Last Will for non-Muslim expatriates (Dubai and RAK)

Hire a registered wills draftsman to help you create and register a Last Will under the internationally recognised common law principles within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Be sure your assets in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah will be transferred to your loved ones upon death according to your own wishes and not according to the forced heirship system (influenced by the Islamic Sharia regulations) as per the UAE laws.

The lawyer you hire will meet you to understand the structure of your UAE-based assets, your marital status, whether you have children or not and what their age is (to include a guardianship provision for your minor children if necessary). The attorney will also discuss with you your wishes to see what can be achieved and how, and will advise you on the enforceability of the Will, as well as explain the role of the executor and the guardians and their limitations.

Then, your lawyer will draft a Last Will and arrange for all the administrative procedures and applications needed for filing and registration of your Will with the DIFC Courts Wills Registry for Non-Muslims. At the date of appointment, the attorney will accompany you to the DIFC Wills Service Centre to register and as the case may be to witness the signing of your Last Will.

This service is right for you if you are non-Muslim, have assets and minors in Dubai and/or Ras Al Khaimah, and would like to have peace of mind about the future of your loved ones and the distribution of your assets after death.
 

What's included

• 2-hour legal advice session. The advice session with your lawyer can be in the form of a personal or online meeting(s). 
• Drafting of the Will. The attorney will prepare a draft of your Last Will in accordance with your needs and requirements, and in compliance with DIFC laws and regulations.
• Paperwork and filing. The attorney will handle all administrative tasks of completing and filing paperwork with the DIFC Wills Service, needed for registration of the Will.
• Support and guidance at the Wills Service Centre. The lawyer will accompany you to help complete the registration formalities at the DIFC Wills Service Centre and, if necessary, to witness the signing of your Last Will.
• Full confidentiality. All documents you share and everything you discuss with your lawyer is protected by attorney-client privilege.

What's not included

• Additional legal services or time spent beyond those mentioned above.
• Filing and registration fees, other official fees and disbursements.
• Translation and/or attestation of required documents, long distance telephone calls and faxes, couriers and postage, collections and deliveries.
• This service does not include acting as the executor of the Will.

For most people, this service covers the entire process of getting their Last Will registered by the DIFC Courts Wills Registry. But if your case requires additional work – for example, you decide to extend your Will to assets outside Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah – you can talk to the attorney about hiring them for extra work.