ADGM vs ADJD wills: which Abu Dhabi court is right for you?
Both the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts and the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) Civil Family Court let resident expatriates register a will covering their UAE assets. They differ on who is eligible, the government registration fee, and how you sign. Below is a neutral, side-by-side comparison to help you decide.
ADGM vs ADJD at a glance
Who can register
ADGM
Non-Muslims (you must never have been a Muslim).
ADJD
Resident expatriates of any religion. ADJD's civil will route is for non-Muslim residents, and in practice ADJD has also been accepting registrations from non-Emirati Muslim residents, confirmed case-by-case. Not available to UAE/GCC nationals.
Government fee
Pass-through: paid directly to the court, not part of our service fee.
ADGM
approx. AED 1,520
ADJD
AED 950 (single) / AED 1,900 (mirror wills for couples)
Our platform fee
Same for both courts
From AED 950 to AED 1,500 depending on will type. Includes Arabic translation.
Signing process
ADGM
Virtual notary appointment; wet-ink signature on every page.
ADJD
Fully remote: file via the ADJD portal, then confirm your will in a video-call notarisation appointment.
Where it applies
ADGM
Registered with the ADGM Courts (Abu Dhabi); recognised across the UAE.
ADJD
Registered with the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court; recognised across the UAE.
Assets covered
ADGM
Can cover your assets worldwide in a single will, depending on the ADGM template you choose.
ADJD
UAE-situated assets only: the official ADJD form covers property 'situated or arising in the United Arab Emirates only' and revokes prior UAE wills only.
Guardianship of minor children
ADGM
Separate guardianship template (or combined estate + guardianship).
ADJD
Included as an optional section of the single official form.
Document
ADGM
Official ADGM Registry templates, bilingual English/Arabic.
ADJD
Official ADJD civil will form (Form ADJD-NM0723-07-03), bilingual English/Arabic.
Government fees are set by the courts and paid directly to them; figures shown are current published fees and may change.
For a fuller overview of the ADGM route, read our ADGM wills guide for UAE expats.
Which should I choose?
Choose ADJD if you were ever Muslim, or if you want the lower government registration fee and a fully-remote process you can complete without an in-person court visit. Bear in mind an ADJD will covers UAE-situated assets only. For assets you hold outside the UAE you would need separate arrangements in the relevant country.
Choose ADGM if you want a single will that can also cover your assets outside the UAE, or if you are a never-Muslim expatriate who prefers the ADGM Courts framework, with a virtual notary appointment and a wet-ink signature on every page.
We prepare wills for both courts, so you are not locked in. The final choice is yours. QuickWills UAE is a self-service document-preparation platform, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Appointing guardians for minor children works differently on each route: see our guardianship will guide.
Which route fits you?
QuickWills UAE prepares wills for both Abu Dhabi routes, ADGM and ADJD. Pick the option that sounds most like you to get started, with Arabic translation included.
I think ADGM is right for me
For never-Muslim UAE residents/expats who prefer the ADGM Courts route.
Check eligibilityI may need the ADJD route
For resident expatriates where ADJD may be a better fit, including users who may not meet ADGM's never-Muslim requirement.
Check eligibilityI'm not sure
Answer a few quick questions to see which route appears to fit your circumstances.
Check eligibilityQuickWills UAE is a self-service document-preparation platform, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. You sign and register your will directly with the relevant court.