Legal firms specialising in estate planning in Dubai report a marked rise in demand for wills among expatriate residents, particularly those aged 35 to 44. One legal consultancy active in this field receives between 100 and 150 inquiries a month, with 30 to 40 percent converting into completed wills — a roughly 20 percent increase compared with the previous twelve months.
Estate planning specialists say the mindset around wills has shifted: it is no longer viewed as something reserved for later life, but as a practical step tied to key milestones. About 60 percent of clients have children, a similar share own property in the UAE, and roughly half cite guardianship arrangements for their children as a primary motivation for seeking legal advice.
Lawyers point to buying property, starting a family, launching a business, or accumulating significant local assets as the main triggers pushing residents toward formal estate planning. Several practitioners describe the change as cultural as much as legal, noting that long-term residents increasingly see wills as a normal part of settling permanently in the UAE rather than an afterthought.
The trend has coincided with the continued use of dedicated legal frameworks that allow non-Muslim and non-Emirati residents to register wills in Dubai, simplifying how family assets and child guardianship are handled under UAE law. Advisers recommend that newly arrived families, as well as those who have recently bought property or had children, register a will as early as possible to avoid legal uncertainty for their dependents down the line.