Guide · updated 31.07.2026 · 11 min read · Lucent Legal team

How Much Does a Will Cost in Dubai, and Which One Should You Get (2026)

The first question most expats ask after deciding "I should probably get a will" isn't "how" — it's "how much, and where do I even go." Short answer: anywhere from roughly AED 950 for a will registered through the ADJD registry in Abu Dhabi, up to AED 10,000–15,000 (some sources quote around USD 1,400) for a full DIFC will — the exact number depends on where your assets are located, how many types of them you have, and what matters more to you: price, speed, or having the document recognised across all seven emirates at once. Non-Muslims in the UAE have three working routes, each with a different price tag and different coverage, and here's an honest, numbers-first comparison — not a pitch for the most expensive option.

Three Routes for Non-Muslims

In practice, a non-Muslim in the UAE has three ways to formally record their wishes for their assets: register a will with the DIFC Wills Service Centre (covering Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah), register one with the ADJD registry (based in Abu Dhabi but recognised across all emirates), or get a notarised will through the Dubai Courts under the standard local procedure. What happens if you have no will at all, and the finer legal points — choice of governing law, frozen accounts — are covered in our full guide to inheritance in the UAE; this guide focuses specifically on cost and coverage.

DIFC Wills: Pricing by Type

DIFC doesn't offer a single document — it's a lineup built for different needs, and the price depends on exactly what you're covering:

• Full Will — all movable and immovable property in the UAE, plus guardianship of minor children. Estimated around USD 1,400 in court fees, or AED 10,000–15,000 by other sources.
• Property Will — up to five real estate assets (or shares in them). Cheaper than the Full Will, from roughly USD 840 / AED 5,000.
• Financial Assets Will — up to ten bank or brokerage accounts.
• Business Owners Will — up to five shares in UAE companies.
• Guardianship Will — guardianship of minors only, no property provisions; the narrowest and usually the cheapest type.

Sources disagree on the exact figures, which is expected, since the DIFC Courts fee schedule is updated from time to time. The official DIFC Courts FAQ only spells out the related fixed amounts directly: modifying any DIFC will costs AED 550 per document, revocation is AED 1,000 (non-refundable), and processing a refund costs AED 200; DIFC Courts fees themselves aren't subject to VAT. For the exact current fee by will type, check the DIFC Wills Service Centre portal or the lawyer handling your registration. The step-by-step registration process — documents, witnesses, signing — is covered in our separate guide, DIFC will registration.

For a married couple, you need two separate documents (mirror wills) — DIFC doesn't treat this as one joint will. How exactly the pair is priced at the time you apply is worth confirming on the portal — the official FAQ quotes fees like the AED 550 modification charge per will, not per couple.

ADJD in Abu Dhabi: Cheaper and Recognised Everywhere

If you don't hold assets specifically in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah — say, your property or accounts are in Abu Dhabi — or you're simply after a cheaper option that isn't tied to one emirate, there's a non-Muslim wills registry run by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD). The court fee is about AED 950 for a single will and about AED 1,900 for a mirror pair for spouses. UAE residency isn't required to register, and the process runs through an online application followed by a video call with a notary — no in-person visit needed.

The key difference from DIFC is geographic reach: an ADJD will is recognised by courts in all seven emirates, not just where it's registered. That makes it the more practical choice if your assets are spread across the country rather than concentrated in Dubai.

Dubai Courts: A Notarised Will in Arabic

The third and least common route for expats is a standard notarised will (wasiyya) through the notary departments of the Dubai Courts, run under the regular local civil procedure rather than a dedicated common-law registry for non-Muslims. The document is drawn up in Arabic (or bilingually, with a certified translation required), which for most foreigners means an extra step and a separate translator's fee on top of the notary charge. There's no single published price list for this route — unlike DIFC and ADJD, where at least indicative figures are published and discussed by law firms. If you're considering it, confirm the fee directly with the specific notary department or the lawyer handling your case, and expect the number to vary with the length of the document and whether translation is needed.

Price Comparison Table

*Sources on DIFC pricing disagree — the fee schedule is updated periodically, so check the DIFC Wills Service Centre portal for the current rate.

Which Option Fits Your Situation

• You only have property in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. A DIFC Property Will is usually cheaper than a Full Will and covers exactly this — paying for the full document makes little sense if you have no other asset types.
• You want to cover everything at once (property + accounts + business shares + guardianship). A DIFC Full Will is one document for every asset type plus guardianship, instead of stacking several narrow wills.
• Your assets are spread across emirates, not just Dubai (say, Abu Dhabi too). ADJD is worth considering — it's recognised in all seven emirates, while DIFC is built around Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
• Your main priority is guardianship of your children, not property. A DIFC Guardianship Will is the narrowest and usually cheapest option, and it solves exactly that risk without paying for property coverage you don't need.
• You're not a UAE resident at all, but you own an asset (say, an apartment) in Dubai. Neither DIFC nor ADJD requires residency — you can register a will even while living in another country.

Which option ends up cheaper and more solid for your specific case depends on what assets you hold, your nationality, and your family situation — there's honestly no single answer that fits everyone here. This is one of those cases where a 20–30 minute consultation with a lawyer saves far more time later than it costs now.

This material is for information only and is not legal advice. UAE law changes — a lawyer will assess how it applies to your situation.