Updated August 2026.
Notarisation is a foundational legal step for a vast range of transactions in the UAE — from power of attorney documents and property transfers to corporate Memoranda of Association and cross-border commercial agreements. Governed primarily by Federal Law No. 4/2013 on the Notary Public Profession, the UAE notary public system operates through MOJ-accredited notaries across all seven Emirates. This guide explains notarisation requirements, fees, the mobile notary service for POA documents, electronic notarisation, and the important distinction between MOFA apostille and standard notarisation.
- Federal Law No. 4/2013 governs notary public services throughout the UAE; each Emirate has MOJ-accredited notary offices.
- Standard notarisation fees range from AED 300 to AED 2,000 per document, depending on document type and transaction value.
- A mobile notary service is available for Power of Attorney documents, particularly useful for elderly or housebound signatories.
- Electronic notarisation (e-notarisation) is available through the MOJ’s digital platform for eligible document types.
- MOFA apostille is required for UAE documents destined for use abroad in Hague Convention countries, not a substitute for notarisation.
- Corporate MOA notarisation must occur before company registration is complete and requires shareholder attendance or a duly authorised POA.
What Is Notarisation and Why Is It Required in the UAE?
Notarisation is the process by which a government-authorised notary public verifies the identity of signatories, witnesses the execution of a document, and attests that the document is genuine and was signed voluntarily. In the UAE, notarisation is legally required for a wide range of documents including powers of attorney, property sale and purchase agreements, marriage contracts, corporate formation documents (MOA), wills, and some commercial contracts above certain value thresholds.
The legal basis for notarisation is Federal Law No. 4/2013 on the Notary Public Profession, supplemented by MOJ Ministerial decisions specifying fee schedules and procedural rules. Each Emirate maintains its own network of MOJ-accredited notary offices, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah having the highest capacity.
Types of Documents Commonly Notarised in the UAE
The most frequently notarised documents in the UAE fall into four broad categories. Personal documents include powers of attorney (general and special), marriage contracts, divorce settlements, wills, and guardianship documents. Property documents include sale agreements, lease agreements above three years, mortgage agreements, and easements. Corporate documents include Memoranda of Association, shareholder resolutions, board minutes, share transfer agreements, and joint venture agreements. Commercial documents include high-value supply contracts, agency and distributorship agreements, and licensing agreements.
Some documents — such as straightforward commercial invoices or standard employment contracts — do not typically require notarisation, but parties often choose to notarise them for evidential weight in any future dispute.
MOJ Notarisation Fees: AED 300 to AED 2,000
Notarisation fees in the UAE are set by MOJ Ministerial Decision and are not subject to negotiation. The fee schedule is based on document type and, for commercial agreements, on the transaction value. Standard fees for the most common document types are as follows. A general power of attorney costs AED 300–500 depending on the number of authorised acts. A special power of attorney costs AED 250–400. Property sale agreement notarisation is calculated as a percentage of the transaction value, typically AED 1,000–2,000 for a standard residential property. Corporate MOA notarisation costs AED 400–800 depending on the number of clauses and shareholders. Wills (for expatriates) at the DIFC Wills Service cost AED 950 per will, separate from standard MOJ notarisation.
Translation fees are additional: documents not in Arabic must be translated by an MOJ-certified legal translator, with translation costs ranging from AED 50–150 per page. Factor these costs into your overall budget when planning multi-document transactions.
Mobile Notary Service for Powers of Attorney
Recognising that elderly, housebound, or hospitalised individuals may be unable to visit a notary office in person, the UAE MOJ introduced a mobile notary service, primarily for power of attorney documents. A mobile notary travels to the signatory’s residence, care facility, or hospital and performs the attestation on site. The service must be pre-booked through the relevant Emirate’s notary scheduling system and carries an additional home-visit fee of AED 150–300 on top of the standard document fee.
For corporate clients, the mobile notary service is occasionally used for executing time-sensitive shareholder resolutions or board minutes when directors are unable to travel. However, this is at the notary’s discretion, and most corporate notarisation work is still completed at notary offices or specialised corporate services centres.
Electronic Notarisation (E-Notarisation)
The UAE has been progressively expanding its e-notarisation capabilities under the broader digital government transformation agenda. Through the MOJ’s online platform, certain document types — including powers of attorney, affidavits, and corporate resolutions — can be notarised electronically without the physical presence of the signatory, using video-verified identity checks and digital signatures compliant with Federal Law No. 1/2006 on Electronic Transactions.
E-notarisation is particularly useful for UAE residents who are temporarily abroad and need to execute a document for use inside the UAE. The process involves creating an MOJ digital identity profile, uploading the document, completing a live video verification call with a certified e-notary, and receiving a digitally sealed document. E-notarised documents carry the same legal weight as in-person notarised documents for most purposes, though some Emirate-level land departments and courts still require physical notarisation for specific transaction types.
MOFA Apostille vs Notarisation: Understanding the Difference
Apostille and notarisation are complementary but distinct processes. Notarisation authenticates a document within the UAE legal system. Apostille (issued by MOFA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) is required when a UAE-notarised document needs to be recognised abroad in one of the 125 Hague Apostille Convention member countries.
The standard process for an international document chain is: notarise the document at the MOJ → obtain MOFA attestation → obtain the recipient country’s embassy attestation (if the country is not a Hague Convention signatory). For Hague Convention countries, the MOFA apostille is the final step; embassy attestation is not required. MOFA apostille fees are AED 150–200 per document, and processing time through the MOFA Tas-heel service is typically 1–3 business days.
Corporate MOA Notarisation Process
| Step | Action | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draft MOA and obtain initial DED approval of company name | 1–2 days |
| 2 | Translate MOA to Arabic (if not drafted in Arabic) | 1–3 days |
| 3 | All shareholders attend notary in person (or via authorised POA) | Same day (by appointment) |
| 4 | Notary verifies ID, witnesses signatures, seals MOA | 1–2 hours |
| 5 | Submit notarised MOA to DED for trade licence issuance | 1–5 days |
| 6 | Receive trade licence; open corporate bank account | 5–10 days post-licence |
Notarisation for Wills and Inheritance Planning
For expatriates residing in the UAE, notarisation of wills is a critical planning step. Without a valid UAE will, an expatriate’s estate may be distributed according to Sharia law principles, which can produce outcomes very different from the deceased’s wishes — particularly for non-Muslim expatriates. The DIFC Wills Service Centre provides a specialist will registration and notarisation service for non-Muslim expatriates, with wills registered in a secure DIFC registry and legally enforceable across UAE assets. Standard DIFC will registration costs AED 950 per will, with couples’ mirror will packages available at AED 1,450.
For Muslim expatriates, MOJ-notarised wills must align with Sharia inheritance rules for the Faraid distribution of the estate, but can include specific bequests (wasiyya) of up to one-third of the estate to non-heirs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I notarise a document in another country for use in the UAE?
Yes. A document notarised abroad must go through a chain of attestations: notarisation by a local notary → attestation by the relevant ministry of the issuing country → attestation by the UAE embassy in that country → MOFA attestation inside the UAE. If the issuing country is a Hague Convention signatory, an apostille from that country replaces the ministry and UAE-embassy steps.
How long does a UAE power of attorney remain valid?
A general or special power of attorney is typically valid for one year from the date of notarisation unless the document specifies a different validity period. Some POAs — particularly for property transactions — are issued for specific transactions only and expire on completion. Renewal requires re-attendance before a notary or use of the e-notarisation service.
Are there notary public offices in all UAE Emirates?
Yes. Every Emirate has MOJ-accredited notary public offices. Dubai has the highest concentration, including notaries operating within the DED service centres and the DIFC. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain each have designated MOJ notary offices. Appointment-based systems operate in most Emirates to reduce wait times.
Is notarisation required for all property transactions in the UAE?
Notarisation of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) is required for freehold property transfers recorded with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) or the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). However, some off-plan developer-to-buyer SPAs use the developer’s standard form registered directly with the DLD without separate notarisation. For secondary market transactions, notarisation is standard practice.
What happens if I lose a notarised document?
A copy of any document notarised with the MOJ is retained in the notary’s official register. You can obtain a certified copy of the original by applying to the notary’s office with proof of identity and paying a nominal duplication fee, typically AED 50–100 per copy. For e-notarised documents, certified digital copies are accessible through your MOJ portal account.