UAE wills guide
Will-writing service or online will platform: which fits you?
If you are comparing ways to put a UAE will in place, you are probably weighing two genuinely different models: a consultation-led will-writing company that drafts for you, and a guided online platform like QuickWills UAE that walks you through preparing the document yourself at a published price. This page compares the models fairly — including when neither is the right first stop.
The eligibility checker is informational and is not a legal determination.
The two models
Consultation-led will-writing services have operated in the UAE for many years. The shape is consistent: a consultation to understand your circumstances, drafting by the provider’s team, your review and approval, then Arabic translation and stamping where needed, and help scheduling the court submission. Some also offer powers of attorney, probate support and broader estate planning. Many quote per engagement after a free consultation rather than publishing prices.
Guided online platforms are the newer model, and QuickWills UAE is one: you answer structured questions online — total online time 30–45 minutes — and the platform prepares your will document for the two Abu Dhabi court routes, ADGM and ADJD, which serve UAE residents generally. Arabic translation is included where the route needs it, and pricing is published: platform fees from AED 950, with court fees listed separately and paid directly to the court. You complete the court registration steps yourself, with guidance. QuickWills UAE is not a law firm.
Side by side
The right-hand column describes the consultation-led model in general — offerings vary by provider, so treat it as a checklist of questions to ask rather than a description of any one company.
| Aspect | QuickWills UAE (online platform) | Consultation-led services (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Guided self-help software: you answer structured questions online and the platform prepares your will document. | Consultation-led drafting: the provider’s team prepares the draft for you after a consultation. |
| Pricing | Published on the site: platform fees from AED 950, court fees listed separately and paid directly to the court. | Varies by provider; many quote after a free consultation rather than publishing prices. Ask for the full cost, including translation and any submission assistance, in writing. |
| UAE routes | ADGM and ADJD (both Abu Dhabi court routes, serving UAE residents generally). The route is derived from your answers in the eligibility check. | Varies by provider — commonly DIFC, Dubai Courts and ADJD; coverage differs. Ask which routes the provider serves and how the route is chosen. |
| Arabic translation | Included in the platform fee for routes that need it. | Commonly offered as part of the engagement; confirm whether it is included in the quoted price. |
| Court registration | You complete registration, signing and notarisation directly with the court, with step-by-step guidance included. | Many providers arrange submission scheduling or accompany the process; the signing and notarisation before the court remains a personal act on every route. |
| Time | Total online time 30–45 minutes for the preparation steps, per our published process. | Depends on consultation scheduling, drafting turnaround and revision rounds; ask the provider for a typical timeline. |
| Beyond wills | Wills only: estate, guardianship-only, or combined — plus mirror wills for couples. | Some providers also offer powers of attorney, probate support, trusts and broader estate planning. |
For what the courts themselves charge, see our full UAE will cost guide, and for the two Abu Dhabi routes side by side, see ADGM vs ADJD.
How to choose between the two models
This is not a “winner” page — the honest answer is that the right model depends on how you like to work and how complex your affairs are.
A consultation-led service fits people who want to sit down with someone, have the document drafted for them, and have submission logistics arranged. If that is worth more to you than a published price, the model is built around exactly that — and plenty of people choose it.
A guided online platform fits people who are comfortable answering structured questions themselves, want to see the full price before starting, and are happy to complete the court steps with guidance. That is what QuickWills UAE is: the whole preparation process runs online in 30–45 minutes, and the ADGM will route and ADJD route are both covered, with the fit derived from your answers.
And for some situations, neither is the right first stop: assets in several countries, business ownership, blended families, an existing home-country will or any dispute risk are reasons to speak to a licensed UAE lawyer before choosing any drafting service or platform.
Questions to ask any provider
Whichever model you lean towards, the same questions separate a good fit from a surprise later:
- What is the full price in writing — drafting, translation, and any submission assistance — before I commit?
- Which UAE will routes do you cover, and how is the route chosen for me?
- Is Arabic translation included where the route requires it, and who certifies it?
- Which steps happen online and which require me in person?
- What happens if the court raises an issue with the document?
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. Descriptions of consultation-led services on this page are general characterisations of that model, not statements about any specific provider — offerings vary, so verify details with the provider you are considering.
Will-writing services vs online platforms FAQs
What is a will-writing service in the UAE?
A will-writing service (or will-drafting company) is a consultation-led model: you sit down with the provider, their team drafts the will for you, and many also arrange Arabic translation, stamping and court-submission logistics. Several established companies offer this in the UAE, some with decades of experience and services beyond wills, such as powers of attorney and probate support. Offerings and prices vary by provider — many quote after a consultation rather than publishing prices.
How is an online will platform different from a will-writing service?
They are different models rather than versions of the same service. A will-writing service drafts for you after a consultation. A guided online platform like QuickWills UAE asks you structured questions and prepares the will document from your answers, with published pricing and an online process; you complete the court registration steps yourself with guidance. Neither model is universally better — the fit depends on how you like to work and how complex your affairs are.
Which is cheaper, a will-writing service or an online platform?
Often you cannot compare directly, because many consultation-led providers quote per engagement rather than publishing prices. Online platforms typically publish theirs: QuickWills UAE platform fees start at AED 950, with ADGM and ADJD court fees listed separately and paid directly to the court. If seeing the full price before you start matters to you, that difference in approach may itself be a deciding factor.
Do will-writing services and online platforms cover the same UAE will routes?
Not necessarily. UAE wills run through specific routes — ADGM and ADJD in Abu Dhabi, DIFC and Dubai Courts in Dubai — and providers differ in which routes they serve. Ask any provider which routes they cover and how the route is chosen. QuickWills UAE prepares will documents for the ADGM and ADJD routes, with the route derived from your answers in the eligibility check rather than self-selected.
When is a lawyer the better choice than either model?
Some situations call for a licensed UAE lawyer rather than any drafting service or platform: assets in several countries, business ownership, blended families, an existing home-country will, or any dispute risk. QuickWills UAE is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice; it is a guided self-help document-preparation platform for people comfortable answering structured questions themselves.
Can I do the whole process online?
With QuickWills UAE the preparation runs fully online — total online time 30–45 minutes — and Arabic translation is included where the route needs it. The court steps depend on the route: ADJD registration is fully remote via portal filing and a video-call notarisation; ADGM uses a virtual notary appointment with wet-ink signatures. Consultation-led services describe their own processes; ask the provider what happens in person and what happens remotely.
See the full price before you decide anything
QuickWills UAE platform fees start at AED 950, with every ADGM and ADJD court fee listed upfront. The eligibility check shows which route fits your circumstances — informational only, not a legal determination.