Will and Guardianship in the UAE: A Parent's Guide to Registering One

Most of us have a plan for the hospital bag and no plan for the question underneath it: if something happened to both parents, who would look after the children? A registered will is how you answer that in writing, and for non-Muslim expat parents in Dubai it takes about 20 minutes and can be done from your sofa.

This is a general guide, not legal advice. Every figure below was read on the official DIFC Courts and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) pages on 6 October 2026, and fees change, so check the page before you book.

Why a will matters when you have children

The DIFC Courts Wills Service says it exists so that non-Muslims living and investing in the UAE can pass on their assets and appoint guardians for their children, in line with what their will says.

In Abu Dhabi, the court's own guidance spells out the default for a non-UAE resident: half the estate to the surviving spouse and half shared equally between the children. ADJD adds that having no registered will can delay the distribution and sometimes causes tension in the family.

Dubai: the DIFC Courts Wills Service

To register with DIFC you need to be non-Muslim (and never have been Muslim), at least 18, and own assets in the UAE and/or have minor children living with you here. You do not need a UAE visa.

For parents the two options that matter:

• Guardianship Will: only names guardians for your children. AED 5,000 for one parent, AED 7,500 if you and your partner register together as mirror wills
• Full Will: covers your assets and can include guardians. AED 10,000 for one parent, AED 15,000 as mirror wills

A booking fee (AED 500 to 2,000 depending on the will) comes off the final fee, but it is not refunded if you cancel the appointment.

Naming a guardian: interim and permanent

DIFC's guardianship page makes a distinction that is easy to miss. An interim guardian looks after your children temporarily, until the permanent guardians you have named can step in. Interim is often a close friend or family member who lives nearby; permanent may be someone in another country, which could mean your children moving.

If you die, the DIFC Courts can issue interim and permanent guardianship orders following your will, as long as the people you name meet the Rules' eligibility requirements. Your guardians do not need to live in the UAE.

DIFC suggests thinking about naming both. It also notes that the guardianship cover it describes is for children living in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah, so if you live in another emirate, ask the Wills Service before you book.

Abu Dhabi: the Civil Wills Office

If you are not a UAE citizen, you can register a will with the Abu Dhabi Civil Wills Office, whatever your religion. The court has a standard template in English and Arabic, or you can instruct a lawyer.

The application goes through the ADJD website, by you or by someone holding your power of attorney. You pay the fee (AED 950 for a regular will, AED 2,500 for a special one), then book a video appointment where the will is certified and notarised.

One honest gap: the ADJD pages we read describe the will as saying how your assets are distributed, and say nothing about naming guardians. If guardianship is your main worry, email the Civil Wills team at wills.non-muslim@adjd.gov.ae and ask before you pay.

How long it takes and where you do it

DIFC registration is by electronic signature, from anywhere in the world over a video call, or in person at their office. The appointment takes about 20 minutes and is booked on the Wills Service portal. A couple can sign mirror wills in the same appointment.

Do you need a lawyer?

DIFC says you can draft your own will or use its online templates, and that you may also use a registered Wills Draftsman. The Wills Service itself cannot give legal advice. It strongly advises taking legal advice for a guardianship will, because a will that misses the minimum requirements cannot be enforced.

Changing it later

Babies arrive, friends move to Toronto, marriages end. DIFC does not accept codicils (little add-on pages), so a change means updating the will and signing again, which costs AED 550 at DIFC. Put a reminder in your calendar for each birthday year, or whenever your guardians move house.

Do this week

• Talk to your partner: who would you both trust with the children for the first month, and for the long term?
• Ask those people, before you write their names down
• Pick your route: DIFC in Dubai, ADJD in Abu Dhabi
• Book the appointment (or send the ADJD request) and put the date in your calendar
• Tell your guardians where the will is registered

Planning for this also sits well alongside your monthly family budget, and if a nanny or maid is part of your household routine, our guide to hiring a maid covers what that looks like. Questions after reading? The community is a good place to ask.

Sources

• DIFC Courts Wills Service
• DIFC Courts: Guardianship Will
• DIFC Courts: Full Will
• DIFC Courts: Wills FAQ
• DIFC Courts: Fees
• Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court (ADJD)
• ADJD: Court FAQs