--- title: Free UAE Wills, Trusts & Foundations Guide | The Expat Guru description: Download the free UAE Wills, Trusts & Foundations guide. DIFC, ADJD and Dubai Courts wills registries compared, foundations versus trusts explained, and the DIFC, ADGM and RAK ICC foundation regimes side by side. From Naveed Hussain, The Expat Guru. --- ![The Expat Guru](https://files.manuscdn.com/user_upload_by_module/session_file/310519663207643146/NAIEwNuWFPmkLkur.png) Speak to us: +971 50 803 2514 Free UAE Succession Guide # Your UAE Assets Don’t Pass On the Way You Think Download **Wills, Trusts & Foundations** - a UAE jurisdictional guide for expat wealth structuring. Which registry, which structure, and which one actually fits what you own. - Why UAE-situs assets do not automatically pass the way they would in a common-law home country - The three wills registries compared - DIFC, ADJD and the Dubai Courts Notary, side by side - Foundations versus trusts - what actually differs, and why a foundation often suits a civil-law jurisdiction - DIFC, ADGM and RAK ICC foundations compared on courts, property, banking, cost and setup time ![Wills, Trusts & Foundations - A UAE Jurisdictional Guide](https://www.theexpatguru.com/hubfs/wills-trusts-foundations-cover.png) 100% FREE ### Get Your Free Succession Guide Enter your details below and we’ll send your copy straight to your inbox. Your information is 100% secure and never shared. What’s Inside ## Wills, Trusts and Foundations - All in One Place A practical, no-jargon guide to how UAE succession actually works, and which structure fits which situation. #### Why the UAE Is Different The UAE is a civil law jurisdiction. Without a registered will or an underlying structure, UAE-situs assets - property, bank accounts, company shares - do not automatically pass the way they might in a common-law home country. #### Three Routes to Registering a Will DIFC Wills Service, ADJD in Abu Dhabi, and the Dubai Courts Notary compared on eligibility, geographic strength, language, probate forum, indicative cost and who each one suits. #### Foundations vs Trusts A trust is a relationship. A foundation is a separate legal entity that owns the assets in its own name. The guide sets out what that difference means in practice, including for forced heirship. #### The Three Foundation Jurisdictions DIFC, ADGM and RAK ICC compared on legal framework, court system, natural fit, UAE property ownership, banking ecosystem, typical setup time and what each is best for. #### Which Structure Fits Which Situation Seven common situations mapped to the structure that usually fits, from a single Dubai property and a modest estate through to migrating an existing offshore trust onshore. #### Four Common Mistakes Leaving the will until last, registering in the wrong emirate, structuring after the portfolio is already complex, and assuming a home-country will covers UAE-situs assets. ![Naveed Hussain, The Expat Guru](https://files.manuscdn.com/user_upload_by_module/session_file/310519663207643146/DtwAVarmtzMWNSnb.jpg) Meet Your Guide ## Naveed Hussain - The Expat Guru Naveed Hussain is the founder of The Expat Guru and the voice behind the YouTube channel of the same name, which covers the practical reality of moving to Dubai and setting yourself up properly. For over 16 years he has advised on property, company structuring and relocation across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia. The approach is the same every time: clear, practical advice, no unnecessary upsells, no hidden fees, and structures built to last rather than to close a sale. 16+ Years of Experience 3 Markets Covered 0 Hidden Fees [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/971508032514) [▶ YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/@theexpatguru?sub_confirmation=1) [◯ Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/theexpatguru.dxb) [🌐 Website](https://www.theexpatguru.com?hsLang=en) Who This Is For ## The Right Structure Depends on What You Already Own There is no single best answer. There is one that fits your assets, and the guide shows you how to find it. You own one Dubai propertyAnd no structure yet A registered will is usually enough at this stage, and it closes the biggest gap for most non-Muslim expats. The guide shows which registry suits where your assets actually sit. You own several, plus a businessMulti-generational intent This is where a DIFC or ADGM foundation above a holding company becomes the typical structure, with the will covering anything left outside it. The comparison tables show which zone fits. You hold an offshore trustJersey, Guernsey, Cayman Both DIFC and ADGM offer continuation frameworks to migrate an existing structure onshore. The detail differs between the two, and the guide sets out where. ## Don’t Leave It to the Default Rules Download the free UAE Wills, Trusts & Foundations guide and find out which registry, which structure, and which jurisdiction actually fit what you own. [Get My Free Guide →](https://www.theexpatguru.com/wills-trusts#download) ![The Expat Guru](https://files.manuscdn.com/user_upload_by_module/session_file/310519663207643146/NAIEwNuWFPmkLkur.png) [WhatsApp: +971 50 803 2514](https://wa.me/971508032514) [naveed@theexpatguru.com](mailto:naveed@theexpatguru.com) [Book a Call](https://calendly.com/naveed-theexpatguru) © 2026 The Expat Guru. All rights reserved. | Dubai, United Arab Emirates This guide is educational and reflects a general, current understanding of UAE wills, trusts and foundation regimes. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, fees and rules change, and every structure should be confirmed with a licensed UAE legal or private-wealth advisor before you act.