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.
The eligibility checker is informational and is not a legal determination.
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. A comparison is worth making — but it ends in “which may fit your circumstances”, not in a universal winner.
This page is general information to help you compare official UAE will routes. It is not legal advice and does not decide which route is right for 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.
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 offers 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 may fit 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 may want to understand DIFC alongside them. Published court fees are one factor; route suitability also depends on assets, family circumstances, process requirements and whether you need legal advice.
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 — and customers complete the required court or registry steps themselves, with court-registration guidance included.
QuickWills UAE does not prepare DIFC wills. DIFC is discussed on this page for comparison only. If you think DIFC may fit your circumstances, review DIFC official sources or consult a licensed UAE lawyer.
When to speak to a licensed UAE lawyer
Route comparison is general information; some questions are advice questions. Speak to a licensed UAE lawyer if any of these apply:
- You have assets outside the UAE — ask how a UAE will interacts with probate and enforcement in the jurisdiction where those assets are located.
- You already have a home-country will — ask how it interacts with UAE assets and any UAE will.
- You have minor children — guardianship rules differ by route and may depend on where the child lives and the facts of the family.
- Business ownership, blended families or dispute risks are involved.
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.
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?
How a will registered under one route applies to your specific assets and emirate is a legal question that depends on your circumstances. This page explains route rules at a high level; for questions about validity and enforcement in a particular emirate, check the official sources for the relevant route and ask a licensed UAE lawyer.
Do I need a lawyer for an ADGM or DIFC will?
You should consider legal advice if your circumstances are complex — for example foreign assets, business ownership, blended families or an existing home-country will. QuickWills UAE is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice; it provides self-help document preparation for the ADGM and ADJD routes.
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. But you still complete the required court or registry steps yourself. QuickWills UAE does not register your will for you.
Does QuickWills UAE prepare DIFC wills?
No. QuickWills UAE currently positions its service around ADGM and ADJD will document preparation. DIFC is discussed on this page for comparison only. If you think DIFC may fit your circumstances, review DIFC official sources or consult a licensed UAE lawyer.
Start with your circumstances, not the route
The eligibility check looks at your situation and shows which route QuickWills UAE can prepare documents for — informational only, not a legal determination. ADGM court fees are approximately AED 1,520; official fees are paid directly to the relevant court.