ADJD vs DIFC wills (2026): which should UAE expats choose?
6 min read · Updated 24 August 2026
The UAE has two main routes for a non-Sharia will: the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) civil wills registry and the DIFC Courts Wills Service in Dubai. Both produce a registered will recognised for UAE assets. The honest summary: DIFC is the older, internationally styled route at a significantly higher price; ADJD is the newer, dramatically cheaper route run by Abu Dhabi's court system.
Neither is 'better' in the abstract — they suit different people. Here's the real comparison.
Side by side
| ADJD civil will | DIFC will | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee (single) | AED 950 (premium option: 2,500) | ≈ USD 2,600 (≈ AED 9,500) |
| Language | Bilingual Arabic/English on one form | English |
| Registration | Online — video-call notarisation | Online or in person |
| Recognised for UAE assets | Across all seven emirates | Across the UAE (DIFC Courts jurisdiction) |
| Who can use it | Non-UAE, non-GCC nationals — regardless of religion per current ADJD guidance | Non-Muslims (per DIFC rules) |
| Legal tradition | UAE civil family court | Common-law style (DIFC Courts) |
The case for DIFC
DIFC's Wills Service has operated since 2015 and follows a common-law model familiar to British and Commonwealth expats. Estates with complex structures, or families whose advisers work in the DIFC ecosystem, often choose it precisely for that familiarity — and pay accordingly.
The case for ADJD
The maths, mostly: registration is roughly a tenth of DIFC's fee, the form is the court's own bilingual template, the whole process happens online with a video-call notarisation, and current guidance opens it to Muslim expats — which DIFC's route does not. For a straightforward estate (home, accounts, guardianship), the outcome — a registered UAE will — is achieved at a fraction of the cost.
What we'd actually tell you
If your estate is complex or your advisers are DIFC-centred, DIFC earns its price. If your situation is the common one — UAE assets, spouse, children, clear wishes — the ADJD route delivers a registered will for about AED 2,250 all-in, and that's the route WillReady prepares for. We're not neutral, but the numbers above are.
Frequently asked
Is an ADJD will recognised in Dubai?
Yes — an ADJD-registered will is recognised across all seven emirates, including Dubai.
Can Muslims use the DIFC wills service?
DIFC's service is for non-Muslims under its rules. ADJD's current published guidance allows non-citizen residents to register a civil will regardless of religion.
Do I need both an ADJD and a DIFC will?
No — one registered UAE will covering your UAE assets is the point. Registering conflicting wills in two systems creates exactly the ambiguity a will exists to remove.
Make your UAE will in about 20 minutes
Guided questions on the official ADJD form — see your finished bilingual will before paying anything.
Keep reading
General information about the process, not legal advice about your circumstances — see our Disclaimer. Figures and procedures reflect published information at the date above; courts can change forms, fees and requirements at any time.