A DIFC will is a will that you register at the Dubai International Financial Centre. It gives you, as a foreign property owner, full control over who inherits your UAE real estate. Without this document, the local authorities may apply inheritance rules you never chose, with high costs and years of delay for your surviving family.
What is the DIFC exactly?
The DIFC is a financial centre in Dubai with its own legal system. Unlike the regular UAE courts, the DIFC operates under common law: a legal tradition comparable to the English system. The DIFC has its own Wills Service Centre where non-Muslims can register a will that specifically covers their assets in the United Arab Emirates.
This matters because the regular UAE courts apply inheritance rules that can lead to unexpected outcomes for foreign owners. A DIFC will prevents that.
Who needs a DIFC will?
A DIFC will is intended for non-Muslims who own real estate in the UAE and do not reside there. In practice, this typically includes:
- Foreign owners of an apartment or villa in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or another emirate.
- Couples who jointly own property and want to specify who inherits what.
- Investors with multiple UAE properties in personal name.
It does not matter in which emirate your property is located. A DIFC will covers real estate in all seven Emirates.
What happens without a DIFC will?
Without a local will, the UAE authorities may apply local inheritance rules to property on UAE soil, regardless of your nationality or faith. Recent changes to UAE legislation have adjusted these rules, but the exact application to foreign non-residents is currently unclear.
In practical terms: your surviving family cannot know with certainty how the property will be divided. On top of that, a probate procedure (comparable to settling an estate through the courts) typically costs more than EUR 10,000 and takes 12 to 24 months. That includes apostilles, sworn Arabic translations and local lawyers.
With a DIFC will, you decide who inherits your property. The registration process is entirely digital. You do not need to travel to Dubai.
When does it become urgent?
There are three moments when arranging a DIFC will becomes particularly urgent:
- When you purchase UAE property. As soon as ownership is in your name, you are exposed to local inheritance rules. Most owners only arrange this years later, having been exposed all along.
- When your family situation changes. A divorce, new marriage or the birth of a child changes who you want to protect.
- When you expand your portfolio. The more properties you own, the more complex the structuring. It is wiser to lay the foundation before the portfolio grows.
How does the registration process work?
The preparation (gathering data, making decisions, preparing documents) typically takes 1 to 2 weeks. The DIFC execution (appointment, signing, official registration) adds 4 to 8 weeks.
The entire process is conducted remotely. You do not need to be physically present in the UAE. At VAEtestament, André van Wijngaarden guides you through the complete process.
What does it cost?
VAEtestament works with fixed guidance fees per tier:
- Tier 1 (Self-Guided): EUR 497. For owners who go through the process independently with structured support.
- Tier 2 (Guided Registration): EUR 797. Including a personal 40-minute session.
- Tier 3 (Fully Managed): EUR 1,499. Including a referral to a DIFC-certified lawyer for complex situations.
DIFC registration fees are paid separately, directly to the DIFC. For Tier 3, the lawyer’s fee is an additional cost.
For comparison: a law firm in Dubai typically charges EUR 2,000 to EUR 5,000 or more, with all communication in English.