ADGM eligibility guide
Who can get an ADGM will? Eligibility for non-Muslims explained
ADGM’s wills service is open to non-Muslim individuals aged 21 or over who own assets in the UAE. For the ADGM route, QuickWills UAE asks you to confirm you have never been Muslim — a stricter, platform-level standard. This page explains both, and where to go if you don’t qualify for ADGM.
The short answer
- Age
- Aged 21 years and over.
- Assets
- You own assets in the UAE.
- Religion
- Non-Muslim per ADGM; QuickWills UAE’s ADGM route asks for never-Muslim.
- Will document
- Bilingual English/Arabic, with certified translation.
Important
QuickWills UAE is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We provide a self-help document-preparation service based on your answers. For advice about your circumstances, consult a licensed UAE lawyer.
What “non-Muslim” means for an ADGM will
Based on ADGM source material reviewed by QuickWills UAE, the ADGM wills service is available to non-Muslim individuals, aged 21 years and over, who own assets in the UAE. That is ADGM’s own published criterion.
For the ADGM route, QuickWills UAE asks you to confirm you have never been Muslim — in other words, non-Muslims (you must never have been a Muslim). This is a QuickWills UAE platform policy layered on top of ADGM’s published wording, not a rule ADGM itself publishes. Current status alone is not enough for this route: the question is whether you have ever been Muslim.
Your answer to this question only affects which court route the eligibility checker suggests. It is not stored.
What if you don’t qualify for ADGM?
ADGM wills require that you have never been Muslim — the ADJD Civil Family Court accepts civil-will registrations from residents of any religion, confirmed case-by-case at registration.
Answering honestly costs nothing. Use the eligibility checker to see whether the ADJD route fits instead, or compare both routes side by side.
The other ADGM eligibility criteria
Age 21 or over
ADGM’s published criteria state the wills service is for individuals aged 21 years and over.
Own assets in the UAE
Assets can include property, bank accounts, vehicles or shares. QuickWills UAE does not present this as an exhaustive list — check your own circumstances against ADGM’s published criteria.
Documents
UAE residents: Emirates ID. Non-residents: a valid UAE visit visa or entry stamp. If your estate is itemised, ownership documents generally need Arabic translation.
What an ADGM will document must contain
ADGM’s published criteria list what the will document itself must include. This is informational content, not drafting advice.
- Bilingual English/Arabic document, with translation certified by a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translator
- Declaration of religion
- Appointment of executor(s)
- Appointment of guardians, where applicable
- Identification of beneficiaries
- Estate description, where applicable
- Applicable-law wording
What does an ADGM will cost?
Keep QuickWills UAE platform fees separate from ADGM court/government fees.
- QuickWills UAE platform fee
- AED 950–AED 1,500, depending on will type. Includes guided document preparation, Arabic translation and court-registration guidance.
- ADGM court/government fees
- Approximately AED 1,520, separate from QuickWills UAE platform fees and paid directly to ADGM as instructed. Court fees can change.
ADGM vs ADJD — eligibility at a glance
A quick comparison of the two routes’ published eligibility criteria. DIFC also runs a separate wills service for non-Muslims in Dubai, outside QuickWills UAE’s coverage.
Common misconceptions about ADGM eligibility
"Non-Muslim just means I’m not Muslim right now."
ADGM’s own published wording says "non-Muslim individuals." For the ADGM route, QuickWills UAE asks you to confirm you have never been Muslim — a stricter, platform-level standard, not an ADGM-published rule.
"If I don’t qualify for ADGM, I can’t get a UAE will at all."
The ADJD Civil Family Court route accepts civil-will registrations from residents of any religion, confirmed case-by-case at registration. Use the eligibility checker to see if ADJD fits.
"My religion answer is stored on file."
The ever-Muslim question only affects which court route the eligibility checker suggests. It is not stored.
Check your eligibility
Answer a few questions to see whether the ADGM or ADJD route fits your circumstances. The eligibility checker is informational only and is not a legal determination.
ADGM eligibility FAQs
Who is eligible for an ADGM will?
Based on ADGM source material reviewed by QuickWills UAE, the ADGM wills service is available to non-Muslim individuals aged 21 years and over who own assets in the UAE. For the ADGM route, QuickWills UAE also asks you to confirm you have never been Muslim. This is informational only and is not a legal determination — use the eligibility checker to see your route.
What is the difference between "non-Muslim" and "never having been Muslim"?
ADGM’s own published wording refers to "non-Muslim individuals." For the ADGM route, QuickWills UAE asks a stricter question: whether you have ever been Muslim, not just whether you currently are. These are not the same test. If you have ever been Muslim, the ADGM route is unlikely to fit, and the ADJD Civil Family Court route may be open to you instead.
What if I was born Muslim but converted?
QuickWills UAE cannot make a personalised determination about your religious status. The ADGM route asks you to confirm you have never been Muslim, so answer honestly in the eligibility checker and it will suggest the route that fits. If you are unsure how your circumstances apply, speak to a licensed UAE lawyer.
Do I need to own property in the UAE to make an ADGM will?
Not necessarily. ADGM’s criteria require that you own assets in the UAE, which can include property, but also bank accounts, vehicles or shares. QuickWills UAE does not claim this is an exhaustive list — check your own circumstances against ADGM’s published criteria, or ask a licensed UAE lawyer if you are unsure.
What if I don’t qualify for ADGM — what are my options?
ADGM wills require that you have never been Muslim — the ADJD Civil Family Court accepts civil-will registrations from residents of any religion, confirmed case-by-case at registration. Use the eligibility checker to see whether the ADJD route may fit instead.
Does QuickWills UAE register my ADGM will for me?
No. QuickWills UAE helps prepare your ADGM-route will document and provides court-registration guidance. You submit, sign or execute as required, pay court fees, and attend directly with ADGM.
More questions? See the full FAQs page.