How to Choose an Executor for Your Will in the UAE
An executor carries out your will after you die. Here is what the role involves under Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 and the DIFC Courts Wills Service, who can act, and how to choose a first and substitute executor.
An executor of a will in the UAE is the person you name to carry out your wishes after you die: they deal with the court, gather the assets your will covers and pass them to your beneficiaries. For a non-Muslim will registered in Dubai, naming one is not optional, and who you pick matters as much as what you leave. This guide explains what the role involves, who can do it and how to choose well.
Do you have to name an executor in a UAE will?
Yes, if you want to register a non-Muslim will in Dubai. Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017, which covers the wills and estates of non-Muslims in the emirate, lists the conditions for registering a will in Article 8, and one of them is that "the Will must nominate an Executor and must state how the willed property will be disposed of."
The DIFC Courts Wills Service builds the same idea into its templates. Its wills FAQ describes the executor as "the individual responsible for administering your Will in the event of your death", and the template Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets Wills ask you for a "First Executor" and a "Second Executor".
So the practical question is not whether to name someone, but who.
What does an executor actually do?
An executor turns the will from a document into a result. Under Article 15 of Law No. 15 of 2017, and under the supervision of the competent court, the executor's duties include making an inventory of the willed property, taking possession of it, collecting any rights attached to it, dealing with government and non-government bodies to implement the will, and representing beneficiaries in claims about the will.
Article 16 adds standards of conduct. The executor must manage the property "in good faith and with the due diligence a prudent person would exercise", keep separate records, not use the property for their own benefit unless authorised, and keep the will's accounts confidential. Article 19 requires them to report to the court on their work, including a detailed statement of accounts.
For a DIFC Courts Will, the FAQ sets out the first step: after the testator's death, "your executor should contact the DIFC Courts with a copy of the death certificate, following which they will be guided through the Probate process." The executor can handle the probate application personally or appoint a legal practitioner to help.
In plain terms, you are choosing someone who will:
- notify the registry and start probate
- gather information and documents the court asks for
- deal with banks, developers, brokers and authorities on behalf of the estate
- keep clear records and account to the court
- hand over assets to the people you named
Who can be an executor of a will in the UAE?
The rules depend on where your will is registered, so read the condition from the registry or law that applies to your will rather than from a general checklist.
Under Article 14 of Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017, an executor must:
- be of full capacity
- not have been convicted of a felony or crime affecting honour and trustworthiness, unless rehabilitated
- not have been declared bankrupt or insolvent, unless rehabilitated
- declare their acceptance to implement the will
- "not have any interest in the willed property"
The DIFC Courts Wills Service FAQ, for wills registered there, says two things that matter for most expat families:
- Residency: "There is no requirement under the Rules for executors and/or guardians appointed in your Will to be residents of the UAE."
- Beneficiaries: "Executors may also be Beneficiaries in a Will."
These two sources are worded differently on the beneficiary point. The law's Article 14 lists "not have any interest in the willed property", while the DIFC FAQ allows an executor to be a beneficiary. We do not try to reconcile them here. If you want your spouse or adult child to be both executor and beneficiary, confirm the position with the registry handling your will, or with a qualified legal adviser, before you sign.
How do you choose the right executor?
Pick someone you trust who can realistically do the work, and name a backup. Trust is the starting point, but an executor also needs time, organisation and access.
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Do I trust them with money and family conflict? | They will hold assets and deal with every beneficiary. |
| Will they be reachable when needed? | Probate starts with contacting the registry, and delays slow the whole estate. |
| Are they organised with paperwork? | The court expects inventories, records and accounts, not just a signature. |
| Are they likely to outlive me, or at least be well? | An executor who cannot act leaves the court to find a replacement. |
| Would they accept the role? | Article 14 requires the executor to declare acceptance. Ask them first. |
A few patterns come up often in expat families:
- Spouse as first executor, adult sibling or friend as second. Common, but check the beneficiary point above if your spouse also inherits.
- Someone living overseas. The DIFC FAQ says executors do not need to be UAE residents, but think about time zones, travel and whether they can sign and send documents quickly.
- A professional. Some people name a professional executor or expect their executor to hire a legal practitioner. The DIFC FAQ confirms an executor may appoint one to assist.
Why name a substitute executor?
A substitute gives the court someone ready to step in if your first choice cannot or will not act. The DIFC FAQ says you may appoint "a substitute executor(s)" for a Full Will, and its template wills prompt you for a Second Executor.
Under Dubai law the order matters too. Article 14(b) says that where there is no executor, the court appoints one in this order: the alternative executor named in the will, then an executor chosen by the beneficiary or their guardian, then anyone else the court decides. Naming a substitute keeps that decision with you.
Can an executor also be a witness or a guardian?
Sometimes, and the rules are specific. The DIFC FAQ says you need two witnesses "who are not named as a beneficiary or guardian (or spouse of the beneficiary or guardian) in the Will", and that "your executor may act as your Witness if they are eligible." So an executor who is not also a beneficiary or guardian can witness; one who inherits cannot.
Executor and guardian are separate roles. A guardian looks after minor children; an executor looks after assets. You can name the same person for both, but many parents prefer to split them. Our guide to appointing a guardian for children in the UAE covers the guardianship side.
Can you change your executor later?
Yes, but at DIFC it means making a new will, not editing a field. The DIFC FAQ says that to change executors or beneficiaries you must modify and register a new will through the portal, and quotes a modification fee of AED 550 (checked 23 October 2026; fees can change). Updating an executor's phone number, address or passport details, by contrast, is an administrative change with no fee.
Life events can also change things automatically. The DIFC FAQ states that marriage after registration invalidates your will in its entirety, and that after a divorce, gifts or appointments to a former spouse are treated as though the former spouse had died. If your executor is your spouse, a divorce can therefore remove them from the role. Our post on updating a DIFC will after marriage, divorce or a new child walks through those triggers.
Where The Deedbox fits
The Deedbox prepares will documents and coordinates the registration route; the registry itself registers the will, and the court decides probate. If you are deciding between registries first, compare the routes in DIFC vs Dubai Courts vs ADJD wills. When you are ready, our DIFC will preparation service collects your executor, substitute and beneficiary details, and couples registering together can look at mirror wills.
Frequently asked questions
Does my executor need to live in the UAE?
Not for a DIFC Courts Will. The DIFC Courts Wills FAQ states there is no requirement under its Rules for executors or guardians named in the will to be UAE residents. Choose someone who can still respond quickly and handle documents from where they live.
Can my executor also inherit under my will?
The DIFC Courts Wills FAQ says executors may also be beneficiaries. Article 14 of Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 lists, among executor requirements, that the executor must not have any interest in the willed property. Because the two are worded differently, confirm the position for your registry before naming a beneficiary as executor.
What happens if my executor dies before me or refuses to act?
Under Article 14(b) of Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017, the court appoints the alternative executor named in the will first, then an executor chosen by the beneficiary or their guardian, then anyone else the court decides. Naming a substitute executor keeps that choice with you.
What is the first thing an executor does after a death in Dubai?
For a DIFC Courts Will, the DIFC Courts FAQ says the executor should contact the DIFC Courts with a copy of the death certificate and will then be guided through probate. The executor may handle the application personally or appoint a legal practitioner.
How much does it cost to change my executor on a DIFC will?
Changing an executor at DIFC means registering a modified will. The DIFC Courts Wills FAQ quotes AED 550 for a modification (checked 23 October 2026). Updating an executor's contact or passport details carries no fee.
Sources reviewed: 23 October 2026. Authority requirements and fees can change; the authority's current publication controls.