- Rules & Directions
- The Rules
- Useful Documents
- Practice Directions
- DIFC Court Orders
The Wills Service was established by Resolution No. 4 of 2014 issued by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the President of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and its authority re-affirmed by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 issued by his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, regulating inheritance, wills and probate for non-Muslims.
The Wills Service provides administrative support to the DIFC Courts Wills Registry for Non-Muslims where the register of DIFC Courts Wills is held and where all probate matters and probate claims are handled.
The Wills Service and the Registry are governed by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 and a set of detailed rules as amended and supplemented by Practice Directions issued from time to time by the DIFC Courts. The Rules were developed by reference to international best practice and are based on ‘Common Law’ principles. The Rules echo the laws of the UK, Singapore and Malaysia and accord with UAE public policy and the spirit of UAE laws which provide non-Muslims the right to choose their home country law to govern inheritance matters.
The Wills Service is subject to the jurisdiction of the DIFC Courts and it is through these Courts that Orders (‘Probate Orders’) directing the distribution of the deceased’s estate and/or the appointment of guardians in accordance with the Will are issued.
The Rules were issued pursuant to the Dispute Resolution Authority Order No.1 of 2015, dated 29 April 2015 (as amended by subsequent Practice Directions listed below) and are set out in the following document:
The DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules (effective 30 June 2019)
The Dispute Resolution Authority Order No. 3 of 2019 In Respect of the DIFC Courts’ Wills and Probate Registry Rules
The Dispute Resolution Authority Order No. 2 of 2017 In Respect of the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry and the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules
The Dispute Resolution Authority Order No. 1 of 2015 In Respect of the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules
The following documents are the most frequently requested.
| Document Type | Extracts from the Registry Rules | Document | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Full Will | Schedule 1 - Form of Will 1 | Download DOC | Download PDF |
 |
Guardianship Will | Schedule 1 - Form of Will 2 | Download DOC | Download PDF |
 |
Property Will | Schedule 1 - Form of Will 3 | Download PDF | |
 |
Business Owners Will | Schedule 1 – Form of Will 4 | Download PDF | |
 |
Financial Assets Will | Schedule 1 - Form of Will 5 | Download PDF | |
| Guardianship Witness Statement (pro forma) | Download DOC | Download PDF | ||
| Declaration- PD 1 of 2016 |
Download DOC | Download PDF | ||
The Rules have been amended and supplemented by the following Practice Directions issued by the DIFC Courts:
| Practice Direction Number | Title | Description | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 1 of 2018 | The Business Owners Will | Amendments to the WPR Rules to reflect the extension of Schedule 1 – Form of Will 4 to allow for the nomination and transfer of shareholdings in any type of company incorporated in the Emirate of Dubai or the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah | 2 July 2018 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 8 of 2017 | The WPR Rules | Amendments to the WPR Rules to reflect the WPR’s name change and the creation of the DIFC Courts Wills Registry for Non-Muslims | 28 November 2017 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 7 of 2017 | DIFC Wills and Probate Registry’s Form of Will 5 | Introduction of the WPR’s Financial Assets Will as Form of Will 5 | 19 October 2017 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 6 of 2017 | The WPR Rules | Amendments to Rules 9 and 10 of the Registry Rules and addition of definition of Authorised Service Provider | 5 October 2017 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 5 of 2017 | The WPR’s Fees | List of the current fees of the WPR | 5 October 2017 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 4 of 2017 | The WPR’s Fee | The WPR’s Fees | 12 May 2017 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 3 of 2017 | DIFC Wills and Probate Registry’s Form of Will 4 | Introduction of the WPR's Business Owners Will as Form of Will 4 | 10 May 2017 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 2 of 2017 | The WPR Rules | Amendment to Rule 10 section (8) of the WPR Rules regarding out of office Will registrations | 3 April 2017 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 1 of 2017 | The WPR Rules | Extension of the WPR Rules to the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah | 5 March 2017 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 4 of 2016 | The WPR’s Fees | List of the current fees of the WPR | 7 September 2016 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 3 of 2016 | The WPR’s Property Will | Introduction of the WPR’s Property Will as Form of Will 3 | 7 September 2016 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 2 of 2016 | The WPR’s Definition of Probate Practitioner | Clarification of the definition of ‘Probate Practitioner’ as contained in the WPR Rules | 1 June 2016 | Download PDF |
| DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Practice Direction No. 1 of 2016 | The WPR’s Register of Will Draftsmen | Rules governing the requirements to be registered on the Register of Will Draftsmen | 9 February 2016 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 2 of 2015 | The Probate Application Forms and Witness Statement | Probate application forms, guardians witness statements and executor witness statement in DIFC Wills and Probate matters | 29 April 2015 | Download PDF |
| Dispute Resolution Authority Practice Direction 1 of 2015 | The WPR’s Fees | Initial list of fees of the WPR | 29 April 2015 | Download PDF |
The Rules and associated Practice Directions should be read in conjunction with the following DIFC Courts Order(s):
| DIFC Courts Order Number | Title | Description | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIFC Courts Order No. 2 of 2015 | The Rules of the DIFC Courts - Part 55 | Contains Rules about probate, probate claims, rectification of Wills and claims and applications relating to removal and substitution of executors. | 29 April 2015 | Download PDF |