Online will services in the UAE compared: WillReady vs OwnX vs ExpatWill (2026)
5 min read · Updated 7 October 2026
Three online services now prepare ADJD civil wills for UAE expats: WillReady, OwnX and ExpatWill. All three take you through a questionnaire, produce an English/Arabic document for the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and leave the registration itself with you — none of them is a law firm, and none files the will for you. What differs is price, how quickly you get the finished document, and whether a person reads it before you do.
Full disclosure: WillReady is one of the three. Every figure below was taken from each provider's own public website on 10 September 2026 and will be updated when they change. The court fee is identical everywhere and is paid by you directly to ADJD. If you represent one of these services and a figure here is out of date, email hello@willready.ae and we will correct it promptly.
Side by side
| WillReady | OwnX | ExpatWill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee — single will | AED 1,299 | AED 749 | AED 1,498 |
| Platform fee — couple (mirror wills) | AED 2,199 | AED 1,149 | AED 1,498 per person, with a couple's discount |
| ADJD court fee (paid to the court) | AED 950 / 1,900 | AED 950 / 1,900 | AED 950 / 1,900 |
| When you get the document | Instantly — English and Arabic generated together | Draft within 2 business days; Arabic follows within about a week (fast-track option: AED 760 per will) | Instant download |
| Template | The court's official bilingual form (ADJD-NM0723-07-03) | "ADJD-ready" document | Bilingual document |
| Who checks it | Reviewed by an experienced lawyer, plus automatic error checks | Reviewed by an estate-planning specialist (their description) | Automated quality checks |
| See the full document before paying | Yes — every clause in English before payment | Not stated on their site | Yes — no payment until download |
| Revisions | Free before it is filed with the court | Amendments before registration | Free, lifetime |
| Who submits to ADJD | WillReady files it for you (you approve the UAE Pass login) | You, with their guidance | You, with their guidance |
The three things that actually differ
Speed. WillReady and ExpatWill hand you the finished bilingual document the moment you finish the questionnaire. OwnX drafts it within two business days and adds the Arabic within about a week — or faster for an extra AED 760 per will. If you are booking an ADJD appointment soon, that gap matters.
Review. WillReady sends every paid will to our reviewing lawyer, who confirms it or sends comments within two business days, on top of automatic checks, and then WillReady files the application with ADJD for you. OwnX describes a human estate-planning specialist reading every draft. ExpatWill relies on automated checks. None of the three gives personalised legal advice on your estate — if it is genuinely complex (assets in several countries, a business, a blended family), a UAE wills lawyer's advice is the right tool and every one of these services says so.
Price. OwnX is the cheapest platform fee, WillReady sits in the middle, ExpatWill is the highest. Add AED 950 per will for the court in every case: all-in, a single will costs about AED 1,700 with OwnX, AED 2,249 with WillReady and AED 2,448 with ExpatWill.
What is identical everywhere
- The court. All three prepare a will for registration with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, which covers UAE assets for residents of any emirate and registers remotely by video call.
- The court fee. AED 950 for a single will, AED 1,900 for a couple, paid by you directly to ADJD. No online service can include it.
- Who files. WillReady files the application on the ADJD portal for you once you approve the UAE Pass login, included in its price. With OwnX and ExpatWill you submit it yourself with their guidance (checked 10 September 2026).
- What they are not. None of the three is a law firm. The document is prepared from your answers (WillReady then has an experienced lawyer review it); the court's own notary reviews and attests it at registration.
Who each one suits
- OwnX — you want a person to read your draft before you see it, you are not in a hurry, and the lowest platform fee matters most.
- ExpatWill — you want the document instantly and value revisions for life, and price is not the deciding factor.
- WillReady — you want the court's own template filled in instantly with the Arabic included, to read every clause in full before paying anything, a lawyer's review, and the court application filed for you.
- None of them — your estate is complex. Pay a UAE wills lawyer for advice, then register through ADJD or DIFC as they recommend.
Frequently asked
Which online will service in the UAE is the cheapest?
OwnX, at AED 749 for a single will (AED 1,149 for a couple). Add the AED 950 court fee per will, which is the same for every service. WillReady is AED 1,299 and ExpatWill AED 1,498 for a single will.
Is a cheaper online will less recognised by the court?
No. Recognition comes from ADJD's registration, and the court fee and process are the same whichever service prepared the document. The differences between services are speed, review and support — not the standing of the registered will.
Do any of these services register the will for me?
WillReady does: it files the application on the ADJD portal for you, included in the price, once you approve the login on your UAE Pass app. With OwnX and ExpatWill you submit it yourself with their guidance (checked 10 September 2026). With every service you pay the AED 950 court fee directly and attend the short video-call notarisation yourself.
How fast do I get the document?
WillReady and ExpatWill: instantly, when you finish the questionnaire. OwnX: a draft within two business days and the Arabic within about a week, or faster with their AED 760 fast-track option.
Should I just use a lawyer instead?
If your estate is straightforward — a home, accounts, a car, guardianship of your children — an online service plus ADJD registration is what most expats use now. If you have assets in several countries, a business, or a blended family, a UAE wills lawyer's advice is worth the fee.
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.