Guide

Wills in Dubai: Everything You Need to Know (2026 Guide)

Written by Anton PirinenFounder & CEO of Blanket

Published 18 February 2026Updated 23 July 202616 min read

If you are comparing wills in Dubai, start with the service route, the assets you want the will to address, and the court that may later administer it. The public options compared here are the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) civil-will service, the ADGM Courts Notary Public and Wills Office, the DIFC Courts Wills Service, and Dubai Courts' notary service for non-Muslim wills.

ADGM needs one important qualification: it is a fully digital notary channel operated by ADGM Courts in partnership with ADJD, not a separate probate registry equivalent to DIFC. ADGM notarises the will; its own guidance says any later UAE probate application goes to ADJD's Wills and Probate Office.

A registered will records your instructions. It does not remove every court, bank, property-registration, or cross-border step after death, and no registration route should be described as automatically enforceable everywhere without looking at the assets and competent court.

Key Takeaways

ADJD publishes a standard registration fee of AED 950 per will; mirror wills therefore carry AED 1,900 in ADJD fees
ADGM notarises eligible non-Muslim wills through a fully digital service; the official per-will fees are AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM
A DIFC Full Will costs AED 10,000 for one testator or AED 15,000 for mirror wills; a lawyer is not mandatory and optional professional fees vary
Dubai Courts publishes an AED 2,000 attestation fee per non-Muslim will, plus AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation fees; a conditional data-entry fee can also apply
Blanket supports both the ADJD and ADGM routes; preparation starts from AED 799 and the authority fees are paid separately
ADJD, ADGM and DIFC support remote steps, but none publishes a universal end-to-end completion time
Where the federal civil intestacy regime applies, the surviving spouse receives half and the children share the other half equally
A will can record guardianship nominations, but the competent court retains authority and considers the child's best interests
After notice of death, a bank may restrict services; for a joint account, federal law limits the statutory withdrawal restriction to the deceased holder's recorded share

Wills in Dubai: The Registration Routes

ADJD civil wills

ADJD accepts civil-will applications online and completes notarisation by video conference. Its Civil Family Court guidance says a person who is not a UAE citizen may register a will regardless of religion and lists AED 950 for a regular will.

The ADJD civil-wills FAQ describes the sequence: submit the request, wait for review, pay the applicable fee, and book an available video-conference appointment. It does not promise approval in one or two days. Recognition and enforcement can depend on the asset location, competent court, and applicable law.

ADGM Courts Notary and Wills Office

ADGM Courts' current guidance says its Wills Office can notarise non-Muslim wills covering an estate, guardianship of minor children, or both. Its current FAQ describes the service as available to non-Muslim individuals aged 21 or over who own assets in the UAE. It can notarise a will covering assets elsewhere in the UAE and may include assets outside the UAE, although foreign probate takes place where those assets are located.

The service is fully digital. The will must be in Arabic and English and certified by a legal translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice. Residents submit an Emirates ID and passport; a non-resident also needs a valid UAE visit visa or entry stamp. Ownership evidence is required where assets are described in detail.

The official fee is AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM, per will. Blanket is currently seeing ADGM virtual appointments at around two weeks; availability varies. Blanket supports this route by preparing the documents, submitting the filing, and keeping the customer updated through notarisation.

DIFC wills

The current DIFC Wills Service FAQ says an applicant must not be Muslim and must never have been a Muslim, must be aged 21 or over, and must have UAE assets and/or minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. A UAE residence visa is not required.

DIFC permits virtual registration. A testator may prepare their own will, use an available DIFC template, or appoint a registered Wills Draftsman. The Wills Service administers registration; it does not draft wills or provide legal advice.

Dubai Courts wills

Dubai Courts' current service page lists Attestation of Church Contracts and Non-Muslim Wills as a Notary Public service. It publishes a fee of AED 2,000 for attesting one non-Muslim will. Dubai's Knowledge and Innovation fee laws add AED 10 each, bringing the standard government charge to AED 2,020.

The same service page lists an additional AED 100 per signature if the notary enters the application data. Translation, legalisation, drafting, private-notary, copy, or other ancillary charges may also apply. This is a pre-death notary-attestation service, not the separate inheritance process used to open and administer an estate after death.

Verified Comparison

Factor	ADJD civil will	ADGM notary route	DIFC will	Dubai Courts route
Published authority fee	AED 950 per will; confirm the amount in the live application	AED 950 to ADJD + USD 155 to ADGM, per will	Full: AED 10,000 single / AED 15,000 mirror; limited-purpose wills from AED 5,000	AED 2,000 per non-Muslim will + AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fees; conditional AED 100-per-signature data-entry fee
Who can apply	ADJD states a non-UAE citizen may register regardless of religion; confirm portal requirements	Non-Muslim; age 21+; owns UAE assets; residents and non-residents subject to current identity and UAE entry-document requirements	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	Current service conditions: non-Muslim testator, aged 21+, who owns the property being disposed of
Channel	Online application and video-conference notarisation	Fully digital eCourts request and virtual notary appointment	Virtual or in person	Remote service with valid Emirates ID; in-person attendance where the applicant relies on a passport
Preparation options	Prepare independently, use Blanket, or use a lawyer; separate from the ADJD fee	Arabic-English will certified by an MOJ-licensed legal translator; Blanket supports this route	Self-draft, use a DIFC template, or appoint a registered Wills Draftsman	Separate from the attestation fee
Timing	Depends on ADJD review and appointment availability	Blanket currently sees appointments around two weeks; availability varies	Depends on preparation and appointment availability	Depends on document review and appointment availability
After death	Depends on asset location, competent court, and procedure	ADGM does not provide probate; UAE applications go to the ADJD Wills and Probate Office	DIFC Enforcement Judge has statutory jurisdiction; Dubai Courts assistance is used where Article 32 applies	Depends on the court process and assets

The fees, eligibility conditions, and service scope in the table come from the authorities' current publications. Private lawyers, translators, and other advisers may charge separately.

Where Blanket fits

Blanket supports both the standard ADJD route and the ADGM route. If either fits your circumstances, Blanket guides you through the decisions, prepares the documents, arranges Arabic translation where required, provides specialist review, and supports the process through registration or notarisation. Preparation starts from AED 799; the authority fees shown above are paid separately.

Blanket is designed for guided will preparation, not individual legal advice. Complex business interests, trusts, a likely dispute, or difficult cross-border and choice-of-law questions may warrant advice from a licensed lawyer.

Using the ADJD or ADGM route? Prepare your will with Blanket from AED 799

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What Happens Without a Will?

Intestacy

For a person within its scope, Article 11(2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 provides that the surviving spouse receives half of an intestate estate and the children share the other half equally, without distinction between male and female children. Abu Dhabi Law No. 14 of 2021 contains a corresponding civil-intestacy rule within its scope.

That is not a universal 50/50 rule for every expatriate estate. Nationality, religion, residence, a valid choice of law, foreign assets, and other facts can affect which law and court apply. A licensed lawyer should advise on a particular estate.

An heirless foreign estate

Article 17(2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, which the Ministry of Justice says entered into force in June 2026, provides that financial rights in the UAE belonging to a foreigner with no heir become a charitable endowment (Waqf) supervised by the competent authority. The provision does not say that the absence of a registered will automatically triggers a freeze or transfer.

Guardianship of Minor Children

A will can record who you would like to care for minor children and can name alternatives. It is more accurate to call this a guardianship nomination than a guaranteed appointment: the competent court retains authority and applies the child's best interests.

For DIFC wills, the official eligibility guidance limits the Guardianship Will service to minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. Families with children or proposed guardians in another jurisdiction should obtain advice about how the relevant arrangements work together.

ADGM also offers a guardianship-only will and a combined estate-and-guardianship will for eligible non-Muslims. As with any route, this records the parent's nomination; the competent court retains responsibility for the child's welfare.

What Happens to UAE Bank Accounts After Death?

After a bank receives notice of a customer's death, it may temporarily restrict the deceased customer's accounts while it verifies the death and the authority of the heirs or estate representative. For a joint account, Article 379(4) of the UAE Commercial Transactions Law says the withdrawal restriction attributable to the death is limited to the deceased holder's recorded share; no withdrawal may be made from that share until a successor is appointed.

In practice, a bank may still pause account services while it verifies documents or separates the shares, so the surviving holder's access can be temporarily disrupted. The exact process depends on the bank's current terms, the account mandate, debts, the documents supplied, and any court order. A will does not prevent these controls or guarantee a release date.

The Central Bank Consumer Protection Standards permit a licensed financial institution, upon evidence of death, to block an account, an account privilege, or a defined amount. Bank-specific procedures still need to be read together with Article 379(4).

For an example of a current customer-facing process, Emirates Islamic publishes guidance for legal queries involving a deceased customer's accounts. This illustrates why the bank's own terms, requested documents, and the relevant court authority matter in practice.

Costs of Wills in Dubai

Government, court and notary fees

Service route	One testator	Mirror / two wills
ADJD civil will	AED 950	AED 1,900 for two wills
ADGM notary route	AED 950 + USD 155	AED 1,900 + USD 310 for two wills
Dubai Courts non-Muslim will attestation	AED 2,020	AED 4,040 for two separate wills
DIFC Full Will	AED 10,000	AED 15,000
DIFC Property Will	AED 7,500	AED 10,000
DIFC Financial Assets Will	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
DIFC Guardianship Will	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
DIFC Digital Assets Will	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
DIFC Business Owners Will	AED 5,000	AED 7,500

These are the fees published by ADJD, ADGM Courts, Dubai Courts, and the DIFC Courts fee schedule on 23 July 2026. The ADGM figure is a split per-will charge: AED 950 payable to ADJD plus USD 155 payable to ADGM. The Dubai Courts totals combine the AED 2,000 per-will attestation fee with AED 10 Knowledge and AED 10 Innovation fees. They exclude the conditional AED 100-per-signature notary data-entry fee and any translation, legalisation, drafting, or other ancillary charges. Government fees can change, so verify the live amount before payment.

Blanket and authority fees are separate

Blanket will preparation starts from AED 799 for an individual or AED 1,199 for a couple. Blanket's fee covers the online assessment, preparation and specialist review of the selected documents, Arabic translation where required, and registration guidance. Most people complete the assessment in around 10–15 minutes; document preparation begins after payment and timing varies with the case.

For the direct ADJD route, AED 950 is paid separately for each regular will. For the ADGM route, the separate per-will charges are AED 950 to ADJD and USD 155 to ADGM. Optional ongoing updates are available through Blanket Membership. Government, court, notary, registration, and any independent-advice fees are not included unless checkout expressly says otherwise.

Prepare your will with Blanket from AED 799 — authority fees paid separately

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How the Registration Process Works

ADJD route

Prepare the draft. Complete Blanket's assessment or prepare the document independently. Blanket assigns a specialist after payment to review the answers and prepare the selected documents.
Confirm language and documents. ADJD provides official templates in Arabic and English. Follow the current portal requirements; Blanket arranges Arabic translation where required.
Submit the request. The testator or an authorised representative submits the application and supporting documents requested by ADJD.
ADJD review and payment. ADJD reviews the application. If it proceeds, pay the applicable registry fee.
Book notarisation. Select an available video-conference appointment and complete the notarial process. Total timing depends on review and appointment availability.

See the ADJD will registration guide for the detailed workflow.

ADGM route

Prepare the bilingual will. The will must be in Arabic and English and be certified by a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translator. Blanket prepares the supported documents and arranges translation.
Collect the supporting documents. Upload the required identity documents and, where assets are described in detail, evidence of ownership. Non-residents also need a valid UAE visit visa or entry stamp.
Submit through ADGM eCourts. Blanket submits the filing for customers using this route and coordinates any requested changes.
Pay the ADGM fee and book. After the Notary Public accepts the request, pay the non-refundable USD 155 ADGM fee per will and schedule the virtual appointment.
Attend the video appointment. Join with the original identity documents requested by ADGM.
Pay the ADJD fee and receive the will. The AED 950 ADJD fee per will is collected around the appointment stage. Once notarised, the electronic will and receipts are sent to the customer.

Blanket is currently seeing virtual appointments at around two weeks; review, corrections, payment, and appointment availability can affect the timing.

DIFC route

Choose the appropriate will type. Check the asset and guardianship limits in the official DIFC guidance.
Prepare the will. Self-draft, use an available template, or engage a registered Wills Draftsman or other adviser.
Book registration. Choose virtual or in-person registration and follow the current document instructions.
Sign with two witnesses. DIFC wills are executed and held electronically; the electronic will is the original.

See the DIFC wills guide for fees and will-type limits.

Overseas Assets

ADJD says a civil will may include assets outside the UAE. ADGM says its Notary Public may notarise a will that includes assets outside the UAE, but probate for those assets takes place in the jurisdiction where they are located. DIFC says a Full Will can also include foreign assets, subject to the law of the country where they are located. Inclusion in a UAE document does not guarantee recognition or efficient enforcement abroad. Obtain cross-border advice before coordinating UAE and foreign wills so that one document does not inadvertently revoke or conflict with another.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a will in Dubai?

A will is worth considering if you want to record how assets should be distributed, name an executor, or nominate guardians. Whether the direct ADJD route, ADGM notary channel, DIFC, Dubai Courts, or a foreign will is appropriate depends on your circumstances. This guide is information, not individual legal advice.

What is the ADGM wills option?

It is a fully digital non-Muslim will-notarisation service operated by ADGM Courts in partnership with ADJD. It is not a separate ADGM probate registry: the ADGM Wills Office notarises the will, while its official guidance directs later UAE probate applications to ADJD. Blanket supports this route.

How much does a will in Dubai cost?

ADJD publishes AED 950 for each civil will. The ADGM route costs AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM per will. Dubai Courts publishes AED 2,000 to attest one non-Muslim will, plus AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation fees; an additional AED 100 per signature applies if the notary enters the application data. DIFC fees depend on will type: AED 10,000 for one Full Will or AED 15,000 for mirror Full Wills, while limited-purpose wills start at AED 5,000. Drafting, translation, legalisation, or advice fees are separate where used.

Can I make a will in Dubai online?

ADJD supports online application and video-conference notarisation. ADGM's Wills Office is fully digital, from eCourts submission to a virtual notary appointment. DIFC supports virtual registration as well as in-person registration. The preparation, review, payment, and appointment stages remain separate.

Does a joint bank account avoid estate administration?

No. Article 379(4) protects the surviving holder's recorded share from being treated automatically as the deceased share, but the deceased share remains restricted until a successor is appointed. The bank may also perform document and operational checks.

Is an ADJD will automatically enforceable in every emirate?

Do not assume automatic enforcement. ADJD registers the civil will, but later recognition and enforcement steps can depend on the asset, its location, the competent court, and applicable procedure.

Can a UAE will include overseas assets?

ADJD says assets outside the UAE may be included. ADGM says it can notarise a will covering foreign assets, but probate for them takes place where they are located. DIFC permits foreign assets in a Full Will subject to foreign law. Cross-border effectiveness depends on the other jurisdiction, so obtain advice before relying on one document for several countries.

How long does will registration take?

ADJD, ADGM and DIFC do not publish a universal end-to-end time. Preparation depends on the estate and whether information is missing; registration or notarisation depends on review and appointment availability.

Current Blanket customer experience is around three months for regular ADJD appointments and around two weeks for ADGM virtual appointments, as of 23 July 2026. Availability changes and neither timing is guaranteed.

Official Sources

Blanket is a technology platform, not a law firm. This content is general information and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your circumstances, consult a qualified legal professional. Contact us if you have questions about the blanket.ae service.