What the ADJD route is, and who can use it
The ADJD Non-Muslim Wills Office was set up in 2017 by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department to give expats a registered, civil-law will without the cost of the DIFC route. It operates under the UAE civil personal status framework for non-Muslims, established by Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022, alongside Abu Dhabi's own civil family law (Abu Dhabi Law No. 14 of 2021).
Two groups can register through this route:
- Non-Muslim expats of any nationality, aged 21 and over.
- Non-GCC Muslim expats who want to opt out of the default Sharia distribution and choose their own beneficiaries and guardians. UAE nationals and GCC citizens remain subject to Sharia and cannot use this route.
The will is drafted in English and then legally translated into Arabic. Both versions are filed together, and the applicable law is UAE civil law rather than common law. That is the main structural difference from a DIFC will, which follows an English-style common law framework.
If you are uncertain whether your religion, nationality or asset picture could fit ADJD, DIFC or Dubai Courts, that is exactly what the free Risk Profile Audit helps you explore in 30 minutes, with our partner law firm confirming the right route. Book Your Free Risk Profile Audit and we will confirm it against your situation.
Why it covers assets across all seven emirates
A common worry is that an Abu Dhabi-registered will protects only Abu Dhabi assets. Under the current federal framework, an ADJD-registered will can cover movable and immovable assets across all seven emirates, subject to the enforcement steps that apply to each asset.
In practice this matters if you hold property in Dubai, a business licence in Sharjah and bank accounts in Abu Dhabi. One ADJD will can generally cover all of them. You can also bequeath overseas assets in the same document, although enforcement remains subject to the law of the country where the asset sits.
There is one practical wrinkle to know about. When the time comes to enforce the will against assets physically located in Dubai, probate is handled by Abu Dhabi courts, and a short administrative step known as "deputisation" through the Dubai courts is usually required. This adds a little time at the enforcement stage. It does not change the validity of the will itself. If your assets are overwhelmingly concentrated in Dubai and the speed of probate is your top priority, the DIFC route may suit you better, and that is worth weighing up before you commit.
The Arabic translation requirement, and why quality is everything
This is the single most important, and most underestimated, part of an ADJD registration.
Under current ADJD guidance, wills are generally filed bilingually in English and Arabic, with the Arabic version produced by a Ministry of Justice certified legal translator. The Arabic text carries legal weight, and the court may rely on it if the versions differ.
UAE-licensed partner lawyers draft the will, an MOJ-certified legal translation office prepares the Arabic, and SmartWills coordinates this process end to end:
- An MOJ-certified legal translation office, specialised in inheritance law, produces the Arabic version.
- The team then performs an independent double-check, comparing the Arabic against the English word by word.
- Only when the two versions match is the document submitted to the court.
The reason is simple. Poor translation is one of the most frequent causes cited in practice for wills being rejected or delayed. A clause that says one thing in English and subtly another in Arabic can affect a gift or a beneficiary's share. The double-check is intended to catch that before the court sees it.
One client, Luigi (Italy), described the outcome on Trustpilot: "Our will was submitted once and accepted first time, no revisions, no delays."
What it costs: the AED 950 court fee
The ADJD court fee is the lowest of any registered will route in the UAE. It is AED 950 per person for a single will, and AED 1,900 for a mirror-will couple (two wills registered together).
These fees are paid directly to the government. They are the registry fee only. Drafting, certified translation and coordination are separate, and SmartWills quotes those transparently during your Risk Profile Audit rather than bundling them into a vague total.
For context, here is how the main routes compare on court fees alone:
| Route | Single will | Mirror wills (couple) |
|---|---|---|
| ADJD (Abu Dhabi Judicial Department) | AED 950 | AED 1,900 |
| DIFC Wills Service | AED 10,000 | AED 15,000 |
| Traditional law firm quotes (all-in) | AED 6,500 to 7,000 | Higher, typically hourly |
| DIY online template (no registration) | Around AED 500 | Not a registered will |
The cost gap is real. Whether ADJD is the better-value choice for you depends on factors beyond price, including where your assets sit and how quickly you may need probate, which is why a 30-minute conversation is worth more than any price table.
The fully remote video appointment
You do not visit a courthouse. After submission through the ADJD portal, the initial review typically takes 1 to 2 business days. The final step of registration is a short video appointment, typically around 10 minutes, conducted over WebEx and scheduled subject to government slot availability.
During the call an ADJD officer verifies your identity on camera, confirms that you understand and intend the document, and validates the signing. You attend from wherever you are, inside the UAE or abroad. You hold up your original Emirates ID and passport to the camera.
If English is not your first language, SmartWills provides a simple one-page guide in advance, explaining exactly what the officer will ask and which documents to have ready, so nothing on the call surprises you.
Realistic timeline
When the process is managed end to end, a typical timeline is around 14 working days from the start of drafting to a registered will. That estimate assumes your documents are ready and your decisions are made promptly, and it remains subject to government scheduling.
The court's own appointment availability and processing can shift that typical timeline in either direction. What sits firmly within control, drafting, double translation and submission logistics, is what a managed service keeps tight.
The ADJD registration process, step by step
These are the seven steps from decision to registered will. Steps 1 and 2 are yours. The rest is handled for you.
Step 1: Decide the route
Before anything is drafted, consider whether ADJD, DIFC or Dubai Courts could fit you, with our partner law firm to confirm the right route. The decision hinges on your religion, where your assets sit, whether you need Dubai probate speed, and your budget. This is a 30-minute conversation, not a guessing exercise. If you want a quick self-check first, the two-minute DIFC vs ADJD quiz gives you a first indication.
Step 2: Prepare your asset list and guardianship decisions
This is the thinking work, and it is the part that benefits most from guidance. You need a complete picture of what you own and where, and clear decisions on two things only you can decide: who looks after your children if both parents are gone, and who administers your estate after you.
A managed Protection Assessment walks you through this with a specialist available by WhatsApp, so questions like "can I leave this account 10% to one child and the rest to another?" are answered as they come up, not after the draft is already written.
Step 3: Drafting
With your decisions captured, UAE-licensed partner lawyers draft the will in English to the structure ADJD requires: testator identification, family details, executors (a first and a substitute), beneficiaries with specific gifts and the residuary estate, guardianship provisions if relevant, and a full asset schedule with a residuary clause for anything you acquire later. This is specialist work. A generic template, the kind that costs around AED 500 online, may not meet the clause structure the registry expects.
Step 4: Certified MOJ translation, double-checked
The English draft becomes the source for the MOJ translation and double-check process described above. An MOJ-certified legal translation office produces the Arabic, the team independently double-checks it against the English, and three signed sets of the bilingual will are prepared for submission.
Step 5: Submission
The bilingual will, your identification documents and the translator's credentials are compiled and submitted through the ADJD portal. The court fee (AED 950 per person, or AED 1,900 for a mirror pair) is paid at this stage. The initial portal review typically takes 1 to 2 business days.
Step 6: Remote notarization appointment
A short video appointment is scheduled with an ADJD officer over WebEx, subject to government slot availability. You verify your identity on camera, confirm your intent, and the document is validated. From abroad or from your living room, the process is identical.
Step 7: Registered will
Once validated, the will is entered in the ADJD register. You receive your registered copy, and the document can be enforced across the UAE, subject to the enforcement steps that apply to each asset.
Documents to have ready
In general terms, you should have to hand:
- Your original Emirates ID and passport, plus copies.
- Identification details for your spouse and children: full names as they appear on official documents, dates of birth and nationalities.
- An asset list: property deeds with deed numbers and locations, bank account details, business share certificates and licence numbers, vehicles, insurance policies and anything else of value.
- Details of your chosen executors and, if you have children, your chosen guardians.
- If you already hold a foreign will, a copy for cross-referencing.
The exact document set can vary with your personal situation. Rather than guess, confirm your list during the free Risk Profile Audit.
Why wills get rejected, and how to avoid it
Rejections often come down to the same handful of causes, and poor translation is one of the most frequent causes cited in practice. A will that is internally inconsistent, that uses vague language ("divide my estate fairly among my family"), that names witnesses who are also beneficiaries, or that carries a weak Arabic translation may be sent back. Each rejection costs time, and in a disputed-estate scenario a poorly drafted estate can leave a family facing legal fees of up to AED 50,000 to untangle.
The structural safeguards against rejection are straightforward: drafting by UAE-licensed partner lawyers that follows the registry's expected clause structure, a complete and consistent asset schedule, and the independent double-check on the Arabic. That combination is designed to support acceptance on first submission, although the registry makes the decision.
If you are ready to see how this applies to your assets and family, Book Your Free Risk Profile Audit. It is a 30-minute conversation, with no pressure and no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Muslim expat register an ADJD will?
Yes, if you are a non-GCC Muslim expat. The 2025 extension opened the civil wills route to non-GCC Muslim expats who want to opt out of the default Sharia distribution and choose their own beneficiaries and guardians. UAE nationals and GCC citizens remain subject to Sharia and cannot use this route.
Does an ADJD will cover my Dubai property?
Yes. Because the route sits on federal legislation, an ADJD will can generally be recognised across all seven emirates, including Dubai real estate, subject to the enforcement steps for each asset. At the enforcement stage, probate for Dubai assets is handled through Abu Dhabi courts with a short administrative step (deputisation) through the Dubai courts. This adds a little time at enforcement but does not affect the validity of the will.
Why does ADJD cost so much less than DIFC?
The ADJD court fee (AED 950 single, AED 1,900 mirror) reflects a civil-law registry designed to be accessible. The DIFC Full Will registration fee (AED 10,000 single, AED 15,000 mirror) reflects a common-law registry with its own dedicated court system. The price difference is real, but which route is better value depends on your asset profile and your priorities, not on price alone.
Do I need to travel to Abu Dhabi?
No. The entire process is remote. The notarization step is a short video appointment through the ADJD portal (TAMM) over WebEx. You can complete it from anywhere, inside the UAE or abroad.
What happens if the court rejects the will?
If a will SmartWills coordinates is not accepted by the court for any reason on our side, we redo the entire process at our expense. This commitment is why the independent double-check matters: poor translation is one of the most frequent causes cited in practice, and the check is designed to identify discrepancies before the document reaches the court.
How long does the whole process take?
A typical managed timeline is around 14 working days from the start of drafting to a registered will, subject to government scheduling. The initial portal review typically takes 1 to 2 business days, while the notary video appointment depends on government slot availability. What we do control, drafting, certified translation and submission, is kept tight.
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