More and more of what UAE residents own is digital: crypto on an exchange, a hardware wallet, a trading account, a domain name, a monetised social media account. Unlike a bank account, many of these can be lost forever if nobody knows they exist or how to reach them.
Can a UAE will cover digital assets?
Yes. A UAE will can name who inherits digital assets in the same way as any other asset, either as part of your whole estate or as specific gifts. For example, "my cryptocurrency holdings to my sister" is a perfectly valid wish.
What a will can't do on its own is give someone the practical means to access those assets. That needs a separate plan.
What counts as a digital asset
- cryptocurrency held on an exchange (a platform account in your name)
- cryptocurrency in a self-custody wallet (hardware or software, where only the keys give access)
- online brokerage and trading accounts
- domain names, websites and online businesses
- monetised social media or content accounts
- digital files with real value, such as photos, writing or designs
Exchange accounts vs self-custody wallets
The difference matters a lot:
- Exchange accounts are held by a company that knows who you are. Your executor can contact the exchange with the death certificate and registered will, and the exchange has its own process for releasing funds.
- Self-custody wallets have no company behind them. If nobody has the recovery phrase, the funds are unrecoverable. Not even a court can get them back.
Never put passwords or recovery phrases in your will
A registered will is a court document, and many people may see it during probate. Putting a seed phrase or password in it is like leaving your wallet on a public counter. Instead:
- In the will, name the assets in general terms and say who inherits them.
- Keep an up-to-date list of your digital assets and where they're held, separately and securely.
- Store access details in a way your executor can reach after your death but nobody can use before it. Options include a sealed letter in a safe, a password manager's emergency-access feature, or a hardware wallet's own inheritance tools.
- Tell your executor that the list exists and where to find it.
Keep it current
Digital holdings change far faster than property. Review your list whenever you open or close an account or move funds between wallets. You don't need to re-register your will each time as long as the will describes the assets generally, rather than naming every account.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate will for crypto?
No. Crypto and other digital assets can be covered in your UAE will alongside your other assets.
Should I list every wallet address in my will?
Usually not. General wording ("all my digital assets", or "my cryptocurrency holdings") avoids re-registering every time you move funds. Keep the detailed list separately.
What happens to crypto if there's no will?
Exchange accounts are treated like other assets under the default inheritance rules. Self-custody crypto may be lost for good if nobody can find the keys, which a will alone can't solve.
Can my executor access my online accounts?
It depends on each platform's rules. Many have a formal process for next of kin or executors, which usually needs the death certificate and the registered will.
This guide is general information about UAE wills, not legal advice for your situation. Court fees and procedures change, so check the current position with the court before relying on a figure. Emirates Wills is not a law firm.