Will Registration in UAE 2026 – Protect Your Assets & Family Legally
With millions of expats residing and working in the UAE from different nations across the globe, the matter of protecting their will is necessary under unforeseen circumstances. Thereby, UAE courts have enabled will registration that protects their wills, such as assets, liabilities, and family affairs, bypassing default sharia law. A will protects personal and commercial assets, guardianship for minors, and specific personal wishes.
According to the newly issued UAE Civil Transactions Law, the minimum age a minor can seek approval from the court to manage their assets is 18 years age. A will ensures your assets are distributed evenly and accordingly to your family members, thereby making your assets in safe hands.
Without a registered will in the UAE in 2026, your financial assets of foreign nationals with no heirs may be classified as charitable endowments, and if a non-Muslim dies without a will, their estate is divided equally between surviving family members. A Will can be registered through the DIFC Courts or the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
How to Register a Will in 2026
The registration options for Will are:
– Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD): This registration is open to Muslims and non-Muslims; this is completely virtual via the website.
– DIFC Wills Service Centre: This registration is mainly for non-Muslims with UAE assets; the types that will be registered under this include full Will, Guardianship, and Property. Virtual or in-person signing with a witness.
– Dubai Courts: Walk-in, bilingual for UAE assets.
Required Documents for Will Registration in 2026
Registering a will in the UAE requires specific documents tailored to the authority, such as ADJD, DIFC, or Dubai Courts, with passports and IDs as core documents. The varied requirements are to ensure the identity verification and asset clarity for non-Muslims and Muslims alike.
Main documents include:
- Passport copies (Testator and witnesses)
- Emirates ID
- Drafted will document
Additional Requirements
- Photographs of the executant
- Proof of UAE assets (property deeds, optional for basic wills)
- Guardianship details or marriage certificate
Consequences of a Non-registered Will in the UAE
The Government of the UAE has made it a requirement for expats to register their will, to make their assets protected without getting it further complex with legal laws. Thus, Non-registration of a Will in the UAE leads to asset freezes, court intervention under default laws (Sharia for Muslims or civil rules for non-Muslims), and potential misalignment with personal wishes. This delays probate, increases costs, and risks unintended guardianship or inheritance distributions.
Asset Freezes and Delays
Bank accounts, property, and joint assets freeze immediately upon death until court orders distribution, often taking weeks to years. Thus, Family faces financial hardship, unable to access funds for essentials.
Inheritance Risks
Estate divides per Sharia (fixed shares) or home country laws if applicable, not the testator’s intent; non-Muslims may see home laws applied, but with UAE overrides if unclaimed. If it found no heirs to pass over, then the assets become charitable endowments under the 2026 Civil Law updates.
Guardianship Issues
Courts appoint guardians for minors based on local rules, not parental preferences, creating uncertainty. Disputes among heirs escalate legal fees and timelines.
Types of Will in the UAE
- Full Will: Distributes all movable/immovable UAE assets and appoints guardians for minors
- Guardianship Will: Appoints guardians for minor children only
- Property Will: Covers up to five UAE real estate properties.
- Financial Assets Will: Includes up to ten UAE bank/brokerage accounts.
- Business Owners Will: Addresses up to five UAE company shareholdings.
- Notary Public Wills: Bilingual (English/Arabic), registered locally via courts or notaries for general assets
- ADJD Wills: Flexible for all (including Muslims), covering full estates per personal wishes
- Local vs. International Wills may apply in Dubai Courts for residents/citizens.
The new Civil Transaction framework makes it an urgent requirement for the expats to register their will to protect their UAE-situated assets without declaring it under Sharia law. The will registration requires proper guidance to collect and authorize your documents. Index Legal Translation has been providing will registration services for expats of Muslims and Non- Muslims to secure their assets through a Will in the UAE.
With service centers across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, our team supports all the requirements from start to end of the registration process – securing your will dutifully.
Contact us for any of the legal requirements, from translation, attestation, Notary and attestation service. You can purchase our service directly from our website or place an order by contacting us.
indextarjum2006@gmail.com +971 54 796 4349