DIFC, Dubai Courts or ADJD: Which Will Needs Arabic?
The Short Answer
The UAE gives non-Muslim residents three main places to register a will, and each works in a different language. That single fact drives a good deal of the cost and effort of making a will here, and it is rarely explained before people choose.
A DIFC will is in English and needs no translation to register. An ADJD civil will is bilingual, on a template the department provides. A Dubai Courts will is an Arabic notarial document, normally registered in bilingual form with a legal translation. Whichever you choose, some translation is likely at some point — the question is whether it is done calmly now or urgently later.
This article compares the three from the translation point of view. It is general information, not legal advice; for the legal comparison, see the registry guide at Smart Legal Services linked below.
DIFC Courts Wills Service
- Language of the will: English. The registry’s Rules require the will to be in English, in writing.
- At signing: the DIFC Courts state that a Ministry of Justice licensed translator appointed by the testator may be present at the signing appointment — useful where the testator’s English is limited.
- After death: the DIFC Courts issue the probate order in both English and Arabic. Supporting documents for a death abroad may need to be authenticated and translated.
- Translation needed to register: none for the will itself. Identity and supporting documents in other languages may need it.
Abu Dhabi Judicial Department — Civil Family Court
- Language of the will: bilingual. The department provides a standard will template in English and Arabic, and the law establishing the court provides that all its forms and proceedings are bilingual.
- English documents: the court’s regulations exempt expatriates from translating documents from English into Arabic.
- If you use your own draft rather than the template, practitioners report that it must be legally translated into Arabic so that the registered will is bilingual.
- Translation needed to register: the Arabic half of a custom-drafted will; any supporting document in a third language.
Dubai Courts Notary Public
- Language of the will: Arabic. Dubai’s law on notaries requires notarial instruments to be in Arabic; a bilingual instrument must carry both texts in one document, signed page by page, and a foreign-language instrument must be translated by a legal translator.
- At signing: where a party does not know the language, the notary works through a translator.
- Translation needed to register: the full will. See legal translation of a will for Dubai Courts.
Side by Side
| Situation | DIFC Courts | ADJD | Dubai Courts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will drafted in English only | Accepted | Needs Arabic (unless on the template) | Needs Arabic |
| Testator reads no English | A translator may attend | Will carries Arabic in any case | Will carries Arabic in any case |
| Supporting documents in French, Russian, Hindi, Tagalog or another language | Legal translation | Legal translation | Legal translation |
| Court order after death | Bilingual (English and Arabic) | Arabic, or Arabic and English | Arabic, or Arabic and English |
When an English Will Needs Translating Later
- When a foreign authority — a bank or land registry abroad — asks for the UAE will or order in its own language.
- When a will made abroad has to be put before a UAE court: see using a foreign will in the UAE.
- When heirs who do not read English need to understand what they are signing.
Choosing With Language in Mind
Language should not decide the registry; your assets, family and the law that applies to you should. But it is worth knowing before you choose that the cheapest registry fee can come with the largest translation task, and that a will your family cannot read is a will they will find harder to carry out.
For registration steps, fees and documents at the DIFC and ADJD, see our will and testament translation guide. Service pages: will translation in Dubai and will translation in Abu Dhabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a DIFC will need an Arabic translation?
Not to register: the will must be in English. The probate order after death is issued in English and Arabic.
Can I use my own English will at ADJD?
The department provides a bilingual template. Practitioners report that a custom draft must be legally translated into Arabic so that the registered will is bilingual.
Can a translator attend my DIFC will signing?
The DIFC Courts state that a Ministry of Justice licensed translator appointed by the testator may be present.
How much does it cost?
From AED 80 per 200-word page for Arabic and English, AED 100 for French, AED 150 for German, Italian or Turkish, and AED 250 for other languages such as Chinese, Russian or Urdu (all excl. 5% VAT). Urgent work is priced on request, and large files receive discounts. See our pricing page.
How SWLT Helps
We prepare the Arabic text of custom-drafted wills for ADJD and Dubai Courts, translate supporting documents from other languages, and provide translators for signing appointments. Smart World Legal Translation (SWLT) is an MOJ-licensed legal translation office in Abu Dhabi, led by Dr. Hani Elimam, an MOJ-licensed translator. For the legal comparison of the registries, see the UAE will drafting service at Smart Legal Services.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about the translation side of wills and inheritance in the UAE. It is not legal advice. Laws, registry rules and fees change; confirm current requirements with the registry or authority concerned and take advice from a lawyer on your own situation.
Plan the Translation With the Registry
Tell us which registry you are considering and send the draft will. Smart World Legal Translation is led by Dr. Hani Elimam (MOJ-licensed translator, AIIC member), has translated legal documents since 2014 and is rated 4.8/5 on Google. Send your documents on WhatsApp (+971 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.