Will registration in the UAE runs through three main registries: the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), Dubai Courts and the DIFC Courts Wills Service. The right one depends on which ID you hold, the language you want the will in, where your assets and children are, and whether you can join a video call. Each registry also has its own eligibility rules, so read them before you book.
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Send a photo on WhatsAppMost people we speak to have already decided they want a will. What stops them is the choice of route. This guide puts the three side by side using what each authority publishes on its own website, so you can narrow it down in ten minutes. For drafting and booking help, see our will registration service in Dubai and the UAE.
One note before we start: fees, templates and booking screens change. Everything below was checked on the official pages in October 2026, and we link to them so you can confirm on the day you apply.
The three routes at a glance
| Point | Abu Dhabi (ADJD) | Dubai Courts | DIFC Courts Wills Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Will forms in Arabic and English | Arabic; documents must be legally translated into Arabic | English (testator and witnesses need a basic grasp of English) |
| How you attend | Video conference appointment | Virtual or in person before the notary | Video conference or in the office |
| ID | Valid Emirates ID is a prerequisite for ADJD transactions (exceptions set by the authority) | Emirates ID or passport upload; check what your appointment needs | Valid passport, plus Emirates ID if you have one; UAE residence not required |
| Witnesses | Not listed on the ADJD FAQ; follow the booking instructions | Follow the notary’s instructions | Two witnesses, aged 18+, not beneficiaries or guardians (or their spouses) |
| Assets abroad | ADJD says funds and property outside the country can be included | Check with Dubai Courts for your case | A Full Will can name assets abroad; enforcement there is not guaranteed |
Sources: ADJD FAQs, Dubai Courts Smart Electronic Notary, DIFC Courts Wills FAQ.
How does the Abu Dhabi (ADJD) route work?
ADJD runs the whole thing online. You (or someone holding a legal power of attorney for you) submit the request on the ADJD website. An ADJD employee reviews it, and once it is accepted you book an appointment to confirm the will by video conference. If it is approved, the will is certified and notarised by the Judicial Department.
Two points people often miss. First, ADJD treats a valid Emirates ID as a basic requirement for its transactions, so a visitor on a passport alone should check the exception rules before planning on this route. Second, ADJD’s FAQ says you can bequeath funds and property located outside the UAE, which makes it a practical choice if you live in the UAE but hold savings back home. Whether the other country will act on a UAE-registered will is a separate question for that country’s law.
Because the forms come in Arabic and English, many families pick ADJD even when they live in Dubai or Sharjah. Living in Abu Dhabi is not something the ADJD FAQ lists as a condition, but check the eligibility screen when you apply.
What about Dubai Courts?
Wills made under Dubai’s own rules sit with Dubai Courts, which also has a dedicated division for inheritance files and executing wills. Its notary service works electronically: parties can attend virtually or in person, sign with an OTP code, and upload an Emirates ID or passport.
The big practical difference is language. Dubai Courts asks for documents to be legally translated into Arabic, and anything issued abroad must be attested in the issuing country, by the UAE embassy there and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So if your will draft, marriage certificate or a child’s birth certificate is in English or another language, plan the legal translation in Dubai before you book, not after.
This route tends to suit people whose property, bank accounts and family are all in Dubai and who are comfortable signing a bilingual or Arabic document. Ask the notary which supporting papers your appointment needs; we have seen requests differ by case.
When does DIFC make sense?
The DIFC Courts Wills Service is the English-language option with the most published detail. A few facts from its FAQ that often decide things:
- You don’t need to be a UAE resident or hold a UAE visa. Registration can be done by video from anywhere.
- Two witnesses must attend. They can join remotely, they need photo ID, and they can’t be beneficiaries, guardians or the spouse of either.
- DIFC doesn’t accept translators or a power of attorney for the signing appointment, so you must follow the English yourself.
- There are five will types: Full, Guardianship, Property (up to five UAE properties), Business Owners (up to five UAE shareholdings) and Financial Assets (up to ten UAE accounts).
- Guardianship clauses only work through a Full Will or Guardianship Will, and they apply if the child lives in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah at the time of probate.
- No codicils. To change anything, you sign a new will at a new appointment.
The video appointment takes about 20 minutes according to DIFC, and you’ll need a second touch-screen device to sign. Signatures are electronic and there is no paper original.
Which route fits you? Three quick checks
- Do you hold a valid Emirates ID? If not, DIFC is the route that says plainly it works without UAE residence. With an Emirates ID, all three are open to you, subject to each registry’s eligibility rules.
- Which language do you want to sign in? English only points to DIFC. English with an Arabic version points to ADJD. If Arabic is fine and everything is in Dubai, Dubai Courts is worth a look.
- Where are your assets and children? DIFC guardianship clauses cover children living in Dubai or RAK. ADJD says assets abroad can be included. If you own property in another country, speak to an adviser there too, because that country’s rules still apply to it.
Still unsure? That’s normal. Tell us where you live, what you own and where, and who you want to look after your children, and we’ll suggest a route before anything is drafted.
Documents to gather before you book
- Your passport and Emirates ID (both, if you have them).
- Full names and ID copies of each beneficiary and the executor.
- Names and IDs of a guardian (and a back-up guardian) if you have children under 18.
- A simple list of assets: property with title deed details, bank and brokerage accounts, company shares, vehicles.
- For DIFC: two witnesses who meet the rules and can attend the appointment.
- For Dubai Courts: a legal translation into Arabic of any document not already in Arabic, and attestation for papers issued abroad.
Keep the names spelt exactly as they appear on passports. A mismatch between the will and an ID copy is one of the easiest ways to lose an appointment slot.
What decides the cost?
Each registry charges its own fee, and these change, so we don’t quote them here. What moves the total is the registry you pick, the type of will (a single-property will is simpler than a full will with guardianship), whether drafting and translation are needed, and how many documents need attestation. Government fees are payable at cost, and we confirm the exact fee and our service charge in writing before any work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register a will in the UAE without an Emirates ID?
The DIFC Courts Wills Service says you don’t need UAE residence or a visa and asks for a valid passport, with an Emirates ID only if you have one. ADJD treats a valid Emirates ID as a prerequisite for its transactions, with exceptions set by the authority. Check the current rule on the registry’s own page before you book.
Can a will registered in Abu Dhabi cover property outside the UAE?
ADJD’s FAQ says funds and property located outside the country can be included in the will. Whether a court or bank in that other country will act on it depends on that country’s law, so for real estate abroad it’s sensible to take local advice there as well.
Do I need witnesses for a DIFC will?
Yes. DIFC requires two witnesses aged at least 18 with a valid passport, Emirates ID or other government photo ID. They can’t be beneficiaries or guardians, or the spouse of one, and they can join the video appointment from anywhere.
Can I change my will after it is registered?
At DIFC you can’t add a codicil. Any change means signing a new will at a new appointment, although a change of address or personal details is treated as an administrative update. For ADJD and Dubai Courts, ask the registry how amendments are handled for your type of will.
Does my will need to be in Arabic?
Not always. DIFC works in English. ADJD offers will forms in Arabic and English. Dubai Courts asks for documents to be legally translated into Arabic. If a translation is needed, it should be done by a licensed legal translator so the registry accepts it.
Can I register a will in the UAE without an Emirates ID?
The DIFC Courts Wills Service says you don’t need UAE residence or a visa and asks for a valid passport, with an Emirates ID only if you have one. ADJD treats a valid Emirates ID as a prerequisite for its transactions, with exceptions set by the authority. Check the current rule on the registry’s own page before you book.
Can a will registered in Abu Dhabi cover property outside the UAE?
ADJD’s FAQ says funds and property located outside the country can be included in the will. Whether a court or bank in that other country will act on it depends on that country’s law, so for real estate abroad it’s sensible to take local advice there as well.
Do I need witnesses for a DIFC will?
Yes. DIFC requires two witnesses aged at least 18 with a valid passport, Emirates ID or other government photo ID. They can’t be beneficiaries or guardians, or the spouse of one, and they can join the video appointment from anywhere.
Can I change my will after it is registered?
At DIFC you can’t add a codicil. Any change means signing a new will at a new appointment, although a change of address or personal details is treated as an administrative update. For ADJD and Dubai Courts, ask the registry how amendments are handled for your type of will.
Does my will need to be in Arabic?
Not always. DIFC works in English. ADJD offers will forms in Arabic and English. Dubai Courts asks for documents to be legally translated into Arabic. If a translation is needed, it should be done by a licensed legal translator so the registry accepts it.
Where Wordcraft Comes In
We draft wills in English and Arabic, arrange the legal translation where a registry needs it, book the registration appointment and follow it up until the will is registered. We are not a court or a notary; we prepare the papers and handle the steps with the registry you choose. Read more about our wills and agreements service and the notary support we give in Abu Dhabi.
Free pickup and delivery of documents is available in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi and RAK, and we send a written quote in 10–30 minutes. WhatsApp us on +971 56 681 3996 or call toll-free 800 9673.