For years, the honest caveat lawyers attached to DIFC wills was procedural: the DIFC Courts would grant probate, but executing it against onshore Dubai assets could involve an extra recognition step before the Dubai Courts — more time, more cost, more uncertainty for a grieving family.
Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 removed that caveat.
What the law changed
Enacted in March 2025, the law restructured the jurisdictional framework of the DIFC Courts. For families with a registered DIFC will, two changes matter:
Exclusive jurisdiction. The DIFC Courts now have exclusive authority over wills registered through the DIFC Wills Service — including issuing the probate order itself. No parallel or competing onshore proceedings over the same will.
Direct enforcement. A DIFC probate order is now executed directly by the authorities that hold your assets: the Dubai Land Department transfers the property, banks release the accounts, the RTA re-registers the vehicles. The previous recognition proceedings before Dubai Courts are no longer required for Dubai assets.
What this means in practice
- Faster distribution. Removing a full court procedure from the chain shortens the time between death and distribution — often the most painful stretch for a family whose accounts are frozen.
- Lower costs. One court, one procedure, one set of fees.
- Predictability. Your English-language will is interpreted by the common-law court it was written for, start to finish.
Who should act on this
Existing DIFC will holders: your position just improved; this is a good moment to review whether your will still reflects your assets and guardianship wishes.
Expats who hesitated because of the old two-step process: the main structural objection to the DIFC route is gone. If your assets are concentrated in Dubai, the DIFC will is now a genuinely end-to-end solution.
Owners of assets outside Dubai: the direct-enforcement mechanism is a Dubai law. For assets in other emirates, a Dubai Courts (UAE) will — or a dual strategy — remains the right conversation to have with counsel.
Mr. Niaz Brohi, who leads our DIFC wills practice, offers a fixed-scope review of existing wills and a full drafting-to-registration service for new ones, with video-conference registration available.
This article is general information, not legal advice.