Will and guardianship checklist
Answer a few questions and get a checklist for your case: what happens without a will, where to register one in your emirate, naming someone to look after your children, and the papers to gather.
Only the type of asset. This page never asks for account numbers or amounts.
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Good to know
Muslims are covered by the Personal Status Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024). Non-Muslims are covered by the Civil Personal Status Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022), unless they choose another law that applies to them.
For non-Muslims, a will registered at the competent court is carried out by a court order. An unregistered will needs a court judgment first (Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023, Article 36).
Funeral costs and debts are paid first, then the will is carried out, then the rest is shared among the heirs.
For Muslims, the Islamic inheritance calculator shows how an estate is shared by the fixed shares, and the effect of a will of up to one third.
Sources (last checked 27 October 2026). Muslims: Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on Personal Status (official text, uaelegislation.gov.ae): Article 126 (the father may appoint a tutor for a minor; the court may appoint the mother as tutor over the property), Article 129 (guardianship over a minor's property goes to the father, then the tutor he names, then the paternal grandfather, then the court), Article 112 (the custodian mother has educational guardianship), Article 173 (a will is carried out within one third of the estate), Article 176 (a will is made in words, spoken or written; a disputed will is proven by two witnesses), Article 182 (a will is valid across different religions), Article 184 (a will to an heir needs the other adult heirs' approval) and Article 193 (any excess over one third depends on the heirs). Non-Muslims: Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status (elaws.moj.gov.ae): Article 1 (who it covers), Article 4 (equality in inheritance; equal joint custody), Article 11 (a will may cover all assets in the UAE; without one, half to the spouse and half shared equally among the children; parents and then siblings if there are no children; foreign heirs may ask for another law unless a registered will says otherwise), Article 13 (wills are registered); Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023 (its Executive Regulations): Articles 26 and 27 (in writing, signed before two witnesses, registered at the competent court), 29 (a revocation must be registered), 33 to 36 (executor; carrying out a will). Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, "Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court" page (adjd.gov.ae): any non-UAE citizen, regardless of religion, may register a will; regular will AED 950, special will AED 2,500; Arabic and English template. Gulf News, 19 January 2026: wills at the Civil Family Court can be registered by video call. DIFC Courts, "Wills FAQ" (difccourts.ae): eligibility (18 or over, not and never a Muslim, assets in the UAE or minor children living here), will types, two witnesses who are not beneficiaries or guardians, English only with no translators, guardianship only for children living in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah, a later marriage cancels the will, AED 550 to change a will, fees not subject to VAT; DIFC Courts fee schedule (Practice Direction 5 of 2017): Full Will AED 10,000 (AED 15,000 for mirror wills), Property Will AED 7,500 (AED 10,000), Guardianship Will AED 5,000 (AED 7,500); the current fees page could not be read, so check it. Dubai Courts (dc.gov.ae) lists a service "Ratification of marriage contracts concluded by churches and wills of non-Muslims"; we could not read its fee or language rules, so they are marked "check with the court". Bank accounts frozen after a death: reported by Gulf News (2018 and 2019), not on an official page we could read. UAE Government portal u.ae, "Civil marriage" (updated 30 September 2026). This is general information, not legal advice: confirm with the court or a licensed lawyer.