UAE Wills

How Much Does a Will Cost in the UAE? Full 2026 Pricing Guide

The cost of a UAE will has two separate parts: the professional fee for preparing and legally reviewing it, and the registration fee charged by DIFC Courts, ADJD or Dubai Courts. This guide sets out both, and what the professional fee does and does not cover.

Ahmed Mohammedi · Managing Director

Published 8 September 2026 · 8 min read

Last editorial update: September 2026

Many residents and expatriates in the UAE ask the same question: how much does it actually cost to prepare and register a will in the UAE?

There is no single answer that fits every case, because the final cost is generally made up of two separate components:

The professional fees for preparing and legally reviewing the will.
The registration fees set by the competent authority, such as DIFC Courts, ADJD, or Dubai Courts.

Choosing the cheapest route also does not necessarily mean choosing the best one. What matters most is that the route suits your religion, nationality, the location of your assets, your family circumstances, and the type of legal protection you need.

To understand the legal framework behind these figures — the differences between the authorities, who needs which route, and what happens if you have no will at all — see our comprehensive guide to UAE wills for non-Muslims.

The short answer

Service	Professional fee
Standard individual will	AED 1,999 + VAT
Mirror Wills for two people	AED 2,999 + VAT
DIFC will	From AED 3,999 + VAT, confirmed after review

Court, registry and government fees are separate from Summit Legal Consultancy's professional fees and are added on top. They can vary depending on the type of will, the competent authority, and the requirements of each case.

How much does UAE Expat Wills charge?

Individual will — AED 1,999 + VAT

The professional fee for a standard individual will includes:

Preparation of one will based on your information and circumstances.
Human legal review by the legal team.
Legal translation of the will.
Review of the instructions and information provided.
A recommendation on the most suitable registration route.
Assistance preparing and submitting the application.
Reasonable revisions before final approval, subject to the terms of service.

VAT is added on top of this amount. It does not include the fee charged by the authority that will register the will.

Mirror Wills — AED 2,999 + VAT

This package covers the preparation of two separate, coordinated wills for two people, typically spouses.

Each person has an independent will and must provide their own instructions and approve their own will. Mirror Wills therefore does not mean one joint will — it means two separate wills prepared and reviewed in a coordinated way between both parties.

Government registration fees may apply to each will separately, depending on the competent authority.

DIFC wills — from AED 3,999 + VAT

DIFC wills are not a fixed price for every client. The professional fee varies depending on:

The type of DIFC will required.
The number and nature of the assets.
Whether there are minor children or guardianship arrangements.
Whether a foreign will exists, or assets are located outside the UAE.
The complexity of the instructions.
The need for specialised legal review or drafting.

The assessment and questionnaire are completed first. Summit Legal Consultancy then reviews the case and confirms the type of service and the price before requesting payment. No payment is taken for the DIFC route before the legal review is complete and the appropriate quote has been given.

DIFC will registration fees for 2026

These fees relate to registering the will with DIFC Courts and are separate from Summit Legal Consultancy's professional fees.

Will type	Individual will	Mirror Wills^*	Individual reservation fee	Mirror Wills reservation fee
Full Will — Form 1	AED 10,000	AED 15,000	AED 1,000	AED 2,000
Guardianship Will — Form 2	AED 5,000	AED 7,500	AED 500	AED 750
Property Will — Form 3	AED 7,500	AED 10,000	AED 750	AED 1,000
Business Owners Will — Form 4	AED 5,000	AED 7,500	AED 500	AED 750
Financial Assets Will — Form 5	AED 5,000	AED 7,500	AED 500	AED 750
Digital Assets Will — Form 6	AED 5,000	AED 7,500	AED 500	AED 750

^* Mirror Wills fees apply to spouses registering both wills at the same appointment.

The reservation fee is deducted from the service fee once registration is complete, but it may be non-refundable if the booked appointment is cancelled, subject to DIFC Courts' current terms. Always check the latest official fee schedule before booking or paying.

DIFC registration fees are paid to the competent authority and are not part of Summit's professional fees. DIFC Courts' official fees are also exempt from VAT, per the fee schedule published by the authority. Official DIFC Courts fee schedule

ADJD and Dubai Courts fees

Registration fees at ADJD and Dubai Courts vary depending on the service, the documents required, and procedural requirements.

Current estimates on the UAE Expat Wills pricing page are as follows:

ADJD civil will: approximately AED 950 for an ordinary will.
Dubai Courts will: approximately AED 2,100 per will.

These fees are estimates and subject to change. They are not a fixed quote or a guarantee of the final price. Fees and the suitable route are confirmed after reviewing your information and documents. Current pricing page

Is the cheapest route always the best?

Not necessarily.

Some routes may look less expensive at first glance, but the right decision should depend on how well the route actually fits your circumstances, not on price alone.

You should consider:

Your legal eligibility to register.
The type of assets and where they are located.
Whether you own property, bank accounts, or company shares.
Whether you have minor children or guardianship arrangements.
Whether you have a prior marriage or a blended family.
Whether you already have a will in another country.
The need to coordinate assets inside and outside the UAE.
Language, signing, and registration requirements.
The quality of the drafting and legal review.

A will prepared quickly through the wrong route can create bigger problems than one prepared after careful legal review.

The priority should therefore be a will that:

Is drafted according to your actual circumstances.
Has been reviewed by a specialist legal adviser.
Has had its registration route chosen after analysing your assets and family situation.
Sets out instructions in a way that can be understood and carried out.
Meets the requirements of the competent authority.

Why do you need a human legal review?

An online form alone cannot always catch:

The effect of a previous marriage or divorce.
Family members holding different nationalities.
Children from different relationships.
Jointly owned property.
Company shares and business interests.
The existence of a foreign will.
Conflicting beneficiary names.
Issues with guardianship or the executor.
Terms or arrangements that need specialised drafting.

That is why every will goes through a human legal review before the final draft is sent to the client for approval.

UAE Expat Wills is a digital platform owned and operated by Summit Legal Consultancy. It is not a court, registry, notary or government authority. Final registration is carried out by the competent authority and in accordance with its requirements.

What isn't included in the professional fee?

The standard professional fee typically does not include:

DIFC Courts, ADJD or Dubai Courts fees.
Court, registry or notary fees.
Attestation or authentication fees that a particular authority may require.
Courier or express shipping fees.
Additional translator or interpreter fees, where the case requires them.
Specialised services outside the scope of a standard will.
Specialist advice on disputes, estates, or complex structures, unless separately agreed.

If the legal review identifies a need for a different service or additional work, the affected step is paused and the scope and cost are explained before any additional fee is charged.

Does payment mean the will is registered right away?

No.

Payment does not mean the will has been prepared, approved, or registered. After payment on the standard route:

You complete the detailed questionnaire.
You provide the required documents.
The legal team reviews your information.
The draft is prepared.
You review the draft and request the included revisions.
You approve the final version.
Registration with the competent authority begins.

For the DIFC route, the assessment and legal review are completed first, and the type of will and price are then confirmed before payment is requested.

Frequently asked questions about the cost of wills in the UAE

How much does a will cost in the UAE?

A standard individual will starts from AED 1,999 + VAT. A Mirror Wills package costs AED 2,999 + VAT. These are professional fees only and do not include government registration fees.

Do couples pay the fee twice?

No. The Mirror Wills package costs AED 2,999 + VAT and covers two separate, coordinated wills. Government registration fees, however, may be charged per will depending on the competent authority.

Are DIFC registration fees included in Summit's fees?

No. DIFC Courts fees are separate and are paid to the competent authority.

How much does a DIFC Full Will cost?

The official registration fee is AED 10,000 for an individual will and AED 15,000 for Mirror Wills, in addition to the professional fee, which starts from AED 3,999 + VAT and is confirmed after the case is reviewed.

Is the reservation fee refundable?

The reservation fee is deducted from the service fee, but it may be non-refundable if the appointment is cancelled, subject to DIFC Courts' current terms.

Can I choose the cheapest authority myself?

You can express a preference, but Summit reviews your circumstances and assets and gives you the appropriate legal recommendation. The choice is not based on price alone.

Is a registered will always guaranteed to be accepted?

There are no absolute guarantees. Registration is subject to the requirements of the competent authority, and every case differs depending on the information, documents, and legal circumstances involved.

When are DIFC fees paid?

The assessment and questionnaire are completed first. Summit then reviews the case and confirms the type of will, scope, and price before requesting payment.

Conclusion

The cost of a will in the UAE is not a single number. It needs to be separated into:

The fee for preparing and reviewing the will.
The registration fee charged by the competent authority.
Any additional services or requirements that may arise depending on the case.

The best decision is not always the cheapest route — it is choosing the right legal route, with a will carefully drafted and reviewed by a specialist legal adviser with deep practical experience.

To understand the full legal framework before deciding, read our comprehensive guide to UAE wills for non-Muslims, then start your free assessment to find out the likely route for your circumstances, and let the legal team confirm the right authority and final cost before you proceed.

Legal disclaimer: This article is for general awareness only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws, fees and procedures may change, so the latest requirements and fees should be confirmed with the competent authority before registering or paying. Legal disclaimer