Will registration in Dubai and the UAE runs through one of three official routes: the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), the Dubai Courts notary system, or the DIFC Courts Wills Service. They differ in language, in whether you attend online or in person, in the ID you need and in which assets the will can cover. Wordcraft drafts your will, prepares any legal translation and gets your file ready for the route that fits you; the authority itself registers the will.
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Send a photo on WhatsAppLast updated: October 2026
Writing a legally valid will is one of the most important steps an expat or resident can take in the UAE. Without a registered will, the distribution of your UAE assets — property, bank accounts, business shares and even the guardianship of your children — may be decided under default UAE law rather than your personal wishes. Wordcraft provides end-to-end will writing services in Dubai and across the UAE, including drafting, certified legal translation, notarisation and registration support.
Why You Need a Will in the UAE
- Protect your family: ensure your spouse and children inherit according to your wishes.
- Guardianship of minor children: appoint guardians so your children are cared for by people you trust.
- Avoid asset freezing: a registered will helps prevent bank accounts and assets being frozen during lengthy probate.
- Certainty for your family: a registered will sets out in writing how your UAE estate is shared, within the rules of the route you register with.
Types of Wills You Can Register in the UAE
- DIFC Wills: Registered through the DIFC Courts Wills Service under its own eligibility conditions, covering UAE assets (a Full Will can also include assets outside the UAE, and a Guardianship Will covers minor children).
- Abu Dhabi (ADJD) Wills: The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department registers wills on request through its website, with will forms in Arabic and English.
- Dubai Courts Wills: Wills registered and notarised through the Dubai Courts, available for various residents.
- Property & business wills: Focused wills covering specific assets such as real estate or company shares.
What a Will Can Cover
- Real estate and property in the UAE
- Bank accounts and investments
- Company shares and business interests
- Guardianship of minor children
- Personal belongings and vehicles
How the Will Writing Process Works
- Consultation: we understand your family situation, assets and wishes.
- Drafting: your will is drafted clearly in line with the chosen registration route (DIFC, ADJD or Dubai Courts).
- Legal translation: where required, we provide certified Arabic legal translation.
- Registration & notarisation: we guide you through registering and notarising the will with the relevant authority.
Related guide: Will Registration in the UAE: ADJD, Dubai Courts or DIFC?
ADJD, Dubai Courts or DIFC: Which Route Fits You
The three routes all give you a registered will, but they work differently. This is how they compare on the points customers ask us about most:
| Abu Dhabi (ADJD) | Dubai Courts | DIFC Courts Wills Service | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language of the will | Arabic and English forms | Arabic or bilingual; documents in other languages need a legal translation into Arabic | English |
| How you attend | Request through the ADJD website, then an appointment by video conference | Online through the smart notary system, with virtual or in-person attendance | Registration appointment, online or in person |
| ID | Valid Emirates ID (UAE Pass) | Emirates ID or passport, as the system asks | Passport; UAE residence is not required |
| What it can cover | UAE assets; ADJD confirms funds and property outside the UAE can also be bequeathed | Mainly Dubai assets and Dubai-based families | Five will types; a Full Will can include assets outside the UAE |
| Who sets eligibility | ADJD | Dubai Courts | DIFC Courts (at least 18, with UAE assets or minor children living with you in the UAE, plus its other conditions) |
For assets in another country, that country's own rules also apply. Tell us where you live and where your assets are, and we suggest the route that fits before anything is drafted. For a longer walk-through, read our guide ADJD, Dubai Courts or DIFC: which route fits you.
Who Needs a Will in the UAE
Not everyone thinks of a will until something forces the question. These are the situations where it matters most:
- You own property in the UAE, alone or jointly, including off-plan units and mortgaged homes.
- You have children under 18 living with you here and want to name who looks after them. The DIFC Courts Wills Service even offers a will just for guardianship.
- You own shares in a UAE company or run a business here and want the shares to pass smoothly.
- You hold bank or brokerage accounts in the UAE that your family would need to reach.
- You are a couple and want both wills done together. At DIFC, spouses can register in a joint appointment.
- Your situation has changed. Under the DIFC rules, marriage revokes an existing will unless the will says otherwise, and divorce can change how it applies, so a new marriage or a divorce is a good moment to review your will.
Documents to Prepare for Your Will
| What | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Your Emirates ID and passport | Identity check; ADJD and Dubai Courts work with your Emirates ID |
| Names and ID copies of beneficiaries | So each person is named exactly as on their ID |
| Guardian and executor details | Names, nationality and contact details of the people you appoint (under the DIFC rules they do not have to live in the UAE) |
| List of assets | Title deeds, bank and brokerage account details, company share details, vehicles |
| Documents issued abroad (for example a marriage or birth certificate) | Usually attested in the country of issue and by the UAE MOFA, then legally translated into Arabic if the authority needs it |
What Decides the Cost of a Will
We do not publish a single price, because the cost depends on your case:
- the route you choose (ADJD, Dubai Courts or DIFC), each with its own official fees;
- the type of will and how many assets, beneficiaries and guardians it covers;
- whether a legal translation is needed, and how many pages;
- whether documents issued abroad need attestation first.
Government and court fees are payable at cost. We confirm the exact fee and our service charge in writing before any work begins.
Talk to Us About Your Will
Send us your questions on WhatsApp +971 56 681 3996 or call toll-free 800 9673. You can also visit any of our four offices:
- Dubai (Al Twar): 04 239 6262 · Dubai office
- Abu Dhabi (Al Ghaith Tower, Hamdan Street): 050 616 0468 · Abu Dhabi office
- Sharjah (Business Tower, Al Majaz): 054 544 0234 · Sharjah office, also serving Ajman
- Ras Al Khaimah (Al Nakheel): 056 549 8344 · RAK office
Tell us your deadline, and we confirm what is possible before we start. We also handle notarization of wills and agreements and legal translation in Dubai.
Official sources: ADJD FAQs (civil wills) · Dubai Courts Smart Electronic Notary · DIFC Courts Wills FAQ (read 29 October 2026).
Why Choose Wordcraft for Will Writing in Dubai
As a trusted legal translation and documentation provider since 2019 with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, Wordcraft combines legal drafting, certified translation, notarisation and attestation under one roof. We make will writing simple, confidential and fully compliant — with free pickup and delivery of documents in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Frequently Asked Questions: Will Writing in Dubai
Do expats need a will in the UAE?
Yes. Without a registered will, your UAE assets may be distributed under default UAE law. A registered will lets you decide how your estate is shared and who will be the guardian of your children.
Who can register a will in the UAE?
Adults with assets in the UAE, or with minor children living with them here, can usually register a will through ADJD, Dubai Courts or the DIFC Courts Wills Service. Each authority sets its own eligibility conditions, so we check them for your case before you book.
What is a DIFC will?
A DIFC will is a will registered with the DIFC Courts Wills Service in Dubai, in English. There are five types: Full, Guardianship, Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets wills. A Full Will can also include assets outside the UAE.
What does a will cover in the UAE?
A UAE will can cover real estate, bank accounts, investments, company shares, vehicles, personal belongings and the guardianship of minor children.
How much does will writing cost in Dubai?
Costs depend on the registration route (DIFC, ADJD or Dubai Courts) and the complexity of your estate. Contact Wordcraft and we confirm the authority fees and our service charge in writing before any work begins.
Does my will need to be translated into Arabic?
Depending on the registration authority, a certified Arabic legal translation may be required. Wordcraft provides certified legal translation as part of the service.
Related: wills & agreements notarization service.
Do I need a valid Emirates ID to register a will?
For ADJD and Dubai Courts, plan on a valid Emirates ID: ADJD works through UAE Pass, and Dubai Courts asks for your Emirates ID or passport in its smart notary system. The DIFC Courts Wills Service does not require UAE residence, so a passport is enough there. We check the current rule for your route before booking.
Can I register a will without visiting a court?
Often, yes. ADJD handles the request through its website and the appointment by video conference. Dubai Courts runs notary services online with virtual or in-person attendance. The DIFC Courts Wills Service offers online and in-person registration appointments. Which option you get depends on the route and your case.
Can a UAE will cover assets outside the UAE?
It can. ADJD states that funds and property outside the UAE can be bequeathed, and a DIFC Courts Full Will can include assets outside the UAE. The country where those assets sit still applies its own rules, so some people also keep a will in their home country for those assets.
Does getting married or divorced affect my will?
Under the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules, marriage revokes an existing will unless the will says otherwise, and a divorce or annulment can change how the will applies. If your family situation has changed since you made your will, review it and register an updated one where needed.
Do my executors and guardians need to live in the UAE?
Under the DIFC Courts rules there is no requirement for executors or guardians to be UAE residents. For ADJD and Dubai Courts wills we confirm the details each authority asks for before drafting, so the people you name can actually act when the time comes.
Can my spouse and I register our wills together?
Yes. At the DIFC Courts Wills Service, spouses can register their wills at the same time in a joint appointment. Couples often choose matching (mirror) wills. We prepare both drafts together so names, guardians and assets are consistent in each will.
Does Wordcraft register the will itself?
No. Wordcraft is a private document services company, not a court or notary. We draft your will, prepare any legal translation into Arabic, collect and check your documents, and help you book and prepare for the appointment. The ADJD, Dubai Courts or the DIFC Courts Wills Service registers the will.
