enforcement of DIFC-registered non-Muslim wills, including where the subject matter is inside or outside DIFC.
Article 32 then provides a mechanism for Dubai Courts assistance when the subject matter of enforcement is outside DIFC. The route should therefore not be described as always bypassing Dubai Courts, working automatically for every Dubai asset, or necessarily being faster than another route.
For assets outside Dubai, additional local-court, registry, or foreign-law steps may be required. Obtain advice about the actual assets rather than choosing a route on a general enforcement slogan.
DIFC vs ADJD Wills
| Factor | DIFC will | ADJD civil will |
|---|---|---|
| Published fee | Full: AED 10,000 single / AED 15,000 mirror; limited-purpose wills from AED 5,000 | AED 950 per will; confirm the amount in the live application |
| Eligibility | Current DIFC FAQ: not Muslim and never have been a Muslim; age 21+; UAE assets and/or minor children in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah; no UAE visa required | ADJD states a non-UAE citizen may register regardless of religion; confirm portal requirements |
| Drafting | Self-draft, available template, or optional registered Wills Draftsman | Prepare independently or use a document-preparation provider; follow ADJD requirements |
| Registration | Virtual or in person; two witnesses; electronic original | Online application, ADJD review, payment, and video-conference notarisation |
| Timing | Depends on preparation and appointment availability | Depends on review and appointment availability |
| Enforcement | DIFC Enforcement Judge jurisdiction; Dubai Courts assistance where Article 32 applies | Depends on asset location, competent court, and procedure |
| Language | DIFC registration document is in English | ADJD provides Arabic and English templates; follow current filing requirements |
Neither Abu Dhabi Law No. 14 of 2021 nor Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 should be summarised as giving every ADJD will automatic enforcement throughout the UAE. The appropriate comparison is registry, fee, eligibility, document type, assets, and likely enforcement path—not a claim that the two products have identical legal effect.
Read the broader guide to wills in Dubai before choosing a route.
The ADJD and ADGM Alternatives with Blanket
Blanket supports the direct ADJD route and, for eligible non-Muslims, the ADGM Courts notary route. ADGM is an ADJD-authorised digital notarisation channel rather than a separate common-law registry like DIFC. Its official per-will fees are AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM, and ADGM directs any later UAE probate application to ADJD.
Blanket is a technology platform, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Most people complete Blanket's online assessment in around 10–15 minutes. After payment, a specialist reviews the answers and prepares the selected documents. Blanket's fee includes Arabic translation where required and registration support; for the ADGM route, Blanket also supports the filing and keeps the customer updated through notarisation.
Blanket preparation starts from AED 799 for an individual or AED 1,199 for a couple. ADJD fees are separate: AED 950 for each regular will. Mirror wills therefore carry AED 1,900 in ADJD fees. Optional ongoing updates are available through Blanket Membership.
The ADJD Civil Wills FAQ says ADJD reviews the application before the customer pays and books an available video-conference appointment. Timing depends on ADJD availability.
Current Blanket customer experience is around three months for regular ADJD appointments and around two weeks for eligible customers using ADGM virtual appointments, as of 23 July 2026. Availability changes and neither timing is guaranteed.
Prepare an ADJD or ADGM will with Blanket from AED 799 — authority fees paid separately
See My PlanFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a DIFC will cost?
A DIFC Full Will costs AED 10,000 for one testator or AED 15,000 for mirror wills. Property Wills cost AED 7,500 / AED 10,000. Financial Assets, Guardianship, Digital Assets, and Business Owners Wills cost AED 5,000 / AED 7,500. Optional professional fees are separate and vary.
Do I need a lawyer for a DIFC will?
No. DIFC says a testator may self-draft, use an available template, or appoint a registered Wills Draftsman. Legal advice may still be appropriate for complex, cross-border, tax, family, trust, or business issues.
Can I register a DIFC will online?
Yes. DIFC offers virtual registration as well as in-person registration. Follow the current appointment and identity instructions in the DIFC portal.
Is a DIFC will valid outside Dubai?
Avoid a one-word answer. Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 gives the DIFC Enforcement Judge jurisdiction over DIFC-registered non-Muslim wills, but enforcement outside DIFC can involve Dubai Courts assistance, another local court, or foreign-law procedures depending on the asset.
Can a DIFC will include overseas assets?
A Full Will may include foreign assets, subject to the law where those assets are located. Inclusion does not guarantee recognition abroad. Coordinate UAE and foreign wills with cross-border advice.
How long does DIFC registration take?
DIFC does not publish a universal end-to-end time. Preparation, any corrections, and appointment availability determine the timeline.
Is the electronic DIFC will only a copy?
No. DIFC states that wills are signed and held electronically and that the electronic will is the original. A copy is provided after registration.
