Guide

Will Registration in Dubai: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Written by Anton PirinenFounder & CEO of Blanket

Published 18 February 2026Updated 23 July 202614 min read

Key Takeaways

Dubai residents commonly consider direct ADJD registration, the ADGM Courts notary channel, the DIFC Courts Wills Service, or Dubai Courts' notary service for non-Muslim wills
ADJD publishes a standard registration fee of AED 950 per will; DIFC registration fees vary by will type and start at AED 5,000 for a single will
ADGM's fully digital non-Muslim wills service costs AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM per will; ADGM itself does not provide probate
Dubai Courts publishes an AED 2,000 attestation fee per non-Muslim will, plus AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation fees; a conditional data-entry fee can also apply
ADJD, ADGM and DIFC support remote steps, but total timing depends on drafting, review, corrections, payment, and appointment availability
A lawyer is not automatically required by these public processes: DIFC permits self-drafting, while ADGM publishes templates but requires certified bilingual documents
Blanket's assessment usually takes 10–15 minutes; after payment, a specialist prepares the documents, while court fees are paid separately

Will Registration Options for Dubai Residents

Will registration places a will in the official process of the selected registry or court. Registration does not make every later estate question automatic: recognition and enforcement can depend on the testator, the asset, its location, the competent court, and the applicable law.

For Dubai residents, the commonly compared routes include the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), the ADGM Courts Notary Public and Wills Office, the DIFC Courts Wills Service, and Dubai Courts' Notary Public service for non-Muslim wills.

ADGM is an ADJD-authorised digital notary channel, not a separate probate registry equivalent to DIFC. It charges AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM per will. Dubai Courts currently publishes an AED 2,000 attestation fee per non-Muslim will; AED 10 Knowledge and AED 10 Innovation fees bring its standard government charge to AED 2,020. The Dubai Courts service page also lists a conditional AED 100-per-signature fee if the notary enters the application data.

This article gives general information, not legal advice. If you have assets in several countries, business or trust interests, a potentially contested estate, or uncertainty about the law that applies, consult a licensed lawyer.

Option 1: ADJD Civil-Will Registration

ADJD's Civil Family Court guidance says that a person who is not a UAE citizen may register a civil will regardless of religion. A Dubai resident can therefore use ADJD's online process, although later recognition and enforcement steps may depend on the asset and competent court.

The ADJD Civil Wills FAQ sets out the public process: submit the application, respond to registry review, pay the applicable fee after approval, and book a video-conference notarisation appointment.

ADJD registration steps

Step 1: Prepare the draft. Blanket customers usually complete the online assessment in 10–15 minutes. After payment, a specialist reviews the answers and prepares the selected documents. Blanket is a technology platform, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.

Step 2: Check the language and document requirements. ADJD provides standard will templates in Arabic and English. Blanket arranges Arabic translation where required. Use the live ADJD application for the current filing-language and document checklist rather than assuming that every application must follow the same format.

Step 3: Submit the online application. Upload the will and the identity or supporting documents requested in the ADJD e-service. The application may be made by the testator or a representative acting under a power of attorney.

Step 4: Complete ADJD review. ADJD reviews the submission and may request clarifications or corrections. No universal review time is stated in the public guidance relied on here.

Step 5: Pay and book. Once the application reaches the relevant approval stage, pay the ADJD fee and book an available video-conference appointment.

Step 6: Complete notarisation. Attend the appointment and follow the notary's identity and signing instructions. Subject to completion of the ADJD process, the will is certified and notarised.

Current ADJD fees

Item	Current price	Paid to
ADJD civil-will registration	AED 950 per will	ADJD
Blanket individual-will preparation	From AED 799	Blanket
Blanket mirror-wills preparation	From AED 1,199	Blanket

For two regular wills, ADJD charges two separate AED 950 fees. Blanket's fee covers preparation, specialist review, Arabic translation where required, and registration guidance. Government and court fees are separate. Ongoing updates are available through optional Blanket Membership.

For more detail, read the complete ADJD will-registration guide.

Option 2: ADGM Courts Notary and Wills Office

ADGM Courts' Wills Office provides a fully digital non-Muslim will-notarisation service in partnership with ADJD. The current ADGM FAQ says an applicant must be non-Muslim, aged 21 or over, and own assets in the UAE. The service can cover disposition of an estate, guardianship nominations, or both.

The will must be in Arabic and English and certified by a legal translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice. UAE residents provide their Emirates ID and passport. Non-residents provide a passport plus a valid UAE visit visa or entry stamp. Where the will lists assets in detail, ADGM requires supporting ownership documents.

ADGM notarisation steps

Step 1: Prepare the bilingual will. Prepare the document in Arabic and English and obtain licensed-translator certification. Blanket prepares supported ADGM documents and arranges translation.

Step 2: Submit through ADGM eCourts. Upload the will, identity documents, translator card, and any required asset-ownership evidence. Blanket submits the filing for customers using its ADGM route.

Step 3: Complete review and pay the ADGM fee. Once the Notary Public accepts the request, pay the non-refundable ADGM fee before scheduling the appointment.

Step 4: Attend the virtual appointment. Join with the original identity documents requested by ADGM.

Step 5: Pay the ADJD fee. The ADJD fee is collected around the appointment stage. ADGM then notarises the will electronically and sends the document and receipts to the customer.

Current ADGM route costs

Item	One will	Two wills
ADJD fee collected through the ADGM process	AED 950	AED 1,900
ADGM Courts notary fee	USD 155	USD 310
Blanket preparation	From AED 799	From AED 1,199

Blanket is currently seeing virtual appointments at around two weeks as of 23 July 2026; availability varies. ADGM does not provide probate; its official guidance directs later UAE probate applications to ADJD's Wills and Probate Office.

Option 3: DIFC Courts Wills Service

The current DIFC Wills FAQ states that an eligible testator must not be Muslim and must never have been a Muslim, must be aged 21 or older, and must have UAE assets and/or minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. UAE residence or a UAE visa is not required.

The DIFC Wills Service administers registration and maintains the registry. It does not draft wills or provide legal advice. A testator may prepare their own will, use an available DIFC template, or appoint a registered Wills Draftsman. Professional drafting or advice is optional, and provider fees vary.

DIFC registration steps

Step 1: Choose the appropriate will type. DIFC offers Full, Property, Financial Assets, Guardianship, Digital Assets, and Business Owners Wills. The official scope and limits differ by type.

Step 2: Prepare the will. Use your own draft, an available template, or a registered Wills Draftsman. Consider licensed legal advice where the estate is complex or crosses jurisdictions.

Step 3: Book the registration appointment. Follow the current DIFC booking and identity-document instructions. Registration appointments can be completed virtually.

Step 4: Sign with two witnesses. DIFC requires two witnesses. Follow the registry's current eligibility and attendance rules for those witnesses.

Step 5: Receive the electronic will. DIFC wills are signed and held electronically. The electronic will is the original, and a copy is shared following registration.

Current DIFC registration fees

DIFC will type	Single will	Two wills
Full Will	AED 10,000	AED 15,000
Property Will	AED 7,500	AED 10,000
Financial Assets Will	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
Guardianship Will	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
Digital Assets Will	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
Business Owners Will	AED 5,000	AED 7,500

These are the registration fees published in the DIFC Courts fee schedule. Optional drafting or legal-advice fees are separate and vary by provider.

DIFC will-type limits

According to the DIFC Wills FAQ:

A Property Will can cover up to five UAE properties
A Financial Assets Will can cover up to ten UAE bank or brokerage accounts
A Business Owners Will can cover up to five UAE shareholdings
A Guardianship Will concerns guardianship of eligible minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah
A Full Will can cover UAE movable and immovable assets; foreign assets can be included subject to the law where those assets are located

DIFC also offers a dedicated Digital Assets Will using a non-custodial wallet built on Hedera.

How DIFC Enforcement Works Outside the DIFC

Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 gives the DIFC Courts' Enforcement Judge jurisdiction over enforcement of DIFC-registered non-Muslim wills, including where the subject matter is outside the DIFC. Where the object of enforcement is outside the DIFC, Article 32 provides for assistance through Dubai Courts.

That statutory route should not be presented as bypassing Dubai Courts, nor does it establish a fixed probate time. The actual steps depend on the estate and asset.

ADJD, ADGM and DIFC Compared

Factor	ADJD regular will	ADGM notary route	DIFC Full Will
Published authority fee	AED 950 per will	AED 950 to ADJD + USD 155 to ADGM, per will	AED 10,000 single / AED 15,000 for two
Eligibility	Non-UAE citizen; confirm current portal requirements	Non-Muslim; age 21+; owns UAE assets	Not Muslim and never has been; age 21+; qualifying UAE assets and/or minor children
Preparation options	Prepare independently, use Blanket, or use a lawyer	Bilingual certified will; Blanket supports this route	Self-draft, available template, registered Wills Draftsman, or lawyer
Remote process	Online application and video appointment	Fully digital eCourts submission and virtual appointment	Virtual registration available
Language	ADJD templates available in Arabic and English; check current filing rules	Arabic and English, certified by an MOJ-licensed legal translator	DIFC will prepared in English
Timing	Depends on review and appointment availability	Blanket currently sees appointments around two weeks; availability varies	Depends on preparation 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 Article 32 applies

Price alone should not decide the registry. Consider eligibility, the assets covered, guardianship needs, the desired court framework, and how the will coordinates with documents in other countries. Obtain individual legal advice when those factors are material.

What Documents Are Required?

ADJD

Submit the will and the identity or supporting documents requested in the current ADJD online application. Requirements can vary, so do not rely on a static passport, Emirates ID, title-deed, translation, or attestation checklist in place of the portal instructions.

DIFC

Follow the current DIFC booking instructions for the testator and the two witnesses. Because UAE residency is not required, an Emirates ID should not be presented as a universal eligibility requirement. The required will and supporting details also depend on the selected DIFC will type.

ADGM

Submit the bilingual will with original signatures and certification from a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translator. Residents need an Emirates ID and passport; non-residents need a passport and valid UAE visit visa or entry stamp. Include ownership evidence where the will describes assets in detail, plus the translator's card and anything else requested during review.

How Blanket Supports ADJD and ADGM

Blanket's ADJD workflow is:

Assessment: answer guided questions about family, beneficiaries, executors, guardianship nominations, and assets, usually in 10–15 minutes.
Preparation after payment: a specialist reviews the answers and prepares the selected documents.
Route selection: eligible customers can use the standard ADJD route or Blanket's ADGM notary route.
Translation: Blanket arranges the Arabic translation required for the selected filing.
Registration support: Blanket guides customers through ADJD; for the ADGM route, Blanket prepares and submits the filing and keeps the customer updated through notarisation.

Blanket's fee starts from AED 799 for an individual will and AED 1,199 for mirror wills. Authority charges are paid separately: AED 950 per will for direct ADJD, or AED 950 plus USD 155 per will for the ADGM route. Ongoing changes are available through optional Blanket Membership and are not an automatic unlimited entitlement with every purchase.

Prepare your will for the ADJD or ADGM route from AED 799 — authority fees paid separately

See My Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register a will while living in Dubai?

First choose the service appropriate to your circumstances. For ADJD, prepare the will, submit the online application, respond to review, pay the fee, and book the video-conference notarisation appointment. For ADGM, prepare the certified bilingual will, submit through eCourts, complete review and both fee stages, and attend the virtual notary appointment. For DIFC, select the correct will type, prepare the will, book the registry appointment, and complete electronic signing with two witnesses.

How much does will registration cost?

ADJD publishes AED 950 per civil will. The ADGM notary route charges AED 950 to ADJD plus USD 155 to ADGM per will. Dubai Courts publishes AED 2,000 to attest one non-Muslim will, plus AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation fees; an AED 100-per-signature data-entry fee can apply. DIFC charges from AED 5,000 for a single limited-purpose will; a DIFC Full Will costs AED 10,000 for one will or AED 15,000 for two. Preparation, translation, legalisation, and legal-advice fees are separate. Blanket preparation starts from AED 799.

How long does will registration take?

There is no reliable universal duration. Timing depends on drafting, registry or notary review, requested corrections, payment, and appointment availability. A 10–15 minute Blanket assessment is only the information-gathering stage, not the registration time.

Current Blanket customer experience is around three months for regular ADJD appointments and around two weeks for ADGM virtual appointments, as of 23 July 2026. Availability changes and neither timing is guaranteed.

Do I need a lawyer?

The public ADJD, ADGM, and DIFC materials do not make a lawyer universally mandatory. DIFC expressly permits a testator to self-draft, use an available template, or appoint a registered Wills Draftsman. ADGM publishes will templates, but still requires a bilingual will certified by a licensed legal translator. Blanket prepares supported ADJD and ADGM documents and submits the ADGM filing, but it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Complex or cross-border estates may warrant licensed advice.

Can I register online?

ADJD uses an online application followed by a video-conference notarisation appointment. ADGM's Wills Office is fully digital, using eCourts and a virtual notary appointment. DIFC also supports virtual registration appointments. Availability and identity checks are controlled by the relevant authority.

Is an ADJD will automatically enforceable throughout the UAE?

Avoid treating registration as a guarantee of identical enforcement in every emirate and for every asset. ADJD registration creates the official record for its civil-will process, while later recognition or enforcement can depend on the asset location, competent court, and applicable law.

Can an ADJD, ADGM or DIFC will include assets outside the UAE?

ADJD says a civil will may include assets outside the UAE. ADGM says it can notarise a will covering foreign assets, but probate for them takes place where they are located. DIFC says a Full Will may include foreign assets subject to the law of the jurisdiction where they are located. In every case, obtain cross-border advice before coordinating wills in more than one country.

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.