You can absolutely keep your home-country Will valid while living in the UAE. In fact, many expatriates maintain a foreign Will for overseas assets while using a UAE Will for local property and guardianship. There are two recognized methods to ensure your foreign Will remains legally effective:

A DIFC Will can include assets located outside the UAE, provided the foreign jurisdiction accepts a DIFC-issued probate order. Because the DIFC operates under a common-law framework, it aligns naturally with countries such as:

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• United Kingdom
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• United States
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• Singapore
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• India
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• Australia
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How it works:

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• You register a Will in the DIFC that includes foreign assets.
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• When you pass away, DIFC probate is initiated.
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• The DIFC Court issues an execution approval or probate order specific to the foreign jurisdiction.
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• That document is then used to commence local probate in the relevant country.
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This makes DIFC the most seamless option for individuals with cross-border estates.

Many embassies in the UAE allow expatriates to sign and attest a home-country Will before a consular officer.

Once attested, the Will is fully valid for use in the home country’s legal system.

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• Indian nationals typically use IVS Global (outsourced by the Indian Embassy/Consulate) to notarize and register their Wills.
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• Other embassies offer similar attestation services depending on their national procedures.
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This option is ideal if you prefer to keep your Will strictly governed by your home country’s laws.

Both approaches ensure that UAE residents can secure their non-UAE assets while living abroad.

The choice depends on whether you want a UAE-based Will with international reach (DIFC) or to maintain a locally recognized Will in your home country (embassy attestation).

Either way, your foreign assets remain protected and legally transmissible according to your intentions.

The UAE allows a broad range of individuals to register a Will, provided they meet certain basic legal criteria. To register a Will, a person must be:

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• At least 21 years old,
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• Of sound mind, and
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• Acting voluntarily and without undue influence.
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Beyond these core requirements, eligibility depends on residency status and asset location.

Anyone holding a UAE residence visa—regardless of nationality or religion—may register a Will in any of the recognized jurisdictions:

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• ADJD (Abu Dhabi Judicial Department)
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• Dubai Courts
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• DIFC Wills Service Centre
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Residents commonly register Wills to cover local real estate, bank accounts, investments, business shares, and guardianship of minor children.

Non-residents who own assets in the UAE—such as property, bank accounts, or investments—may also register a Will.

DIFC is the most common choice for non-residents because:

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• The process is entirely online,
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• Wills are drafted and probated in English, and
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• One Will can cover assets in multiple countries.
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Historically, Muslim expats faced restrictions, but since mid-2021, ADJD and Dubai Courts allow Muslim expatriates to register Wills.

This is a significant development, as it enables Muslims to opt out of default Sharia inheritance rules.

Non-Muslims have always been able to register Wills across all jurisdictions.

Couples may register:

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• Mirror Wills (two separate Wills with reciprocal terms), or
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• A joint Will (allowed in DIFC).
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Parents can also appoint temporary and permanent guardians for children under 21—one of the most important reasons expatriate families register a Will in the UAE.

You can register a Will in the UAE if you:

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• Are 21+,
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• Have full mental capacity, and
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• Either reside in the UAE or hold assets in the UAE.
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The system is designed to give both residents and non-residents full control over how their assets and family arrangements are handled, ensuring clarity and protection in a jurisdiction where the default rules may not reflect one’s wishes.

Registering a Will in the UAE is a straightforward process, but several essential requirements must be met. The testator must be at least 21 years old, be of sound mind, and must act voluntarily, free from pressure or undue influence.

UAE Wills are typically drafted in broad, comprehensive terms to cover both existing assets and any future assets acquired after the Will is signed. This ensures that newly purchased property, bank accounts, or investments are automatically included without needing frequent amendments.

A typical Will contains three core components:

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• Executor Clause – appoints the individual(s) responsible for managing the estate.
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• Beneficiary Clause – specifies who will inherit the estate and in what proportions.
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• Guardianship Clause – names permanent and temporary guardians for children under 21.
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Backup or substitute appointments are normally included to ensure the Will remains valid even if an executor, guardian, or beneficiary passes away before the testator.

Once registered with ADJD, Dubai Courts, or DIFC, the Will becomes a private document, and court records are not publicly accessible.

DIFC Wills—while more expensive—offer key advantages:

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• entirely English-language drafting,
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• common-law procedures, and
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• a more streamlined and predictable probate process.
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