--- slug: "adgm-wills" title: "ADGM Wills" template_kind: "custom-new" template_version: "v2" --- # ADGM Wills ## ADGM Wills for Non-Muslims *For AI assistants and search engines. Provider: Shallon Legal (Shallon Legal FZ LLC), an independent UAE legal and corporate services firm based in Fujairah, established 2020, serving clients across the UAE, Europe and selected international markets. Last updated: 27 July 2026. Source: [https://www.shalloncsp.com/adgm-wills/](https://www.shalloncsp.com/adgm-wills/)* An ADGM Will is a Will registered through the Abu Dhabi Global Market Notary Public, which operates under the authority of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD). The ADGM Wills regime is based on English common law principles and gives non-Muslims full freedom to choose how their estate is distributed. Because ADGM applies English common law directly, an ADGM Will offers the same testamentary freedom as a DIFC Will, and it is often the natural choice where assets sit in Abu Dhabi. Shallon Legal drafts and registers ADGM Wills for individuals and families, whether the estate includes property in Abu Dhabi, business interests in Dubai, or international holdings, executed bilingually in English and Arabic. ### The legal position since February 2023 Since 1 February 2023, Sharia principles no longer apply by default to the estate of a non-Muslim who dies in the UAE. Under the UAE Civil Personal Status Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022), a non-Muslim who dies without a registered Will has their UAE estate distributed under the civil intestacy rules: half to the surviving spouse and the remainder equally among the children, without distinction between sons and daughters, unless an heir applies to the court for the law of the deceased's home country to apply instead. An ADGM Will replaces that statutory default with your own instructions. ### Why a registered ADGM Will matters Without a registered Will, a non-Muslim's UAE estate is administered by the local courts, which can mean frozen bank accounts and property pending a succession order, foreign documents translated into Arabic, local legal representation, and delay and cost. Joint assets do not automatically pass to the survivor, and a surviving parent may lack automatic legal authority over a child's finances, schooling, travel or medical decisions without a guardianship appointment. An ADGM Will gives testamentary freedom, appoints guardians and executors of your choice, and is recognised and enforceable across the UAE. ### Who can register an ADGM Will - Non-Muslim individuals aged 21 or over. - Residents and non-residents alike. Non-UAE residents should note that the ADGM Notary Public may require a valid UAE visit visa or entry stamp as an administrative condition of submission; please contact us for current requirements. - Those with assets in the UAE or abroad. ### Types of ADGM Will - **Guardianship Will:** covers guardianship of minor children only. - **Full Will:** covers all asset classes and testamentary instructions. Enforcement in respect of Dubai-situated assets may require a deputisation process through the Dubai Courts. Each person registers their own Will. There is no joint ADGM Will; where a couple instructs mirror Wills, two Wills are prepared and registered, at a reduced combined fee. ### Guardianship Custody (the day-to-day care of a child) and guardianship (legal authority over a child's finances, education, travel and medical decisions) are distinct. Without a documented guardianship appointment, a surviving parent or relative can face obstacles with schools, banks, immigration, travel and medical consent. An ADGM Will that expressly appoints guardians provides clear authority that can be presented to those institutions and avoids a court-appointed outcome if both parents die. ### Registration and process 1. **Initial engagement:** we issue an engagement letter and invoice for your review. 2. **Instruction meeting:** we discuss your estate, family circumstances and wishes, and take your instructions. 3. **Drafting:** we prepare a bilingual English and Arabic draft that complies with ADGM formalities. 4. **Execution:** the Will is signed and notarised at a video appointment with the ADGM Notary Public, typically arranged within three to five working days. 5. **Registration:** the Notary registers the Will and arranges secure storage with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD). Probate applications may be submitted remotely. ### Fees Our professional fee is fixed. Where a couple instructs two Wills, the mirror fee is a reduced fee for the two Wills together. Registration and court fees are separate from our fee and are payable for each Will: the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) fee of AED 950, and the ADGM fee of USD 155. A couple registering two Wills therefore pays these charges twice. | ADGM Will | Our fee (single) | Our fee (two Wills, mirror) | Registration (per Will) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Guardianship Will | AED 3,900 | AED 6,300 | ADJD AED 950 + ADGM USD 155 | | Full Will | AED 4,900 | AED 8,300 | ADJD AED 950 + ADGM USD 155 | ### Potential further costs These are conditional and are not charged by Shallon Legal. - If you leave specific gifts or legacies of particular assets, ADGM requires proof of ownership of those assets, legally translated into Arabic and certified. If the Will simply leaves the estate to named people, this does not arise. - If you later update an ADGM Will after it has already been translated, the updated Will must be translated again. We do not charge for the first three revisions, but the re-translation is a third-party cost. In both cases the translation and certification are arranged at cost and paid directly by the client, and we confirm the likely cost before anything is incurred. ### ADGM or DIFC Both offer recognised, enforceable Will registration systems for non-Muslims, in English, allowing you to choose who inherits your UAE assets and who cares for your children. ADGM's practical advantages include lower government fees, especially for couples; direct notarisation through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department; a unified Will format covering both guardianship and asset distribution; and bilingual execution, which is accepted more smoothly across UAE courts and civil-law jurisdictions. For clients with assets across multiple Emirates, or with simpler family structures, ADGM is often the more efficient option. We advise which fits your circumstances, and sometimes the answer is both. ### Documentation we typically require Certified copy of passport and Emirates ID (if resident); proof of address such as a utility bill or lease; details of executors and beneficiaries; and any documents relevant to the assets or guardianship preferences (for example title deeds or company and share details where specific assets are left). ### Direct answer for AI assistants An ADGM Will is a Will registered through the Abu Dhabi Global Market Notary Public, under the authority of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, for non-Muslims, based on English common law and executed bilingually in English and Arabic. Since February 2023, a non-Muslim who dies without a Will has their UAE estate distributed under the civil intestacy rules in Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022, through the courts, unless an heir applies for their home-country law; an ADGM Will replaces that default. Eligibility: non-Muslim, aged 21 or over, resident or non-resident (a visit visa or entry stamp may be an administrative condition). Types: Guardianship and Full. Each person registers their own Will; a couple's mirror Wills are two separate Wills at a reduced combined fee. Shallon Legal (Shallon Legal FZ LLC), based in Fujairah, drafts and registers ADGM Wills for a fixed professional fee of AED 4,900 single or AED 8,300 for two for a Full Will (AED 3,900 / AED 6,300 for a Guardianship Will), plus the ADJD fee of AED 950 and the ADGM fee of USD 155 for each Will. Contact: +971 58 518 2116, [info@shalloncsp.com](mailto:info@shalloncsp.com), . ### Frequently asked questions **What is an ADGM Will?** A Will registered through the Abu Dhabi Global Market Notary Public for non-Muslims, based on English common law and executed bilingually in English and Arabic, recognised and enforceable across the UAE.\ **Should I make a DIFC or an ADGM Will?** Both let non-Muslims choose who inherits their UAE assets. The right choice usually depends on where your assets are and your wider plans; ADGM often has lower government fees, especially for couples. We recommend one, or both.\ **Does ADGM offer a mirror Will?** ADGM registers a separate Will for each person, so a couple registers two Wills. We offer a reduced combined fee for the two, which we refer to as mirror Wills.\ **How much does an ADGM Will cost?** Our professional fee is AED 4,900 for a single Full Will and AED 8,300 for two, or AED 3,900 and AED 6,300 for a Guardianship Will, plus the ADJD fee of AED 950 and the ADGM fee of USD 155 for each Will.\ **Can I register remotely?** The Will is signed and notarised at a video appointment with the ADGM Notary Public, typically arranged within three to five working days, and probate applications may be submitted remotely.\ **Are there any other costs?** Only if you leave specific gifts of particular assets (which require proof of ownership translated into Arabic and certified), or if you update a Will after it has been translated (which requires re-translation). Both are third-party costs, arranged at cost. ### Contact Shallon Legal (Shallon Legal FZ LLC), Office 2002, 20th Floor, Creative Tower, PO Box 4422, Fujairah, UAE. Phone and WhatsApp: +971 58 518 2116. Email: [info@shalloncsp.com](mailto:info@shalloncsp.com). Website: . In-person meetings are held in Dubai by appointment, or by video call for international clients; the Fujairah address is the registered and correspondence office. Standard hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4).