UAE wills guide

ADGM vs DIFC wills: which UAE will route should you compare?

ADGM and DIFC are distinct UAE will routes for non-Muslim individuals, with different official bodies, rules, fees and process requirements. ADGM runs through ADGM Courts in Abu Dhabi in partnership with ADJD; DIFC runs through the DIFC Courts Wills Service in Dubai. There is no universal best. The right route depends on your assets, family circumstances, location, budget and legal-advice needs.

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The short answer

ADGM and DIFC are not two versions of the same thing. They are separate routes with different official bodies, eligibility wording, will types, fee schedules, language requirements and probate arrangements. There is no universal winner: the right route is the one that fits your circumstances.

Two separate routes

ADGM (Abu Dhabi) and DIFC (Dubai) are distinct UAE will routes with different official bodies, rules, fees, forms and processes.

ADGM official body

ADGM Courts Notary Public offers notarial and non-Muslim wills services in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD).

DIFC official body

The DIFC Courts Wills Service, governed by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 and the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules.

ADGM eligibility

ADGM wills service materials refer to non-Muslim individuals aged 21 or over who own assets in the UAE.

ADGM court fees

An ADJD fee of AED 950 plus an ADGM Courts fee of USD 155, as checked on 3 August 2026. Fees can change.

DIFC court fees

Full Will AED 10,000 single / AED 15,000 mirror, as checked on 3 August 2026. Other DIFC will types have their own fees.

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How do ADGM and DIFC wills compare?

The table below summarises published route facts. Official fees, rules and process steps can change; recheck the relevant official pages before relying on them.

Aspect	ADGM	DIFC
Official body	ADGM Courts Notary Public and Wills Office, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD).	DIFC Courts Wills Service / Wills and Probate Registry.
Location	Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi.	Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai.
Eligibility	ADGM materials refer to non-Muslim individuals aged 21 or over who own assets in the UAE.	The DIFC rules reviewed for this page apply to wills of non-Muslim individuals over the Age of Majority, defined in those rules as 21. DIFC service wording also refers to non-Muslims investing and living in the UAE.
Will types	Estate only, guardianship of minor children only, or combined estate and guardianship.	Full Will, Guardianship Will, Property Will, Business Owners Will, Financial Assets Will and Digital Assets Will.
Asset scope	ADGM materials indicate assets outside the UAE may be included, but probate for foreign assets would take place in the jurisdiction where those assets are located.	The reviewed DIFC rules include broad wording about movable and immovable property, but cross-border probate and enforcement can depend on the relevant jurisdiction.
Guardianship	ADGM materials describe guardianship of minor children only as one will purpose.	DIFC has a Guardianship Will category. The reviewed DIFC rules contain route-specific guardianship provisions, including location and residence limitations. Parents should check the current rules and seek legal advice.
Language & translation	ADGM materials describe a bilingual Arabic/English document certified by a UAE Ministry of Justice licensed legal translator.	The reviewed DIFC rules require English written forms; check current DIFC forms and rules.
Court fees	AED 950 (ADJD) + USD 155 (ADGM Courts), as checked on 3 August 2026.	Full Will AED 10,000 single / AED 15,000 mirror; Guardianship Will AED 5,000 / AED 7,500, as checked on 3 August 2026.
Probate	ADGM materials state the Wills Office does not provide probate; probate applications are handled through the ADJD Wills and Probate Office.	DIFC materials describe registry and probate processes; outcomes depend on the relevant process and facts.

Court and government fees are separate from QuickWills UAE platform fees and are paid directly to the relevant court or authority. See our full UAE will cost guide and QuickWills UAE pricing.

Which route fits which situation?

There is no situation where one route is automatically right. People who live or hold assets in Abu Dhabi often start by comparing the two Abu Dhabi routes (ADGM and ADJD) while people anchored to Dubai often look at DIFC alongside them. Published court fees are one factor; route suitability also depends on assets, family circumstances and process requirements.

A few common misconceptions worth clearing up. "Cheaper always means better." Fees are one factor; suitability depends on more than price. "DIFC is always better because it can mention worldwide assets." Asset wording should always be read with foreign-probate and enforcement caveats. "A UAE will means no probate process." Registration or notarisation and probate are separate steps on both routes.

Where does ADJD fit into this?

This page compares ADGM with DIFC, but Abu Dhabi has a second route of its own: the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's Civil Family Court. ADJD appears twice in the ADGM story: ADGM Courts operates its wills service in partnership with ADJD, and ADGM materials state that probate applications are handled through ADJD's Wills and Probate Office. But ADJD is also a will-registration route in its own right, with different eligibility and its own official form.

Rather than fold three routes into one page, we keep that comparison separate: see our dedicated ADGM vs ADJD comparison.

Does QuickWills UAE prepare ADGM or DIFC wills?

QuickWills UAE provides guided document preparation for the ADGM and ADJD routes, with route-specific eligibility, scope, fees and process differences explained separately. The route is derived from your answers in the eligibility flow (it is not self-selected). You sign at the court, with our checklist and appointment steps.

DIFC is covered on this page for comparison. QuickWills UAE prepares ADGM and ADJD wills.

ADGM vs DIFC wills FAQs

What is the difference between an ADGM will and a DIFC will?

ADGM and DIFC are distinct UAE will routes with different official bodies, rules, fees, forms and process details. The ADGM route runs through ADGM Courts Notary Public in Abu Dhabi, which offers notarial and non-Muslim wills services in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD). The DIFC route runs through the DIFC Courts Wills Service in Dubai, governed by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 and the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules.

Which is cheaper, an ADGM will or a DIFC will?

Based on published court fees checked on 3 August 2026, ADGM listed lower official notarisation fees (an ADJD fee of AED 950 plus an ADGM Courts fee of USD 155) than the DIFC Full Will fee (AED 10,000 single, AED 15,000 for mirror wills). But cost is not the only factor: eligibility, will types, asset scope, guardianship provisions and process differ between the routes, and official fees can change.

Is an ADGM will valid in Dubai?

The ADGM Notary Public can notarise a will for assets anywhere in the UAE, including outside Abu Dhabi, which includes Dubai. The official sources for each route set out how it applies to assets in each emirate.

Can I register a UAE will online?

Some official processes include digital submissions or virtual appointment steps: ADGM materials describe eCourts submission and virtual appointments, and DIFC materials describe virtual registration for qualifying individuals. You sign at the court. For ADGM and ADJD, QuickWills UAE gives you the checklist and the appointment steps.

Does QuickWills UAE prepare DIFC wills?

No. QuickWills UAE prepares ADGM and ADJD wills. DIFC is covered on this page for comparison.

Start with your circumstances, not the route

The eligibility check looks at your situation and shows which route QuickWills UAE can prepare documents for. ADGM court fees are approximately AED 1,520; official fees are paid directly to the relevant court.

Check your eligibility See the full cost breakdown