Who Can Witness a Will in the UAE? Rules for DIFC, Dubai Courts and Abu Dhabi
A DIFC will needs two adult witnesses with valid ID who are not beneficiaries, guardians or their spouses. Family, friends and even your executor can qualify, and witnesses can join by video from abroad. Here is what each UAE route asks for, and the one mistake that can cost a beneficiary their gift.
For a DIFC Courts will, you need two witnesses who are at least 18, carry a valid passport, Emirates ID or other government photo ID, and are not beneficiaries or guardians in your will, or married to one. Family members, friends and even your executor can witness if they meet those conditions, and they can join the signing by video from anywhere in the world. For a will registered with the Dubai Courts, Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 also requires the will to be signed in front of two witnesses. Abu Dhabi's civil will routes work through a notary instead, and their published guidance does not ask you to bring witnesses.
Choosing witnesses sounds like an afterthought, but it is one of the few things that can quietly undo part of a will. Here is what each UAE route actually asks for, and how to pick people who will not cause problems later.
How many witnesses does a will need in the UAE?
It depends on where you register it.
- DIFC Courts Wills Service (Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah assets): two witnesses. The DIFC Courts Wills FAQ says every registration and modification appointment, in person or online, "must be attended by the Testator(s) and two (2) Witnesses."
- Dubai Courts register of non-Muslim wills: two witnesses. Article 8 of Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 makes it a condition of registration that the testator signed the will, or added a seal or fingerprint, "in the presence of two (2) witnesses."
- Abu Dhabi (ADJD Civil Wills Office, and ADGM's Notary and Wills Office): the will is notarised at an online appointment with a notary. Neither the ADJD Civil Family Court wills FAQ nor the ADGM wills FAQ lists witnesses among the requirements. That is not a promise that no witness will ever be asked for, so follow the instructions you receive with your own application.
If you are still deciding between these routes, our guide to registering a DIFC will and our guide to registering an ADJD will explain how each one works end to end.
Who can be a witness for a DIFC will?
The DIFC Courts set out four conditions. A witness must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Bring a valid passport, Emirates ID or other government-issued photo ID to the appointment, and you upload a copy when you book.
- Not be a beneficiary or a guardian named in the will.
- Not be the spouse of a beneficiary or a guardian.
Anyone who meets those conditions can witness, including relatives. The FAQ says this in plain words: "Anyone meeting these requirements, including family members, may act as Witnesses to a Will signing."
A few points people often miss:
- Your executor can be a witness, if they are not also a beneficiary or guardian. Rule 12 of the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules confirms a person may witness "even though he is an Executor." That matters because many people name their spouse as executor and main beneficiary, and in that case the spouse cannot witness. Our post on choosing an executor for your will covers that trade-off.
- A registered Wills Draftsman can be one of the two witnesses if they prepared your will.
- Witnesses do not need to live in the UAE. The DIFC Courts say witnesses can join the video appointment from anywhere and are not required to be UAE residents.
- Witnesses need basic English. The DIFC Courts Wills Service does not currently accept translators for signing appointments, and both testators and witnesses must have a basic grasp of English.
Can a beneficiary witness a will in Dubai?
No, and this is the mistake with real consequences. Under Rule 12 of the DIFC Rules, if a will makes a gift to a witness or a witness's spouse, the will itself stays valid, but that gift is void. The rest of the will still works for everyone else. So if your brother witnesses a will that leaves him your car, the will survives and your brother loses the car.
The DIFC Courts go further on attendance. Beneficiaries, guardians and their spouses should not even be present at the signing, which the court says reduces the risk of a challenge at probate on grounds such as undue influence. The one exception in the FAQ is a couple signing mirror wills together, where each spouse is a beneficiary of the other.
The Dubai Courts law sets the two-witness rule but does not spell out the same beneficiary restriction in that article. Our practical advice is the same for every route: pick witnesses who receive nothing under the will and are not married to anyone who does.
Who makes a good witness in practice?
The legal test is simple. The practical test is whether that person will reliably turn up, on camera or in person, at the time you booked, with valid ID. Appointments fail more often for boring reasons than legal ones.
Good choices are usually:
- A colleague or friend who is not mentioned in the will.
- An adult relative who is not a beneficiary, for example a cousin, where you are leaving everything to your spouse and children.
- Your Wills Draftsman, for one of the two places.
Before the appointment, check that both witnesses' IDs will still be valid on the day, that their names match the copies you uploaded, and that they have a quiet room with a stable connection if they are joining online. The DIFC Courts also ask that nobody else is in the room or within earshot during a virtual signing, because a will is confidential and an audience can later be used to question it.
What if a witness turns out to be a beneficiary?
If you spot it before the appointment, change the witness. If the will is already registered, the gift to that witness (or their spouse) is at risk under Rule 12, even though the will remains valid. The fix is to update the will at a modification appointment with two new, eligible witnesses. We explain when an update is worth doing in our post on updating a DIFC will after marriage, divorce or a new child.
Frequently asked questions
Can a family member witness a will in the UAE?
Yes, for a DIFC Courts will, as long as they are at least 18, have valid photo ID, and are not a beneficiary or guardian in the will or the spouse of one. The DIFC Courts say this expressly.
Can the executor of my will also be a witness?
Yes, if they are not also a beneficiary or guardian. The DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules allow an executor to act as a witness, and the DIFC Courts FAQ confirms this.
Do will witnesses have to be UAE residents?
Not for a DIFC Courts will. Witnesses can join the video signing from any country and do not need to live in the UAE. They do need valid photo ID and enough English to follow the appointment.
What happens if a beneficiary witnesses my will?
Under the DIFC Rules, the will stays valid but any gift to that witness or their spouse becomes void. Everyone else still inherits as the will says.
Does an Abu Dhabi ADJD will need witnesses?
ADJD's published wills guidance does not list witnesses as a requirement; registration ends with an online appointment before a notary. Follow the instructions in your own application, since the court can ask for more.
The Deedbox prepares DIFC wills, ADJD wills and powers of attorney, and books the registration appointment with you. We are not a law firm, so if your estate is complex or a will may be contested, take legal advice.
Sources reviewed 27 October 2026: DIFC Courts Wills FAQ; DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules (Rules 9 and 12); Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017, Article 8; ADJD Civil Family Court wills FAQ; ADGM Courts Notary Public and Wills Office FAQ. Requirements can change, so confirm with the registry before your appointment.