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Letting your will to provide live on
We provide trusted and affordable will-writing services to help you protect your loved ones and secure your legacy. Our experts guide you through every step to create a clear, legally sound will, giving you peace of mind for the future.”
Secure Your Legacy in the UAE
Welcome to our tech-driven will writing solution – the one-stop platform for creating legally valid wills in the United Arab Emirates. We specialize in helping expatriates and non-UAE residents (primarily non-Muslims, and even Muslim expats) protect their assets and loved ones. Our innovative online service combines legal expertise with technology for a fast, convenient, and cost-effective way to draft and register your UAE will.
Why choose our will writing platform
Why You Need a Will in the UAE
If you are an expat living in the UAE or a foreign investor holding assets here, having a will is essential. The UAE’s legal framework for inheritance is complex, especially for non-citizens. Here’s why will planning should be a top priority
Avoid Default Sharia Allocation
In the absence of a will, the UAE courts may distribute your estate under Sharia law by default – even for non-Muslims. Sharia-based rules prescribe fixed shares for certain relatives. For example, if a husband dies intestate, the wife might receive only one-eighth of the estate and the mother of the deceased one-sixth, with the remainder divided among children (sons receiving twice the share of daughters). This fixed formula can conflict with your personal wishes or home country’s norms.
Protect Your Spouse and Children
A will allows you to provide adequately for your spouse and name specific beneficiaries. Without it, extended family members could inherit significant portions of your wealth by law. Many expatriates prefer to leave the entire estate to their spouse or children – something a will can ensure, overriding the default split.
Guardianship of Minors
Perhaps the most critical issue – if both parents of minor children pass away without a will, UAE courts will appoint guardians. Under Sharia, the nearest male relative on the father’s side often has priority for guardianship. This could mean your children’s custody goes to a relative you wouldn’t choose. By writing a will, you decide who cares for your kids, avoiding uncertainty or custody disputes.
Prevent Asset Freezing and Delays
When a person dies in the UAE, their bank accounts (even joint accounts) are frozen until the inheritance is sorted. If you only have a foreign will (or none at all), your family faces a lengthy legal process to claim assets – including translating and attesting foreign documents. During this time, loved ones might struggle to access funds. A locally registered UAE will expedites probate so your beneficiaries can inherit without unnecessary delay.
Clarity for Non-Residents
Even if you live abroad, your UAE assets need special attention. Relying on your home country’s will might not be enough. Without a local will, even a well-intentioned foreign will can lead to delay, stress, and unintended outcomes. By having a UAE-specific will, you ensure cross-border recognition of your wishes and minimize conflicts between jurisdictions.
Peace of Mind
Ultimately, creating a will in the UAE gives you control and peace of mind. You can distribute your estate according to your own wishes – whether that means honoring family commitments, providing for dependents with special needs, or donating to charity. It prevents the court from simply following a formula that may not fit your situation. Instead, your voice guides the legacy you leave behind.
Our Services
The UAE offers several pathways for expats to register their wills. Choosing the right jurisdiction or will registry depends on your residence, religion, asset locations, and personal preferences. Below we outline the main will options available in the UAE, each with its features and benefits:
Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) Wills are a popular choice, especially after recent legal developments. Abu Dhabi established a Wills Registry (through ADJD’s Non-Muslim Personal Status Court) for non-Muslim expats a few years ago, and it has now even expanded to include Muslim expatriates in certain cases.
The DIFC Wills Service Centre in Dubai is a well-established choice for non-Muslim expats. Launched in 2015, this registry was specifically created to let expatriates sidestep the local Sharia-based system by using the common-law framework of the DIFC Courts.
The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts also offer a wills service for non-Muslims, operating from the ADGM free zone in Abu Dhabi. This framework is newer and somewhat unique as it works in partnership with the Abu Dhabi judiciary:
RAK ICC Wills are a newer addition to the UAE’s estate planning landscape. The Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC) introduced a wills registration service for non-Muslims, providing another avenue to register a UAE will
For Muslim expatriates (excluding UAE nationals) who wish to have a will, the approach is quite different. Under UAE law, Muslim estates are generally subject to Sharia inheritance rules as a matter of public policy. However, Muslim expats can still benefit from estate planning
One of the most compelling reasons to create a will in the UAE is to secure the guardianship of your minor children. For expat parents, this topic is crucial – it ensures your kids are cared for by people you trust if the unthinkable happens.
Writing a will is a critical part of estate planning, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. In this section, we broaden the perspective to overall inheritance planning for expats in the UAE, touching on how wills interact with local laws and other tools
You don’t have to live in the UAE to need a UAE will. Many people residing overseas have investments in the Emirates – be it a holiday apartment in Dubai, a bank account, or shares in a local company.