Q
Guide: Wills and Estates ยท 5 minute read
Full Will in the UAE: What It Covers and What It Costs
A
A full will is one document that covers everything you want to settle: your assets, who receives them, who looks after your children and who carries out your wishes. We draft the full will and check every clause, prepare the Arabic text through a legal translator, and our in-house notary public notarises your signing in person at our Battuta Gate office, online or on a home visit.
At a Glance
We draft the will and check every clause before you sign.
Our in-house notary public checks the identity, capacity and consent of the people signing and applies the seal.
In Dubai, a notarised instrument is in Arabic, or comes with a certified Arabic translation signed with it.
Our price for a will starts from AED 4,000. The registry fee is separate.
You choose the registry where the will is registered, and the appointment is set with that registry.
WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790 and tell us what you own and who you want to name.
What a Full Will Covers
A short will names one thing, such as a single property. A full will deals with your whole estate in one place. It is the right choice when you own more than one type of asset or have a family to protect.
A full will usually has these parts:
- Beneficiaries: who receives what, and in which shares.
- Assets: property, bank accounts, vehicles, business shares and other holdings.
- Guardian: who looks after your minor children.
- Executor: who carries out the will when the time comes.
- Wishes: any specific gifts or instructions you want written down.
We prepare documents. We do not represent people in court. If a dispute or a court case is involved, you need a practising advocate. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022, Article 6, representation before the courts is reserved to lawyers licensed in the UAE.
Full Will Requirements
A full will works only if it says clearly who gets what. Before we start, decide these points:
01
Who are your beneficiaries, and what share does each one receive?
02
Who is your guardian for minor children, if you have any?
03
Who is your executor?
04
Which assets are inside the UAE, and which are in other countries?
05
Which registry do you want to use?
If you are not sure about the registry, our page on how to register a will in the UAE explains the choices. A will for one purpose only is a different document: see our pages on a guardianship will and a property will.
Checklist
Full Will Documents Required
Bring or send us:
Your passport and your Emirates ID.
A list of your assets, with the details of each one.
The full names and passport details of your beneficiaries, guardian and executor.
Title documents for any property you want to name.
Any earlier will you have made.
A will signed in the wrong language is a common reason for delay. In Dubai, a notarised instrument is in Arabic, or comes with a certified Arabic translation signed with it, as set out in Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013, Article 27, on the Dubai Legislation Portal. Translations for official use are done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. We prepare the Arabic text through a legal translator.
Full Will Procedure
01
Tell us what you own
Send us your list of assets and the names you want to include.
02
We draft
We write the will and check every clause with you.
03
Arabic text
A legal translator prepares the Arabic version.
04
You sign before our in-house notary public
You sign in person at our office, online or on a home visit. The notary checks your ID and applies the seal.
05
Registration
The will is registered with the registry you choose. The appointment is set with that registry, not with us.
Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession. Dubai has its own registries and rules, so choose the registry before you sign.
Prices
Full Will Fees
Our service price and the government fee are two separate lines.
| Item | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full will, drafted and notarised | from AED 4,000 | The registry fee, set by the registry you choose |
| Legal translation | from AED 50 per page | None from us |
| Home visit | Quoted when you ask | None |
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
Full Will Processing Time
The time depends on how ready your papers are, the legal translation and the appointment the registry offers. We do not promise a number of days. The UAE government weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with Friday a half day, so plan around that.
If you have a date you must meet, tell us when you message.
Watch for
Mistakes That Get the Will Refused
01
Naming an asset without its full details.
02
Leaving out a guardian when you have young children.
03
Signing before the Arabic text is ready.
04
Using a name that does not match your passport.
05
Treating a short will as a full will when you own several kinds of assets.
How We Prepare It
We draft the document, check every clause, prepare the Arabic text through a legal translator, and our in-house notary public notarises it. If you only need a simple typed document, we will tell you so. For a broader overview, see our will writing service in Dubai, or read about wills at Dubai Courts and at the DIFC.
Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
If your question is not here, ask it on WhatsApp. Tell us what the document is for and who will sign it.
How much does a full will cost?
Our price for a will starts from AED 4,000, and the registry fee is separate. We confirm your final price before you pay. Translation and a home visit are quoted on their own.
How long does a full will take?
It depends on your papers, the Arabic text and the registry appointment, so we cannot give a fixed time. Tell us your date when you message and we explain what can be planned.
What documents are required for a full will?
You need your passport and Emirates ID, a list of your assets and the details of the people you name. Add title documents for property and any earlier will.
Can a full will be done online?
You can sign before our in-house notary public online, in person at our office or on a home visit. We tell you which route fits your case. The registry sets its own appointment.
How to register a will in the UAE: choosing where to register
How to register a will in the UAE: the questions that decide between DIFC, the Dubai Courts notary and Abu Dhabi, and how each route changes the drafting.
Read more about Will registration
Can a lawyer be a notary in the UAE?
Can a lawyer be a notary in Dubai and the UAE? Yes, once registered as a private notary. Who may notarise, how to check, and what a lawyer alone can sign.
Read more about Can a lawyer be a notary?
Is a lawyer a notary public? The difference between a notary and an advocate in the UAE
Is a lawyer a notary public in the UAE? Not automatically. The plain answer under UAE and Dubai law, and how a notary differs from an advocate.
Read more about Is a lawyer a notary?
The UAE Attorney General office: what it does and how it differs by emirate
What the UAE Attorney General office does, how the federal prosecution differs from Dubai and Abu Dhabi prosecution, and the documents people need.
Read more about UAE Attorney General office
Next Step
Call or WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790, or email support@notariolawyersuae.com. Tell us what the document is for and who will sign it, and we will reply with what it needs and a starting price. Our office is on the 10th floor, Battuta Gate offices, Dubai, UAE. You can also message us on WhatsApp.
Our services