UAE wills guide
UAE will for Dubai property owners: does an ADGM or ADJD will cover your Dubai home?
ADGM source material reviewed by QuickWills UAE states that the Notary Public can notarise a will if the assets are located within the UAE, including outside Abu Dhabi — which includes property in Dubai. QuickWills UAE prepares ADGM and ADJD will documents; it does not currently prepare DIFC wills. This page is about asset scope, not general cost or route comparison — those are covered elsewhere and linked below.
The eligibility checker is informational and is not a legal determination.
Does a will registered outside Dubai cover Dubai property?
ADGM — yes, per ADGM’s own source material. ADGM source material reviewed by QuickWills UAE states the Notary Public can notarise a will if the assets are located within the UAE, including outside Abu Dhabi — which includes property in Dubai. That describes ADGM’s stated scope; it is not a promise about how a Dubai court, lender or land registry will treat your specific property.
ADJD — a lawyer question, not a settled fact. The official ADJD form covers property situated in the UAE generally. How this applies to a specific Dubai property has not been independently confirmed against the live ADJD website and is a question to raise with a licensed UAE lawyer, not something this page asserts as routine.
For the full ADGM/ADJD comparison — eligibility, fees, process — see our ADGM vs ADJD guide.
What about a Dubai-specific will — DIFC’s Property Will?
DIFC Courts, based in Dubai, publishes a Property Will (Form 3) as one of six DIFC will types — a will type purpose-built for real estate. It covers all shares in up to five real-estate properties within the UAE. As published on the DIFC Courts fee schedule and checked 11 August 2026, it costs AED 7,500 single (plus a non-refundable AED 750 booking fee) or AED 10,000 mirror (plus a non-refundable AED 1,000 booking fee). Fees can change.
This is a separate DIFC product from the DIFC Full Will figures quoted elsewhere on this site — do not treat the two as the same fee. QuickWills UAE does not currently prepare DIFC wills; the Property Will is covered here for comparison only. For the fuller ADGM-vs-DIFC comparison, see our ADGM vs DIFC guide.
Three separate steps: will, probate, and the DLD transfer
Registering a will and transferring a property to your heirs are not the same process. There are three separate steps:
- Preparing and registering the will. The document is prepared and then registered or notarised with the relevant court — ADGM or ADJD, on the routes QuickWills UAE prepares.
- Any probate or succession step required after death. ADGM’s published material states its Notary Public and Wills Office does not provide a probate service — probate applications are registered with ADJD’s Wills and Probate Office instead.
- The Dubai Land Department’s own Inheritance Title Transfer step. DLD runs its own property-transfer process, acting on court-issued succession documentation — not on the will document alone.
QuickWills UAE handles document preparation only. It does not carry out probate and does not file anything with the Dubai Land Department on your behalf. For the full platform and court fee breakdown across routes, see our UAE will cost guide.
Which route can cover your Dubai property?
A side-by-side view. QuickWills UAE prepares documents for the ADGM and ADJD routes; DIFC is included for comparison only.
| Dimension | ADGM | ADJD | DIFC (comparison only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Non-Muslim, 21+, owns UAE assets. | Non-UAE citizen, any religion (UAE/GCC nationals excluded). | Non-Muslims investing or living in the UAE. |
| Does it cover Dubai property? | Yes — ADGM source material states it can notarise wills over assets located within the UAE, including outside Abu Dhabi. | The official form covers UAE-situated property generally. How this applies to a specific Dubai property is a question for a licensed UAE lawyer. | Yes — the Property Will exists specifically for UAE real estate (up to five properties); DIFC is Dubai-based. Comparison only. |
| Real-estate-specific product? | No dedicated property will — general templates cover assets including real estate. | No dedicated property will — a single official civil-will form. | Yes — Property Will (Form 3), purpose-built for real estate. Comparison only. |
| Court or government fee | Approximately AED 1,520 single. | AED 950 single. | AED 7,500 single / AED 10,000 mirror, plus booking fee. As published 11 August 2026; comparison only. |
| Property transfer at DLD | Separate step — DLD acts on court-issued succession documentation, not on the will directly. | Same — a separate DLD step. | Same — a separate DLD step. Comparison only. |
Without a will, and other complications to flag with a lawyer
Without a registered will, a Dubai property is still subject to whichever court process applies to the estate. This page covers the property-specific angle only — for the fuller explanation of what typically happens to a UAE estate without a will, read our guide on dying without a will in the UAE.
Two other situations add complications this page does not resolve. How jointly owned Dubai property is treated on death depends on your circumstances — speak to a licensed UAE lawyer rather than relying on a general rule. A mortgaged property can involve extra steps with your lender as well as the court and the Dubai Land Department — speak to a licensed UAE lawyer, and your bank, about your specific loan. Neither has a single settled answer this page can state as fact.
What does it cost to prepare a will that covers Dubai property?
QuickWills UAE platform fees range from AED 950–AED 1,500 depending on will type, including certified Arabic translation. Court fees are separate and paid directly to the relevant court: approximately AED 1,520 for ADGM, AED 950 for ADJD. Neither figure includes any Dubai Land Department fee, since the DLD transfer is a separate step handled outside QuickWills UAE and outside this page’s scope.
For the full platform and court fee breakdown, see our UAE will cost guide or current QuickWills UAE pricing.
When to speak to a licensed UAE lawyer
Owning a specific, often high-value property makes precision matter. Speak to a licensed UAE lawyer if your circumstances involve joint ownership, a mortgage, assets in more than one emirate or country, or any doubt about how a route’s asset scope applies to your Dubai property.
Your route is confirmed through the eligibility checker — it is informational, not a legal determination.
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.
Dubai property will FAQs
Does my ADGM will cover my Dubai apartment?
ADGM source material reviewed by QuickWills UAE states that the Notary Public can notarise a will if the assets are located within the UAE, including outside Abu Dhabi — which includes property in Dubai. This describes ADGM's own scope; it is not a promise about recognition, enforcement or transfer outcomes for your specific property, which are legal questions for a licensed UAE lawyer.
Does an ADJD will cover my Dubai apartment too?
The official ADJD form covers property situated in the UAE generally. How this applies to a specific Dubai property has not been independently confirmed against the live ADJD website and is a question for a licensed UAE lawyer, not something this page states as settled fact.
Does registering a will automatically transfer my property?
No. There are three separate steps: preparing and registering or notarising the will with the relevant court; any probate or succession step the court requires after death; and the Dubai Land Department's own Inheritance Title Transfer service, which acts on court-issued succession documentation, not on the will document alone. QuickWills UAE handles will preparation only — it does not carry out probate and does not file anything with the Dubai Land Department.
What is a DIFC Property Will?
DIFC Courts publishes a Property Will (Form 3) as one of six DIFC will types, purpose-built for real estate and covering up to five UAE properties. As published on the DIFC Courts fee schedule and checked 11 August 2026, it costs AED 7,500 single or AED 10,000 mirror, plus a non-refundable booking fee. This is a different DIFC product from the DIFC Full Will figures quoted elsewhere on this site — the two should not be conflated. Fees can change.
Does QuickWills UAE prepare DIFC wills?
No. QuickWills UAE currently prepares ADGM and ADJD will documents only. DIFC, including the Property Will, is discussed on this page for comparison — not as a route QuickWills UAE offers.
What happens to jointly owned or mortgaged Dubai property if the owner dies without a will?
Both raise complications this page does not resolve. How jointly owned property is treated on death depends on your circumstances, and a mortgage can involve extra steps with your lender as well as the court and the Dubai Land Department. Speak to a licensed UAE lawyer, and your lender for a mortgage, about your specific situation.
Check which UAE will route may fit your Dubai property
Confirm your eligible route, then prepare an ADGM or ADJD will document with guided, self-help preparation and court-registration guidance for the steps you complete yourself. QuickWills UAE does not register your will, does not carry out probate, and does not file with the Dubai Land Department on your behalf.
The checker is informational and is not a legal determination.