Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a non-Muslim expat register a will in Dubai?
Yes. Non-Muslim expats can register a will through Dubai Courts. The right route depends on where the assets sit and on the testator's personal status. A UAE-qualified lawyer can confirm which route fits before any fee is paid.
Does a will made in another country stay valid in the UAE?
Not automatically. UAE courts do not always enforce a foreign will, particularly over assets held in the UAE. A will drafted abroad usually needs to be registered or re-drafted for the UAE to give it clear legal force over local property, bank balances and company shares.
Should company shares in a free zone be named in a will?
Yes. Shares are an asset like any other, and a will should name who inherits them. The Share Register and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which Meydan Free Zone issues digitally after registration, show the exact shareholding. Giving these to your lawyer lets the will describe the shares correctly.
Is a will written in English accepted in Dubai?
It depends on the registration route. Wills registered through Dubai Courts may need certified Arabic translation, which adds a separate cost. Ask the registering body about its language requirements before you draft.
How often should a founder update a will?
Review it whenever your circumstances change, such as a new business, a new shareholder, a marriage, a divorce or a child. Each update may carry drafting and registration costs, so budget for the will as a recurring expense rather than a one-off payment.
Can a will name a guardian for children in the UAE?
Yes. A properly drafted and registered will can name a guardian for minor children. Without one, the court decides who takes on that role. Founders with young children should include guardianship clauses when they brief their lawyer.
What happens to a company bank account if the owner dies without a will?
The bank generally restricts the deceased holder's accounts until heirs establish their rights through the courts. For a sole shareholder, this can leave the company without operating cash for months. A registered will gives the court a clear instrument to enforce and shortens that process.
Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Dubai?
A lawyer is not the only route, but one is strongly advisable. Registration rules, language requirements and asset scope depend on the registration route. A lawyer also drafts the clauses for shares, property and guardianship. Request a written quote first, as drafting fees vary by firm and complexity.
Topic Summary
What the Cost of Making a Will in Dubai Covers
The cost of making a will in Dubai is the total of drafting fees, registration or notarisation charges, and translation where needed. Official registration fees are set by the relevant court or authority. Lawyer fees vary by firm and complexity. Treat drafting costs as estimates and registration fees as published figures.
Registration Routes and Their Fees
Registration Routes and Their Fees
Notarisation, Translation and Drafting Costs
Beyond registration, a will carries three further costs: drafting, certified translation and notarisation. Drafting is the largest variable. Translation applies where the will is not in the required language. Notarisation fees depend on the notary, so request a written quote.
How to Budget for a Will in Dubai
To budget, list your assets, choose a route, request a written drafting quote, add translation and notarisation, then add a review cost. Treat official fees as fixed and lawyer fees as estimates.
Cost of Having No Will Versus a Registered Will
A registered will costs far less than the delays and legal fees that follow an estate without one. Without a will, UAE courts apply default succession rules, which may not match the owner's wishes. Accounts and shares can stay restricted while heirs establish their rights.
What the Cost Means for a Founder's Decision
For a founder, the cost of making a will in Dubai is a small, planned expense set against business and family exposure. After registration, Meydan Free Zone issues the Business License, Certificate of Formation, Share Register and Memorandum and Articles of Association digitally. Those documents show a lawyer what the will must cover.
Next Steps for Founders
The cost of making a will in Dubai is modest and predictable once you pick a registration route. Official fees are fixed, drafting fees are estimates, and the larger risk is having no will at all. A registered will is worth more than an intended one.
Cost of Making a Will in Dubai: What to Expect
Most founders assume a will is a cheap formality, so they delay it until a bank, a partner or a family event forces the question. The cost of making a will in Dubai is usually modest next to the business it protects. The real expense is dying without one. This guide explains what a will costs, which fees are official, and how to budget before applying for your business license with Meydan Free Zone or after setting up.
What the Cost of Making a Will in Dubai Covers
The cost of making a will in Dubai is the total of drafting fees, registration or notarisation charges, and translation where needed. Official registration fees are set by the relevant court or authority. Lawyer fees vary by firm and complexity. Treat drafting costs as estimates and registration fees as published figures.
Official Fees and Professional Estimates
The registering body sets and publishes its own fee. A lawyer's drafting fee is market-set, so it differs between firms.
Complexity drives the gap. A founder with one Dubai property and shares in a free zone company pays a different drafting fee from a founder with assets in three countries. Any drafting figure you hear is an estimate, not a guaranteed cost.
What a Registered Will Does for a Founder
A will sets who inherits shares, bank balances and property. It also replaces default succession rules, which treat Muslim and non-Muslim expats differently. Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status for non-Muslims allows foreign nationals to apply their home-country law to succession, subject to its conditions. A registered will gives a court a clear instrument to enforce.
Say a sole shareholder dies without one. The company's bank accounts stay restricted while heirs establish their rights. For more on the legal basics, read this guide on making wills in the UAE.
Registration Routes and Their Fees
Non-Muslim expats in Dubai can register a will through Dubai Courts. The court sets its own fee schedule, language rules and asset scope. The right route depends on where assets sit, the testator's nationality and whether the will must bind property in Dubai.
Cost Components of Making a Will in Dubai
| Cost Component | What It Covers | Nature of the Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee (official, set by registering body) | Published fee from Dubai Courts | Fixed, quoted in AED on the official page |
| Lawyer drafting fee (estimate, varies by firm) | Flat or hourly fee for drafting the will | Estimate, rises with assets, countries and guardianship clauses |
| Certified translation (varies by length and language) | Arabic translation by a legal translator | Charged by page or word, needed only if the route requires it |
| Notarisation fee (varies by notary) | Notary charge for attesting the document | Varies by notary and document type, so get a written quote |
| Periodic review or update (recurring cost) | Lawyer review after a business or family change | Recurring, repeats each time you update the will |
Dubai Courts Registration
Dubai Courts register wills made under UAE law. The fee schedule is set by the court, not the lawyer. Arabic-language requirements may add translation cost. An Indian founder with a Dubai apartment and a local bank account, for instance, should budget for certified Arabic translation.
Choosing the Right Route Before You Pay
A will registered in the wrong place can complicate enforcement. Say a UK founder holds a Dubai property and shares in a free zone company. Match the route to where those assets sit and to personal status. A trusted representative, such as a UAE-qualified lawyer, should confirm the scope first. Digital Dubai publishes guidance on government digital services.
Notarisation, Translation and Drafting Costs
Beyond registration, a will carries three further costs: drafting, certified translation and notarisation. Drafting is the largest variable. Translation applies where the will is not in the required language. Notarisation fees depend on the notary, so request a written quote.
Lawyer Drafting Fees
Firms charge a flat fee or hourly. Complexity rises with multiple jurisdictions, business shares and guardianship clauses. A simple single-beneficiary will costs less than one covering a company, property and minor children. Any range you are quoted is a consultant estimate, not a guarantee.
Certified Translation and Notarisation
Legal translators charge by page or word. A founder who drafts in English pays for certified Arabic translation before registration. Notarisation varies by notary and document. The guide on notarisation of documents in Dubai covers the process.
How to Budget for a Will in Dubai
To budget, list your assets, choose a route, request a written drafting quote, add translation and notarisation, then add a review cost. Treat official fees as fixed and lawyer fees as estimates.
Step 1: List Assets and Beneficiaries
- Record shares, property, bank balances and intellectual property.
- Name beneficiaries for each asset.
- Name a guardian where children are involved.
Step 2: Select the Registration Route and Obtain Quotes
- Check the published registration fee.
- Request written drafting quotes.
- Request a written translation quote if needed.
Step 3: Add Notarisation and Review Costs
- Allow for notarisation where required.
- Budget a review as a recurring cost, not a one-off.
- Expect updates after a second business or a new child.
Cost of Having No Will Versus a Registered Will
A registered will costs far less than the delays and legal fees that follow an estate without one. Without a will, UAE courts apply default succession rules, which may not match the owner's wishes. Accounts and shares can stay restricted while heirs establish their rights.
Frozen Accounts and Delayed Access
Banks restrict a deceased holder's accounts until the legal process finishes. Picture a two-director company that loses signing authority on its main account when one director dies. Operating cash becomes unavailable to the business. The Central Bank of the UAE regulates the banks involved. See also asset protection for expatriates in the UAE.
Guardianship and Family Exposure
A will can name a guardian for minor children. Without one, the court decides. A UK founder with young children in Dubai would otherwise leave that choice to a judge.
What the Cost Means for a Founder's Decision
For a founder, the cost of making a will in Dubai is a small, planned expense set against business and family exposure. After registration, Meydan Free Zone issues the Business License, Certificate of Formation, Share Register and Memorandum and Articles of Association digitally. Those documents show a lawyer what the will must cover.
Linking the Will to Your Company Documents
The Share Register and Memorandum and Articles of Association define the ownership your will must reflect. Give the lawyer the digital Share Register so the will names the correct shareholding. mCore supports business bank account setup, and that account belongs on your asset list.
Where a Will Fits in Your Running Costs
Treat the will as a recurring cost within overall running costs. The guide to the cost of running a business in Dubai helps with wider budgeting. The Setup Cost Calculator gives clarity on setup and running costs.
Next Steps for Founders
The cost of making a will in Dubai is modest and predictable once you pick a registration route. Official fees are fixed, drafting fees are estimates, and the larger risk is having no will at all. A registered will is worth more than an intended one.
Decide the route first, request written quotes, and gather your company documents before meeting a lawyer.
