DIFC Will vs Dubai Courts Will: Costs and Coverage Compared (2026)

For non-Muslim expats, the choice usually comes down to price versus process: a DIFC will costs AED 10,000 for a single full will (AED 15,000 for a couple's mirror wills) and gives you an English-language document probated through the DIFC Courts' common law system, while a Dubai Courts will typically costs AED 2,000 to 3,000 but operates in Arabic through the local courts. ADJD in Abu Dhabi undercuts both at roughly AED 950. Here is how the options compare in 2026, fee by fee.

If you have not yet read what happens if you die in the UAE without a will, start there: any registered will beats no will by a wide margin.

What is the DIFC Wills Service Centre and what does it cost?

The DIFC Wills Service Centre, operated by the DIFC Courts in Dubai, lets non-Muslims aged 21 or over register an English-language will covering assets in the UAE (and, for the full will, worldwide movable assets, though enforcement abroad depends on each country). Registration can be done in person or by video appointment.

Official DIFC Courts registration fees as of 2026:

Will type	What it covers	Single	Mirror (couple)
Full will	All UAE assets plus guardianship, worldwide movables optional	AED 10,000	AED 15,000
Property will	Up to 5 UAE real estate properties (or shares in them)	AED 7,500	AED 10,000
Financial assets will	Bank and brokerage accounts (up to 10)	AED 7,500	AED 10,000
Business owners will	Shares in UAE companies	AED 10,000	AED 15,000
Guardianship will	Appointment of guardians for minor children only	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
Digital assets will	Digital assets and accounts	AED 5,000	AED 7,500

Drafting is separate: DIFC does not write the will for you, so expect roughly AED 3,000 to 6,000 more if you use a DIFC-registered draftsman or lawyer, or less with a fixed-fee online provider. Amendments cost a few hundred dirhams (around AED 550 for a single will).

Why pay the premium? Three reasons: the will and the probate process are in English; the DIFC Courts apply common law principles familiar to many expats (testamentary freedom, executors, no forced heirship); and probate orders from DIFC Courts are designed for direct enforcement, with established recognition procedures across Dubai and, through the courts' arrangements, in the wider UAE.

What does a Dubai Courts will cost and how does it work?

A notarised will at Dubai Courts (through the Notary Public, including private notaries) is the mainstream local route. The operative document is in Arabic; bilingual Arabic-English drafts are accepted, but the Arabic text governs, so you are paying for legal translation and careful review rather than court fees. Total cost for a typical single will, including notarisation and translation, runs about AED 2,000 to 3,000 as of 2026, with mirror arrangements around AED 3,000 to 4,000. Exact fees vary with document length and translation rates, so confirm current charges with the Dubai Courts Notary before booking.

Non-Muslims can use a Dubai Courts will to elect their home-country law or set out their own distribution under Federal Decree-Law 41/2022. Muslims can also notarise a will, within Sharia limits (bequests capped at one third of the estate to non-heirs). On death, the will is executed through the Dubai Courts personal status system in Arabic, which usually means engaging a local lawyer; the process is well established but less familiar to expats than the DIFC's.

What about ADJD wills in Abu Dhabi?

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department runs a wills registration office for non-Muslims with registration fees of around AED 950 for a single will and AED 1,900 for mirror wills as of 2026, making it the cheapest registered-will option in the country. Documents are processed bilingually and registration can be completed quickly. An ADJD will is a strong option if you live or hold assets in Abu Dhabi, and in principle wills registered with any UAE judicial authority address assets across the emirates under the federal framework, though cross-emirate execution can involve extra procedural steps.

DIFC vs Dubai Courts vs ADJD: the comparison table

Feature	DIFC Wills Service Centre	Dubai Courts notarised will	ADJD (Abu Dhabi)
Who can register	Non-Muslims, 21+	Any adult (Sharia limits apply to Muslims)	Non-Muslims
Language	English	Arabic (bilingual drafts, Arabic governs)	Bilingual
Registration fee (single)	AED 5,000 to 10,000 by will type	Included in the roughly AED 2,000 to 3,000 total	About AED 950
Mirror wills (couple)	AED 7,500 to 15,000 by will type	Roughly AED 3,000 to 4,000 total	About AED 1,900
Drafting cost	Extra, roughly AED 3,000 to 6,000 with a lawyer	Often bundled by will providers	Often bundled
Legal framework	Common law principles, testamentary freedom	UAE civil law, Federal Decree-Law 41/2022 for non-Muslims	UAE civil law, Abu Dhabi procedures
Probate forum	DIFC Courts, in English	Dubai Courts, in Arabic	ADJD, bilingual
Asset coverage	UAE-wide; full will can include worldwide movables	UAE assets (recognition across emirates)	UAE assets (strongest in Abu Dhabi)
Guardianship appointment	Yes (dedicated guardianship will available)	Yes	Yes

Worked example: what will a couple with kids actually pay?

A British couple in Dubai with two children, an apartment, and bank accounts want mirror wills with guardianship.

DIFC route: AED 15,000 registration for mirror full wills, plus roughly AED 4,000 drafting, about AED 19,000 total. English documents, English probate, maximum familiarity for UK-based executors and guardians.
Dubai Courts route: roughly AED 3,000 to 4,000 all-in for mirror wills through a will provider, Arabic operative text, local-court probate. Savings of about AED 15,000.
ADJD route (if they were in Abu Dhabi): around AED 1,900 registration plus drafting.

If budget is the constraint, a Dubai Courts or ADJD will beat having no will at all by an enormous margin. If the estate is complex (a business, property in several countries, UK inheritance tax exposure) the DIFC's common law framework and English-language probate often justify the premium. Owners of UAE property in particular should get this done before or at completion: see buying your first home in the UAE.

Which will should you choose?

Choose DIFC if you want English-language documents and probate, common law testamentary freedom, complex or multi-country assets, or executors and guardians based abroad.
Choose Dubai Courts if cost matters most, your assets are straightforward, and you are comfortable with an Arabic-language process handled by a local lawyer at execution.
Choose ADJD if you are Abu Dhabi based, or you want the lowest-cost registered will in the UAE.
Whichever you choose, appoint guardians for minor children explicitly; the options are explained in guardianship and your kids.

Before paying anyone, run through the UAE will checklist to list your assets, decide executors and guardians, and pick the right registration route.

FAQ

Does a DIFC will cover property outside Dubai?

Yes. Since the DIFC Wills rules were extended, a DIFC will can cover assets anywhere in the UAE, and a full will can extend to worldwide movable assets. Enforcement outside the UAE depends on each country's recognition of the DIFC probate order, so foreign real estate usually still needs a local will in that country.

Can Muslims register a DIFC will?

The DIFC Wills Service is designed for non-Muslims; registrants confirm non-Muslim status. Muslim residents can notarise a will at Dubai Courts within Sharia parameters (up to one third to non-heirs) and can still appoint guardians and an executor.

Do I need both a UAE will and a home-country will?

Commonly yes. A UAE will covers UAE assets efficiently; a home-country will covers assets there. Make sure the two do not revoke each other: each should state which jurisdiction's assets it governs, and your lawyer should check the revocation clauses.

How long does registration take?

DIFC appointments (in person or video) typically complete registration in a single session once the draft is ready, and Dubai Courts and ADJD notarisation is similarly same-day. The slow part is drafting and deciding: executors, guardians, and distribution usually take families a few weeks to settle.

Are the fees the same every year?

No. DIFC Courts and the local courts revise fees periodically, and provider drafting packages change constantly. The figures above are the published or typical figures as of mid-2026; confirm on difccourts.ae, the Dubai Courts fee schedule, or adjd.gov.ae before you book.

Sources and References

DIFC Courts Wills Service, will types, eligibility and official registration fee schedule including property will fees of AED 7,500 single and AED 10,000 mirror (difccourts.ae)
Dubai Courts Notary Public, will notarisation requirements and Arabic-language documentation (dc.gov.ae)
Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, non-Muslim wills registration and fees (adjd.gov.ae)
Federal Decree-Law 41/2022 on Civil Personal Status, wills and inheritance framework for non-Muslims (uaelegislation.gov.ae)
UAE Government portal, overview of will registration options for residents (u.ae)

This article is for general information and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Court fees, drafting costs and registration rules change frequently and vary by case; this is not legal advice, so confirm current fees with the DIFC Courts, Dubai Courts or ADJD and consult a licensed lawyer before registering a will.

Published on 9 September 2026.