Using a Foreign Will in the UAE: What You Need to Know

You can absolutely keep your home-country Will valid while living in the UAE. In fact, many expatriates maintain a foreign Will for overseas assets while using a UAE Will for local property and guardianship. There are two recognized methods to ensure your foreign Will remains legally effective:

1. DIFC Will Covering Foreign Assets

A DIFC Will can include assets located outside the UAE, provided the foreign jurisdiction accepts a DIFC-issued probate order. Because the DIFC operates under a common-law framework, it aligns naturally with countries such as:

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• United Kingdom
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• United States
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• Singapore
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• India
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• Australia
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How it works:

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• You register a Will in the DIFC that includes foreign assets.
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• When you pass away, DIFC probate is initiated.
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• The DIFC Court issues an execution approval or probate order specific to the foreign jurisdiction.
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• That document is then used to commence local probate in the relevant country.
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This makes DIFC the most seamless option for individuals with cross-border estates.

2. Embassy or Consulate Attestation

Many embassies in the UAE allow expatriates to sign and attest a home-country Will before a consular officer.

Once attested, the Will is fully valid for use in the home country’s legal system.

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• Indian nationals typically use IVS Global (outsourced by the Indian Embassy/Consulate) to notarize and register their Wills.
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• Other embassies offer similar attestation services depending on their national procedures.
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This option is ideal if you prefer to keep your Will strictly governed by your home country’s laws.

Key Point

Both approaches ensure that UAE residents can secure their non-UAE assets while living abroad.

The choice depends on whether you want a UAE-based Will with international reach (DIFC) or to maintain a locally recognized Will in your home country (embassy attestation).

Either way, your foreign assets remain protected and legally transmissible according to your intentions.