# Notary for a Will in Dubai: Making and Registering Your Will > How expats make a will in Dubai, where to register it, what a mirror will is, and how our in-house notary public notarises it. Source: https://notaryservicesdubai.com/wills-in-uae-secure-your-legacy-in-the-emirates/ Last updated: 29 September 2026 Publisher: Notary Services Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai (+971 54 380 1094) Using a notary for a will in Dubai means getting your will signed, witnessed and registered so it will be recognised when it is needed. Expats with property, savings or children in the UAE commonly write a will here, register it through a court or a dedicated wills registry, and have it notarised as part of that process. Our in-house notary public notarises wills at our Business Bay office or on a home visit. This page covers why expats make a UAE will, the main registration routes, the types of will people use, what notarisation adds, and how we help with drafting through a licensed legal consultant, translation and notarisation or registration. Quick answer ## At a glance - A will made and registered in the UAE lets an expat set out who should receive their UAE assets and, where relevant, who should care for their children. - Registration routes include the DIFC Courts Wills Service, for people with assets connected to Dubai, and Dubai Courts notarisation of a will. - A mirror will is a pair of matching wills, usually for a couple, where each person leaves their estate to the other and sets out the same wishes. - Notarisation and registration are related but distinct steps; what each one legally does depends on the route used. - We do not give inheritance legal advice. We help you prepare and translate your will document, notarise it with our in-house notary public or prepare the registration paperwork, working with a licensed legal consultant on the drafting. - Costs vary by registration route. Ask us for the current fee when you book. ## Why expats make a will in Dubai If you live in the UAE with property, a bank account, a car or children here, a will lets you set out in writing who you want to receive those assets and, if you have children, who you want to care for them. Without a will, what happens to a UAE estate is decided under the rules that apply when someone dies without one, which may not match what you would have chosen. Because the position is more complex for expats than for someone dying with a will in their home country, many people choose to put their wishes on paper and register them formally rather than leave it to a default rule. ## Registration routes There is more than one place a will connected to the UAE can be made and registered, and the right one depends on your situation, your nationality, your religion under UAE law, and where your assets are. - **DIFC Courts Wills Service.** The Dubai International Financial Centre runs its own wills service, aimed at people with assets connected to Dubai. - **Dubai Courts notarisation.** A will can also be signed and notarised before a notary public in Dubai as part of preparing it for use in the UAE. - **Abu Dhabi.** A separate route exists for non-Muslim wills connected to Abu Dhabi. Because these routes change and eligibility rules are specific, we confirm the correct route for your situation before you start, rather than assuming one fits everyone. ## Types of will People use different will structures depending on their family situation: - **Single will.** One person's will, covering their own assets and wishes. - **Mirror will.** A pair of matching wills, typically for a married couple, where each names the other (or the same beneficiaries) and sets out matching wishes. If one partner later changes their will, the other's does not automatically change too, so both need to be reviewed together. - **Guardianship will.** Focused on naming a guardian for minor children if both parents die, alongside or instead of covering financial assets. - **Property will.** Limited to naming who should receive a specific property or properties in the UAE, rather than covering the whole estate. ## Notary for will: notarised vs registered These two words get used loosely, and they are not always the same thing. Notarisation means the will is signed in front of a notary public, who checks the identity of the person signing (the testator) and any witnesses, and applies the seal to confirm the signing took place as described. Registration, depending on the route, may involve notarisation as part of the process or may be a separate step with its own registry. What legal weight a notarised will carries compared with a registered one, and whether one is required before the other, depends on the route and current UAE law. ## Documents and witnesses needed While the exact list depends on the registration route you use, preparing a UAE will commonly involves: - **Your passport and Emirates ID** (or visa page, if you are not yet a resident). - **A list of your UAE assets** : property, bank accounts, vehicles, and any business interests. - **Details of your beneficiaries** : full names and their relationship to you. - **Guardianship wishes** , if you have children under 18 and want to name a guardian. - **Witnesses** , who typically should not themselves benefit under the will. Fees ## Cost and timing Costs differ by registration route. We confirm the current cost and timeframe for your chosen route before you commit to anything. ## Get help with your will We do not give inheritance legal advice on this page. For help preparing, translating or notarising your will, call or WhatsApp us at +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and we will confirm the right registration route for your situation. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7. Related reading: our guide to [affidavits in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-in-dubai-how-to-get-affidavit-in-dubai/), [power of attorney for inheritance](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-for-inheritance/) if you are managing an estate rather than writing a will, our page on [gift deeds in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/gift-deed-in-dubai/) for transferring an asset during your lifetime, the [notary public in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/notary-public-dubai/) overview, and the [power of attorney in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-in-dubai/) hub. How we help ## How we help There are three ways to get it notarised with us: in person at our Business Bay office with our in-house notary public, through our online notary public services, or on a home visit. We work with a licensed legal consultant on drafting your will so the wording reflects your actual wishes and family situation. We handle the Arabic translation where the route needs one, done by a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice. Our in-house notary public notarises the will, and we take care of the registration paperwork for the route you choose. You decide what your will should say; we manage the process around getting it properly signed, witnessed and on file. FAQ ## Frequently asked questions ### How do I make a will in Dubai? You decide what you want to happen to your UAE assets and, if relevant, who should care for your children, put that in writing with the help of a legal consultant, then sign it before witnesses and have it notarised or registered through the route that fits your situation, such as the DIFC Courts Wills Service or Dubai Courts. ### Where can I register a will in the UAE? The main routes are the DIFC Courts Wills Service and Dubai Courts notarisation, with a separate route for non-Muslim wills connected to Abu Dhabi. We confirm which one fits your situation before you start. ### Can expats make a will in the UAE? Yes. Expats commonly make and register a will covering their UAE assets, and where relevant their wishes for their children's care, through one of the registration routes above. ### What is a mirror will in the UAE? A mirror will is a pair of matching wills, usually for a married couple, where each person's will names the other and sets out the same wishes. Each will is a separate document and needs its own review if either partner wants to change it later. ### Do I need a notary for a will in Dubai? Notarisation, where the testator and witnesses sign in front of a notary public who checks their identity, is part of how a will is prepared for use in the UAE under some routes. ### How much does it cost to make a will in Dubai? The cost depends on the registration route and whether you also need drafting help or translation. We confirm the exact cost before you commit to anything. ### What types of wills are there in the UAE? Common types include a single will covering one person's estate, a mirror will for a couple, a guardianship will focused on naming a guardian for children, and a property will limited to specific UAE property. See the section above for details. ### What happens if an expat dies without a will in the UAE? What happens to a UAE estate without a registered will depends on current UAE law, which changed with the new Civil Transactions Law. This is exactly why many expats choose to register a will rather than rely on the default position. More answers, grouped by topic, are on our [questions and answers page](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/faq/). Keep reading ## Related services Services ### [Affidavits and declarations](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-in-dubai-how-to-get-affidavit-in-dubai/) Need an affidavit in Dubai? See the common types, what to bring and how the notary step works. We prepare, translate and book notarisation for you. Read more Affidavits and declarations ### [Affidavit of support](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-of-support-in-the-uae/) What an affidavit of support is, the documents you need, and how it works in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We prepare, translate and book notarisation for you. 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About this page Prepared by the Notary Services Dubai team in Business Bay, Dubai. Last reviewed . ### Official sources we checked (4) - Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the Regulation of the Notary Profession, [https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563) - Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, Civil Transactions Law, [https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/4011](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/4011) - DIFC Courts Notary Service, [https://www.difccourts.ae/difc-courts/services/notary-service](https://www.difccourts.ae/difc-courts/services/notary-service) - MOFAIC attestation service, [https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation) Get started ## Talk to us about your document Call or WhatsApp +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and tell us what document you have and where it needs to be used. We are at Empire Heights Tower B, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai.