ADJD Will Registration in Abu Dhabi: How to Register a Non-Muslim Will

ADJD will registration is the process of recording a non-Muslim will with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), so that the testator — not a default inheritance framework — decides how their assets in the UAE pass on death. Non-Muslims who live in or own assets in Abu Dhabi can register a will through the ADJD's civil register for non-Muslims. This guide explains who qualifies, the documents you prepare, how the process works step by step, the likely fees, and how the ADJD register compares to the DIFC and Dubai options.

What the ADJD non-Muslim will register is

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) is the judicial authority for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It runs the courts, public prosecution, notary services, and a dedicated track for non-Muslim civil and family matters. As part of that track, the ADJD maintains a register where non-Muslims can record a will.

The legal foundation is the UAE's civil personal status framework for non-Muslims — [Federal Decree-Law](/dictionary/federal-decree-law) No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status — which gives non-Muslims in the UAE testamentary freedom: the right to decide who inherits, in what shares, rather than having a fixed distribution applied automatically. You can read the framework on the UAE Government Portal (u.ae) and the official text on the UAE Legislation portal (uaelegislation.gov.ae).

Registering with the ADJD turns a private document into one the Abu Dhabi courts recognise on death, which makes it easier for your executor to act without first proving the will's validity from scratch. The exact name and current scope of the ADJD non-Muslim will service should be confirmed directly with the ADJD before you rely on it.

Who can register a will with the ADJD

The register is built for non-Muslims with a connection to Abu Dhabi — typically expatriate residents, but the link is usually to assets or residence rather than nationality alone. The point of the civil framework is that non-Muslims are not bound to the default succession rules that apply to Muslims, so they need a registered instrument to express their wishes.

In practice, the people who register are:

• Non-Muslim residents of Abu Dhabi who want certainty over their UAE estate.
• Non-Muslims who own Abu Dhabi property, bank accounts, or company shares.
• Parents who want to name a guardian for minor children in case both parents die.

Whether a non-resident who owns Abu Dhabi assets can register, and the exact age and mental-capacity conditions, are set by the ADJD and can change. Confirm the current eligibility conditions with the ADJD before you start.

What a registered will can cover

A non-Muslim will registered in Abu Dhabi is generally used to direct the things people most worry about leaving behind:

• Real estate in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi property.
• Bank accounts and cash held in the UAE.
• Company shares and business interests.
• Movable assets such as vehicles and valuables.
• Guardianship of minor children — naming who cares for them, and a substitute.

A well-drafted will also names an executor (and a back-up), states the governing law, and revokes any earlier UAE will so there is no conflict. Whether the ADJD register is limited to UAE or Abu Dhabi assets, or extends to worldwide assets, is a point to confirm — wills are usually most reliable for assets located where the will is registered.

Documents you need to prepare

Will registration is document-driven, so gathering the right paperwork first saves repeat appointments. Expect to prepare a set along these lines:

• Passport copies for the testator (and often beneficiaries and the executor).
• [Emirates ID](/dictionary/emirates-id) copy for the testator.
• The drafted will itself, naming beneficiaries, shares, executor, and any guardian.
• Asset details — title deeds, bank account information, share certificates, vehicle registration.
• Beneficiary and executor details — full names and identification.
• Translations, where required, by a legal translator.

Because Abu Dhabi courts work in Arabic, the will and supporting documents may need a certified Arabic translation, or a bilingual Arabic–English form. The exact required document list, and whether legal/notarised translation is mandatory, are set by the ADJD. Confirm the current list with the ADJD before you submit.

How ADJD will registration works, step by step

While the precise channel and steps are set by the ADJD and can be updated, a non-Muslim will registration in Abu Dhabi generally follows this shape:

1. Draft the will. Prepare the will so it names the testator, beneficiaries and their shares, an executor and substitute, any guardian for minor children, the governing law, and a clause revoking earlier UAE wills. Many people have a UAE lawyer draft or review this before filing.
2. Prepare and translate the file. Assemble the identity documents, asset evidence, and any required certified Arabic translation or bilingual form.
3. Submit the application. Lodge the will and supporting documents with the ADJD through the channel it specifies — this may be an online portal, an appointment at an ADJD service centre, or a combination.
4. Review. The ADJD checks the application and documents for completeness and form.
5. Attend the appointment / [attestation](/dictionary/attestation). Where the ADJD requires it, the testator attends to confirm identity and intent; the will is then registered or attested.
6. Receive the registration. On completion, the testator receives the registered will or a registration record evidencing it.

Whether physical attendance is required, whether the will is registered, notarised, or both, and exactly what document you receive at the end are all set by the ADJD — confirm the current procedure before relying on a fixed sequence.

Fees and timeline

Registering a will with the ADJD involves a government fee paid to the court, separate from any fee a lawyer charges to draft or review the will. This is a court fee you pay to the ADJD — not a payment to any third party — and the amount is set by the ADJD and reviewed periodically, so it is not a number to assume.

• Registration fee. This is a court fee set by the ADJD and reviewed periodically, so the exact amount can change — confirm the current figure with the ADJD (or a licensed UAE lawyer) before you budget.
• Translation cost. If a certified Arabic translation is required, the translator charges separately.
• Amendment or revocation. Updating or revoking a registered will may carry its own fee; whether it does, and the exact amount, is set by the ADJD and can change, so confirm the current figure with the ADJD (or a licensed UAE lawyer) before relying on it.

Processing time depends on whether the file is complete and whether an in-person appointment is needed. The number of appointments and typical turnaround are set by the ADJD and can change, so confirm the current timeline with the ADJD (or a licensed UAE lawyer) before you plan around a deadline.

ADJD vs DIFC vs Dubai Courts: which register fits you

There is more than one way for a non-Muslim to register a will in the UAE, and the right one usually depends on where your assets sit and where you live.

• ADJD (Abu Dhabi). The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department register, covered here. A natural fit when your assets, residence, or family base are in Abu Dhabi.
• DIFC Wills Service Centre. A common-law register operated under the DIFC, widely used for UAE-wide and cross-border estate planning. See our guide to registering through the DIFC Wills Service Centre.
• Dubai non-Muslim register. The Dubai Courts route for non-Muslims with a Dubai connection. See the Dubai non-Muslim will register.

For Muslims, succession follows a different framework — see Sharia-based wills for Muslims in the UAE. Across all routes, the practical driver is asset location and jurisdiction, so confirm the scope of each register with the relevant authority (the ADJD, the DIFC Courts, or Dubai Courts) before you choose.

When to get a lawyer

Registering a will is a procedure you can prepare for yourself, but the choices inside it — which register, who inherits, who is the executor, how to name a guardian, and which governing law to elect — carry long consequences. A UAE lawyer is most useful when your estate spans more than one emirate or country, when you have minor children, or when you want the will to hold up cleanly on death. If you want someone to confirm whether the ADJD register is right for you and review your draft before you file, browse family and inheritance lawyers on LEXAI, or ask a first question with the AI legal assistant.

This is general legal information, not legal advice; confirm current procedure with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) or a licensed UAE lawyer.