DIFC Wills Registrations Rise 14% as Dubai Strengthens Non-Muslim Estate Framework

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DIFC wills registrations jump 14% as more non-Muslim expatriates choose Dubai's common-law estate framework.

The DIFC Courts Wills Service registered 922 wills in H1 2025, a 14% year-on-year increase from around 808 in H1 2024.
Since inception, the platform has processed more than 13,400 wills in total, establishing it as a mainstream option for non-Muslim residents and investors in Dubai.
Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 grants the DIFC Courts exclusive jurisdiction to enforce registered non-Muslim wills, regardless of where the deceased's assets are located.
Executors can now present DIFC probate orders directly to banks, the Dubai Land Department, and other authorities without requiring separate mainland court approval.
The DIFC Courts issued 27 probate orders in H1 2025, confirming active use of the registry for estate administration and asset transfer, not only for will storage.
DIFC wills sit alongside ADGM wills as common-law options; advisers recommend the most suitable platform based on asset location, home jurisdiction, and cost.

Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 and the Strengthening Case for Non-Muslim Expatriate Estate Planning

The DIFC Courts Wills Service operates within the Dubai International Financial Centre's common-law judicial framework. It gives non-Muslim residents access to an estate-planning system aligned with international norms rather than default Sharia-based succession rules. The 14% rise in registrations during H1 2025 reflects both growing awareness of that framework and practical changes to how probate orders are enforced. Meanwhile, ADGM - Abu Dhabi Global Market - operates a parallel wills registry under a comparable common-law model, giving UAE-based expatriates a choice of platforms depending on where their key assets are held.

Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 concerning the DIFC has reinforced these foundations by establishing DIFC exclusive probate jurisdiction over registered non-Muslim wills. Legal practitioners describe this as a significant step forward for expatriate families managing assets across the UAE, providing a clearer and more predictable enforcement pathway than was previously available.

Registration Numbers Signal Mainstream Adoption

The DIFC Courts Wills Service registered 922 wills in the first half of 2025, a 14% increase from around 808 in H1 2024, according to figures reported by law firm Motei and Associates. Since the service launched, the platform has processed more than 13,400 wills in total - marking its transition from a niche option to a mainstream estate-planning tool for non-Muslim residents and investors in Dubai.

The DIFC Courts also issued 27 probate orders - court approvals that formally authorise the distribution of a deceased person's estate - in H1 2025. This confirms that expatriates are not only registering wills but actively following through with full estate administration, including appointing executors and completing asset transfers after death. Across the UAE, including both the DIFC and ADGM platforms, more than 21,000 wills have been registered since 2024, reflecting accelerating demand for professional estate planning.

Why Non-Muslim Expatriates Register a DIFC Will

Without a formally registered will, a non-Muslim expatriate's UAE assets can be distributed under Sharia-based succession rules. These may not reflect the deceased's personal wishes or match the norms of their home country - particularly regarding spousal and children's shares. The DIFC Wills Service allows individuals to specify beneficiaries, appoint guardians for minor children, and set distribution terms, all governed under a common-law framework overseen by the DIFC Courts.

The service offers several will types to suit different asset profiles. These include Full Wills covering worldwide assets, Property Wills for UAE real estate, Guardianship Wills for minor children, and Business Owners' Wills covering company shares. Registration involves pre-consultation, document review, a video-recorded signing appointment before an authorised officer, and secure storage of the completed will.

Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025: Exclusive Jurisdiction and Faster Probate

A key legal development underpinning the growth in registrations is Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 concerning the DIFC. Article 31(5) of this law grants the DIFC Courts exclusive jurisdiction over the enforcement of registered non-Muslim wills, regardless of whether the deceased's assets sit inside or outside the physical DIFC boundary.

In practical terms, this means a DIFC probate order can be presented directly to banks, the Dubai Land Department, the Roads and Transport Authority, and other UAE mainland entities to effect asset transfers. Previously, executors typically had to seek separate recognition through Dubai's onshore courts before local institutions would act - a step that added time, cost, and complexity to the process.

What This Means for Executors and Beneficiaries

For families where heirs may be based abroad, the streamlined enforcement pathway reduces the risk that local procedural hurdles will delay or undermine implementation of a will. Legal practitioners describe the reform as making DIFC wills more attractive, offering a clearer and more predictable route to enforcement against Dubai-based assets - including property, vehicles, and financial accounts.

The change is particularly relevant for high-net-worth expatriates with cross-border assets, where common-law principles combined with direct enforceability align the UAE more closely with international best practice. Advisers emphasise that timely registration, periodic reviews following life events such as marriage, children, or business sales, and clear executor appointments remain the key practical steps for any non-Muslim resident in Dubai.

DIFC Versus ADGM: Choosing the Right Platform

DIFC wills now sit alongside ADGM wills - registered through Abu Dhabi Global Market's wills service - and notarial wills as options within a broader UAE estate-planning toolkit. Both DIFC and ADGM operate under common-law principles, but they differ in scope, fee structures, governing law, and how they interact with local authorities.

Advisers typically assess where key assets are held - for example, Dubai versus Abu Dhabi property - as well as the client's home jurisdiction and cost considerations, before recommending one platform over another. The rise in registrations is generating increased demand for integrated advice, with law firms, financial advisers, and family-office providers collaborating to ensure wills align with offshore trusts, shareholder agreements, life-insurance policies, and cross-border tax considerations.