ADJD Will: Everything You Need to Know
An ADJD will is a will registered through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's civil-will process. It records a testator's wishes for their estate. Its effect and enforcement depend on the applicable law, the location of the assets and the court competent to deal with the estate.
Last updated: 23 July 2026
What Is an ADJD Will?
ADJD Definition and Legal Authority
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) provides a civil-family court and will-registration route in Abu Dhabi. A registered will can record how you want covered assets dealt with and whom you wish to nominate as guardian for minor children. Registration does not remove the court's role, and the result in a particular estate depends on the applicable law and facts.
Who Should Get an ADJD Will
ADJD may suit someone who is eligible for its civil-will service, wants an Arabic or bilingual court file and is comfortable using the Abu Dhabi process. Eligibility, required documents and the available appointment route should be checked against ADJD's current service information before filing.
Eligible non-Muslims can also use the ADGM Courts notary route, a fully digital channel operated with ADJD. It costs AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM per will, and Blanket manages the filing for customers using this route. A separate option is a DIFC will. Dubai Courts is another route. Compare eligibility, covered assets, language, registration fees, amendment process and the court likely to handle the estate rather than treating one route as universally best.
Legal Basis
The official starting points are ADJD's Civil Family Court information and current FAQs. Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 also contains rules for the personal status of non-Muslims. None of these sources should be read as making every ADJD will automatically enforceable against every asset in every emirate without a competent-court process.
How ADJD Will Registration Works
ADJD provides digital application and video-notarisation steps, although the documents, review and appointment route depend on the current service and the applicant's circumstances. For a detailed walkthrough, see our complete ADJD registration guide.
- 1
Complete the online assessment
Most people provide the core information in 10–15 minutes. After payment, a Blanket specialist reviews the answers and prepares the selected documents; drafting time varies with the circumstances and any missing information.
- 2
Review the draft and supporting documents
Check the draft carefully and provide the identity or asset documents requested for your application. Blanket arranges Arabic translation where the current ADJD process requires it.
- 3
Submit through ADJD
Submit the application and supporting documents through the ADJD channel specified for the service. The current published registration fee for a regular will is AED 950 per person and is paid separately to the authority.
- 4
Complete notarisation
After the application has been reviewed, complete the available video-notarisation appointment. Current Blanket customer experience is that regular appointments are taking about three months on average as of 23 July 2026. Availability changes, and faster routes may be available.
ADJD Will Costs: Complete Breakdown
Government Registration Fee
ADJD's current published registration fee is AED 950 for a single will or AED 1,900 in total when two people each register a will. This authority fee is paid separately to ADJD and may change.
Blanket Service Fee
Blanket charges from AED 799 for an individual will or AED 1,199 for two wills. This covers the online process, document preparation and review, Arabic translation where required, and registration guidance. Court and registration fees are paid separately.
Service and authority fees
| Item | One will | Two wills | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blanket service | From AED 799 | From AED 1,199 | Preparation, review, Arabic translation where required, and registration guidance |
| ADJD registration | AED 950 | AED 1,900 total | Paid separately to ADJD; two people make two separate will registrations |
ADJD, ADGM and DIFC Wills: Quick Comparison
Direct ADJD and DIFC are different registration frameworks. ADGM is an ADJD-authorised digital notary channel rather than a separate probate registry, and Dubai Courts also provides a notary route. Cost matters, but so do eligibility, asset location, language, amendment rules and the expected court process. For a deeper dive, read our complete DIFC wills guide.
| Factor | Direct ADJD | ADGM notary route | DIFC Will |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published authority fee | AED 950 per regular will | AED 950 to ADJD + USD 155 to ADGM, per will | AED 10,000 for one Full Will / AED 15,000 for two Full Wills |
| Who can use it | Non-UAE citizens; confirm current ADJD requirements | Non-Muslim, age 21+, owns UAE assets | Not Muslim and never has been; other DIFC eligibility rules apply |
| Blanket support | Preparation and registration guidance | Preparation, ADGM filing support, and updates | Blanket does not currently provide the DIFC registration service |
| Process | ADJD application and video notarisation | Fully digital ADGM eCourts filing and virtual notary appointment | Virtual or in-person DIFC Wills Service appointment |
| Timing | Depends on review and appointment availability | Blanket currently sees appointments around two weeks; availability varies | Depends on document readiness and appointment availability |
| After death | ADJD procedure depends on the estate | ADGM provides no probate; UAE application goes to ADJD | DIFC Enforcement Judge jurisdiction; Dubai Courts assistance where applicable |
Not sure which option is right for you? Our guide to wills in Dubai covers all four routes, or see our step-by-step registration guide for a detailed walkthrough.
What's Included with Blanket
Digital Estate Planning
Blanket can help you record digital assets and instructions alongside traditional assets, including cryptocurrency, investment accounts and online services. Do not put passwords or seed phrases in a public or registered will. Whether an executor or beneficiary can obtain access depends on applicable law, the provider's terms and the separate access arrangements you leave behind.
Membership for Ongoing Updates
Life changes. You might have another child, buy property, or change your beneficiaries. You can add optional Blanket Membership for ongoing will updates as your circumstances evolve.
One-Time Checkout
Blanket's document service is purchased separately from the authority process. Once paid, we prepare and review the selected documents and arrange Arabic translation where required. We guide the direct ADJD steps; for eligible customers choosing ADGM, we manage the filing and keep them updated through notarisation. Authority fees are not included.
Prepare your UAE will with Blanket from AED 799
Court and registration fees are paid separately.
Start Your WillFrequently Asked Questions
What is the ADJD will process?
The usual stages are to prepare and review the will, provide the documents requested for the application, submit through the ADJD channel specified for the service, pay the authority fee, and complete the available notarisation appointment. The exact documents and sequence depend on ADJD’s current process and the applicant’s circumstances.
How much does an ADJD will cost?
ADJD’s current published fee for a regular will registration is AED 950 per person. Two people therefore pay AED 1,900 for two separate registrations. Blanket starts from AED 799 for one will or AED 1,199 for two wills; the ADJD fee is paid separately and may change.
How long does ADJD will registration take?
Most people complete Blanket’s online assessment in about 10–15 minutes, but document preparation, authority review and notarisation are separate stages. Current Blanket customer experience is around three months for regular ADJD appointments and around two weeks for eligible customers using ADGM virtual appointments, as of 23 July 2026. Availability changes and neither timing is guaranteed.
Is an ADJD will valid in all emirates?
Do not treat registration in Abu Dhabi as a guarantee that every provision will be enforced against every asset in every emirate. The result depends on the applicable law, the asset’s location, the registration and the court competent to handle the estate. Cross-emirate or overseas assets can justify specific legal advice.
Can I update my ADJD will?
You can replace or amend a will through the route available at the time. A new authority process and fee may apply. Optional Blanket Membership covers specified Blanket update services, not government fees, and the current terms should be checked before relying on it.
Do I need a lawyer for an ADJD will?
ADJD provides a direct registration route, so professional representation is not presented here as universally mandatory. Legal advice can still be sensible for complex families, businesses, overseas assets, disputes or uncertainty about the governing law. Blanket is a technology platform, not a law firm.
What documents do I need for an ADJD will?
Identity documents are normally required, and asset or family documents may also be requested depending on the application. Check the current ADJD service requirements rather than relying on a fixed list; Blanket will tell you what is needed for the route it is helping you prepare.
What is the difference between ADJD, ADGM and DIFC wills?
Direct ADJD is the standard Abu Dhabi civil-will route and currently costs AED 950 per will. ADGM is a fully digital, ADJD-authorised notary channel for eligible non-Muslims; it costs AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM per will and does not provide a separate probate service. DIFC is a separate Wills Service framework and currently charges AED 10,000 for one Full Will or AED 15,000 for two. Compare eligibility, assets, language, process and likely estate-administration route.
Can Muslim expatriates register an ADJD will?
ADJD’s current Civil Family Court guidance says a person who is not a UAE citizen may register a civil will regardless of religion. Registration eligibility is separate from the will’s eventual legal effect: nationality, religion, family circumstances, the chosen law and the location of assets can still affect succession. Obtain qualified advice where those rules may overlap.
What happens if I die without a will in the UAE?
A court will determine succession under the law applicable to the estate. Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 contains a default rule for certain non-Muslim intestate estates, but it is not a universal 50/50 rule for every UAE resident or every asset. A court also retains responsibility for children’s welfare; a guardian nomination is an important expression of your wishes, not an automatic appointment.
Does an ADJD will expire?
A registered will generally remains on record unless it is revoked or replaced, but its continuing effect can be influenced by later documents, life events and changes in law. Review it after events such as marriage, divorce, a birth, a death, a major asset change or an international move. Updates may require a new authority process and fee.
Official sources
Blanket is a technology platform, not a law firm. This content is general information and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your circumstances, consult a qualified legal professional. Contact us if you have questions about the blanket.ae service.