Registering a UAE will can be done two ways: through an online service like OwnX, or through a UAE law firm. Both routes produce the same legal outcome, a registered, enforceable UAE will. But the experience, timeline, and cost are dramatically different.
Cost Comparison
- OwnX individual will: AED 749 (service fee) + AED 950 (ADJD registration) = AED 1,699 total
- OwnX mirror wills (couple): AED 1,149 + AED 1,900 (ADJD x2) = AED 3,049 total
- UAE law firm individual will: AED 4,000–8,000 (drafting) + AED 950 (ADJD) = AED 4,950–8,950
- UAE law firm mirror wills: AED 7,000–15,000 (drafting) + AED 1,900 (ADJD x2) = AED 8,900–16,900
- DIFC will (law firm): AED 5,000–10,000 (registration) + AED 2,000–8,000 (drafting) = AED 7,000–18,000
OwnX typically costs 70–80% less than a UAE law firm for the same registered outcome. The registration itself, done by the ADJD court, is identical regardless of who prepared the document.
Process Comparison
OwnX
- Online questionnaire: 15–25 minutes
- Draft prepared and shared within 1–3 business days
- Amendments done online, no meetings
- Court-certified Arabic translation arranged by OwnX
- Sign electronically in your OwnX account
- Video verification call with ADJD court, 10–15 minutes, from anywhere
- Will registered next working day
- Total time: 1–2 weeks
UAE Law Firm
- Initial consultation meeting: 1–2 hours (often billable)
- Draft prepared in 1–3 weeks
- Amendments via email or in-person meeting
- Law firm arranges Arabic translation (or charges extra for it)
- Sign at law firm's office
- Law firm coordinates registration appointment
- In-person attendance at registration authority required
- Total time: 3–8 weeks typically
Quality Comparison
The legal quality of the registered will is comparable. Both an OwnX will and a law firm will must meet ADJD requirements to be registered. OwnX's structured questionnaire and expert review process is designed to capture the same information a solicitor would gather in a consultation, in a more efficient way.
The key difference is the personal advisory relationship. A law firm solicitor can provide nuanced legal advice on complex situations, multiple properties in different jurisdictions, business succession, trusts. OwnX is optimised for the majority of UAE expats with straightforward assets. If your situation is complex, OwnX will tell you.
When to Use OwnX
- Standard UAE estate: salary account, savings, car, perhaps one property
- Spouse and/or children as primary beneficiaries
- Executor based in UAE or willing to travel once
- You want the process done quickly and affordably
- You are comfortable with an online process
When to Consider a UAE Law Firm
- Complex business interests requiring shareholder succession planning
- Multiple properties in different Emirates with complex title structures
- Trust arrangements or offshore structures
- Disputed family circumstances requiring detailed legal advice
- Cross-border estate requiring coordinated multi-jurisdiction advice
For most UAE expats, OwnX delivers the same registered outcome at 20–30% of the law firm cost. Start from AED 749, entirely online, next working day registration.
Start Your Will
Aanchal Adhikari (Advocate, LL.B., LL.M. (Cand.))
Senior Specialist & UAE Estate Planning Advocate
Aanchal Adhikari is a Nepal-licensed Advocate with 4+ years of legal practice, specialized in ADJD Wills, DIFC wills, and UAE inheritance. She has drafted and overseen 800+ ADJD Wills in the UAE and is currently pursuing an LL.M. at Middlesex University Dubai.
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