The short answer: compare scope before comparing price
The cost of making a will in Dubai is not one universal government tariff. Your total depends on the drafting service, the chosen registration route and the work your circumstances require. A headline price may cover professional preparation only, while another includes a registration charge. Neither is automatically better value. Ask for a written breakdown showing the work included, the court or registry that will be used and anything you must pay separately. If you live in Dubai, do not assume that every quote refers to Dubai Courts: an adviser may propose another available UAE registration route. Confirm that distinction before comparing figures. This article explains how to read a quote, rather than recommending one route for every family.
Simplify Advisory’s published drafting fees
Simplify Advisory lists a Single Will at AED 1,500 and Mirror Wills at AED 2,500. The service page separately identifies ADJD government registration charges of AED 950 for a single will and AED 1,900 for the pair. These are the website’s published figures, not a promise that every matter can be completed for the same total. Confirm the current court charge and final written scope at your consultation. A Dubai Courts or DIFC route should be quoted separately rather than assumed to cost the same. If translation, unusual asset structures or additional advice are needed, ask whether they are already included. You should be able to see exactly who receives each payment and what receipt you will receive.
| Published option | Professional fee | Separately listed ADJD registration |
|---|---|---|
| Single Will | AED 1,500 | AED 950 |
| Mirror Wills | AED 2,500 | AED 1,900 for the pair |
Single and mirror wills are not the same purchase
A single will records one person’s instructions. Mirror wills usually mean two coordinated documents for a couple, with each person making their own will. Compare a pair with a pair, not a two-person package against a single-person headline fee. Matching documents still need individual consideration: spouses may own different assets, appoint different substitutes or have children from previous relationships. Tell the adviser about those differences before the quote is finalised. Ask whether the package includes separate discussions, an opportunity for each person to review their instructions and the registration of both documents. A shared household does not mean a shared estate, and a lower combined drafting price does not replace careful preparation for each testator.
Why the registration route changes the budget
DIFC Courts publishes information about its Wills service, including eligibility, service options and registration requirements. Its Full Will service describes asset and guardianship provisions, while other options have narrower purposes. ADJD and Dubai Courts operate their own processes. Those routes should not be presented as interchangeable products with identical fees or requirements. Discuss your status, assets and family circumstances before choosing. If a quote says only ‘UAE will’, ask for the exact registry, the language and format required, and the process that follows registration. The decision is about suitable coverage and administration as well as initial cost. Current official rules and charges take precedence over an old comparison table or a promotional price found online.
Six questions to ask about a low headline price
Send the same questions to each provider. A written answer makes the comparison much more meaningful than a price in an advertisement. If an item is excluded, that does not necessarily make the service unsuitable; it means you should budget for it and understand who will arrange it. Avoid paying for an undefined ‘all-in’ package that cannot identify the registration route or explain exclusions.
- Does it include a discussion of my assets, beneficiaries, executors and any children, or only filling in a template?
- Which court or registry is being used, and is its registration charge included or paid directly by me?
- How many draft reviews are included before signing, and what happens if an important instruction changes?
- Is any required translation included, and does the quoted language match the receiving registry’s requirements?
- Who coordinates the appointment and checks the final document, identities and supporting information?
- What will I receive after registration, and is advice about later amendments included or separately charged?
Prepare the information that makes a quote accurate
Before your consultation, make a practical list of assets, their locations and how they are owned. Include property, company interests, accounts and any existing estate-planning documents. Record who you want as beneficiaries and executors, and whether minor children make guardianship provisions relevant. You do not need to send confidential account passwords or transfer money to obtain a discussion of scope. Start with a clear description of the matter and ask which documents will be needed securely. Mention a foreign will early: a new document should be reviewed for interaction with existing instructions rather than treated as a replacement by default. These details help an adviser distinguish a straightforward drafting matter from one requiring more specialised advice.
Cross-border assets need more than a cheap template
If you own assets in several countries, the initial drafting fee is only part of the decision. Different succession rules, ownership arrangements and administrative processes may apply. Ask a suitably qualified adviser how the proposed will interacts with foreign documents and whether separate advice is required. Do not assume a UAE registration eliminates probate or enforcement steps abroad. Equally, do not assume your existing foreign will is irrelevant without reviewing it. The correct approach depends on the facts and the applicable law. A provider should explain the limits of its quoted work, identify where another specialist may be needed and avoid guaranteeing that one document resolves every jurisdictional issue. That clarity is more valuable than an unsupported promise of worldwide coverage.
Budget for changes, not just first registration
A will reflects instructions at a particular point in your life. Marriage, separation, a new child, a property purchase or a change of executor may justify a review. Ask what a later amendment involves under the chosen registry’s current rules, and whether drafting and registration charges would apply again. Do not assume that an informal email changes a registered document. Keep the registered copy and its reference available, and ensure the people who may need it know where it is stored. You do not need to buy an undefined lifetime-maintenance package to ask these questions. You do need to understand what the original fee covers and what happens when your circumstances change.
From quote to registered document
Confirm the route and written scope
Agree the registry, the work included and separate fees before payment. Check the current official requirements for your circumstances.
Review your instructions
Check names, asset descriptions, beneficiaries, executors and any guardianship instructions carefully. Raise questions before approving the final draft.
Complete the required registration
Follow the chosen registry’s signing, identity and appointment requirements. A prepared draft and a registered document are different stages.
Keep the issued record
Retain the registered copy and payment receipts, tell the appropriate people where it is held and revisit it when your circumstances change.
Make your next step a clear comparison
Use the Wills and Legacy Planning service page for Simplify Advisory’s current packages and the broader wills guide for an overview of planning considerations. For a personal quote, book the free 30-minute consultation or send an enquiry with your family situation, asset locations and preferred timescale. Ask for one written scope that separates professional charges from government charges and identifies any exclusions. The aim is not to buy the shortest document or the most expensive route. It is to understand what you are putting in place and why it fits your needs. This guide is general information, not individual legal advice; registration requirements and official fees should always be reconfirmed before you proceed.
Frequently asked
Does a will drafting price include court registration?
Not necessarily. Ask for professional and government charges to be shown separately. Simplify Advisory’s service page lists ADJD registration fees separately from its Single and Mirror Will professional fees.
Are mirror wills one joint document?
Mirror wills generally refer to two coordinated wills, one for each person. Each person’s instructions and circumstances still need to be reviewed individually.
Is the cheapest registration route always the best option?
No. Eligibility, asset locations, family circumstances and the chosen registry’s requirements matter alongside cost. Ask for advice on suitability before selecting a route.
Can I get a quote before committing?
Yes. Simplify Advisory offers a free 30-minute consultation to discuss the matter and confirm the scope and final pricing before work begins.