A Dubai Courts non-Muslim will is the mainland Dubai route for registering a will within Dubai’s court framework. It is usually most relevant for non-Muslim expats who want both will registration and future probate to stay inside the Dubai Courts system rather than use DIFC.
This option is often chosen by people with a straightforward Dubai asset profile, such as one or more local properties, UAE bank accounts, or a simple family estate plan. Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 created a register for non-Muslim wills at both Dubai Courts and DIFC Courts, which is why expats in Dubai usually start by comparing these two routes.
Why many expats choose the Dubai Courts route
The main attraction of the Dubai Courts route is that it keeps everything in mainland Dubai and within the local judicial system. For many families, that means a familiar court path for future estate administration, especially when the estate is not complex.
Dubai Courts also has a dedicated division for non-Muslim inheritance and will execution. In practice, this gives non-Muslims a clearer mainland structure for registering and implementing wills under Dubai’s own framework.
Main advantages:
- mainland Dubai route for will registration and probate
- practical fit for straightforward family and property planning
- recognized under Dubai’s non-Muslim estate law
- process that stays within the Dubai Courts framework
- potentially lower government-fee level than DIFC, subject to live schedules
Who the Dubai Courts will is usually best for
This route is usually best for non-Muslim expats who want a mainland Dubai process and do not need DIFC’s product-by-product will structure. It typically fits estates centered on Dubai property, local accounts, and a relatively standard family distribution plan.
It also works for those comfortable with an Arabic-first court environment and prepared to handle translation and formatting. Overall, it is less about modular planning and more about using Dubai’s own court framework from registration through later estate administration.
Legal framework for non-Muslim wills in Dubai
Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 is the core Dubai law for administering estates and implementing wills of non-Muslims in the Emirate of Dubai. It expressly provides for a register of non-Muslim wills at Dubai Courts and DIFC Courts, which is the legal basis behind the two main Dubai routes.
For expats, this means the Dubai Courts route is not an informal workaround but a defined mainland option for non-Muslim will registration and probate.
Why the dedicated non-Muslim inheritance division matters
The dedicated division for non-Muslim inheritance and will execution at Dubai Courts signals that this area is handled more visibly and deliberately within Dubai’s judicial system. For expats and families, it supports the idea that a Dubai Courts non-Muslim will is a real planning route, not just a fallback, and that non-Muslim estate matters now sit inside a clearer service structure.
When a Dubai Courts will is a good fit: short scenarios
- One Dubai property and a simple family estate. You own an apartment and want a clear mainland succession path for a spouse and children.
- Preference for Dubai Courts probate. You want the estate process to stay inside Dubai Courts rather than pass through DIFC probate first.
- Budget-conscious planning. You do not need a separate business-owner or digital-asset will and want a potentially lower-fee mainland alternative, subject to the live schedule.
- Straightforward family and property planning. The estate mainly covers property, accounts, and ordinary family distribution without complex founder succession.
Corporate succession through Dubai Courts
Company shares can form part of a Dubai Courts non-Muslim estate plan, but the courts do not offer a dedicated business-owner will product like DIFC. Founders should therefore assess carefully whether a general mainland will is enough for their structure.
As always, a will is only one layer of protection for company interests. Constitutional documents, shareholder arrangements, and signing-authority rules still control who can manage and represent the company day to day after a shareholder’s death.
Dubai Courts requirements
The testator must be a non-Muslim using the non-Muslim will framework in Dubai, and the file must be internally consistent. Any mismatch between personal details, asset evidence, or beneficiary information can delay registration or later probate.
Applicants should expect an Arabic-first environment. Even if drafting support is in English, certified Arabic translation and mainland-formatted documents often become part of the process.
Dubai Courts will costs in 2026
| Item | Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Dubai Courts government registration fee | Check the live schedule before filing |
| Legal drafting support | Varies |
| Certified Arabic translation, if needed | Varies |
| Notary or attestation-related support | Varies |
The Dubai Courts route is usually less expensive than DIFC at the government-fee level, but the live fee schedule should be verified immediately before filing. The cost of a single will is approximately AED 2,167, while mirror wills would cost around AED 4,334. In practice, it is easier to budget by separating government fees from third-party work such as drafting, translation, and document preparation.
How Dubai Courts registration usually works
- Map the estate and confirm that a mainland-focused, relatively simple plan suits Dubai Courts.
- Prepare the draft will and supporting documents so names and ownership records match exactly.
- Prepare for the mainland environment, including Arabic drafting or certified translation where required.
- Submit through the Dubai Courts non-Muslim will route according to the current filing and payment procedures.
- Keep the final registration record accessible so the executor or family can initiate Dubai Courts probate when needed.
Typical document requirements:
- passport copy
- Emirates ID, if applicable
- UAE contact details and address
- marriage certificate, if relevant
- children’s details, if relevant
- property title deed or official property records
- bank or investment account details, if relevant
- company documents and shareholding proof, if relevant
- draft will prepared for the mainland filing route
FAQ
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Is the Dubai Courts route only for Dubai property owners?
No. It is often used for Dubai-based property and mainland estate planning, but it can also cover a broader local asset mix where the client prefers the Dubai Courts route
Are Dubai Courts usually cheaper than DIFC?
Typically, yes, at the government-fee level, but the current schedule should always be checked, and translation and drafting costs may change the overall budget.
Can company shares be covered through this route?
They can form part of the estate plan, but there is no separate business-owner will product, which is why many founders compare Dubai Courts with DIFC before deciding.
Is the process English-only?
No. This is generally an Arabic-first mainland court environment, which is one of the main practical differences compared with the DIFC wills route.
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Andrey Ovchinnikov
Co-founder & CEO
Founded Emirabiz in 2013. Structures UAE companies and owns the sourced pricing dataset behind every figure on this site. Every figure he signs off traces to a named primary source with a verification date.
Written by Alexander Pokhozhaev ·Published August 7, 2018 ·Last updated May 29, 2025