Whether you need to notarise a Power of Attorney, file documents with an Abu Dhabi court, attest a business agreement, or get a certified legal translation — understanding how notary public and court services work in UAE saves you time, money, and legal complications. This complete guide covers everything you need to know about notary and court services in UAE in 2025.
What is a Notary Public in UAE?
A notary public in UAE is a government-authorised official empowered to witness and authenticate signatures on legal documents, verify the identity of the signing parties, and certify that the document was executed voluntarily and in accordance with UAE law.
Notarisation in UAE is a formal legal requirement for many document types — particularly those used in property transactions, business formation, inheritance proceedings, family law matters, and court submissions. A document that has not been properly notarised may be rejected by government authorities, courts, or financial institutions.
Notary public services in UAE are provided through the official Notary Public offices of each emirate — in Abu Dhabi, this falls under the jurisdiction of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
Key Point: Not all documents require notarisation. However, when a UAE government authority, court, or overseas institution requests a notarised document, the document must be witnessed and stamped by a UAE notary public — a simple signature or company stamp is not sufficient.
Types of Notary & Court Services in UAE
UAE notary public offices handle a wide range of personal, commercial, and legal documents. Here is an overview of the most common notary and court services:
| Service | Common Use | Translation Needed? | Attestation Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power of Attorney (POA) | Property, legal representation, business | Often yes | If used overseas |
| Affidavit / Statutory Declaration | Visa, court, personal declarations | If in foreign language | Depends on purpose |
| MoA Notarisation | Company formation, amendments | Arabic required | Typically no |
| Sale/Purchase Agreement | Property, vehicles, business assets | If parties are foreign | Typically no |
| Court Document Filing | Civil claims, family cases, commercial disputes | Arabic mandatory | No |
| Document Attestation (MOFA) | Educational/commercial use overseas | Often required | Yes — this is attestation |
Power of Attorney (POA) in UAE
A Power of Attorney (POA) in UAE is a legal document that authorises one person (the attorney) to act on behalf of another (the principal) in legal, financial, or personal matters. POAs are commonly used for property purchases, business transactions, visa applications, court representation, and managing affairs while abroad.
In UAE, a POA must be drafted in Arabic (or translated into Arabic by a certified legal translator) and signed before a UAE notary public to be legally valid. The type of POA — general or special — determines the scope of authority granted.
Affidavits and Statutory Declarations
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact, signed in the presence of a UAE notary public who certifies the identity of the signatory. Affidavits are used in court proceedings, visa applications, financial transactions, and personal declarations (such as declarations of single status or declarations of dependency).
A statutory declaration is similar but typically used for non-court purposes where a formal sworn statement is required by a government authority or institution.
MoA and Business Document Notarisation
For mainland company formation in UAE, the Memorandum of Association (MoA) must be notarised before the UAE notary public as part of the registration process. Any subsequent amendments to the MoA — change of shareholders, change of activity, capital increase — also require notarisation. TamkinExpress handles MoA notarisation as part of our complete business registration services in UAE.
Court Document Services in UAE
Dealing with UAE courts requires navigating Arabic-language legal processes, specific court filing procedures, and strict document formatting requirements. For businesses and individuals unfamiliar with the UAE court system, this can be complex and time-sensitive.
TamkinExpress provides comprehensive court document services in Abu Dhabi and across UAE, including:
- Court document preparation — drafting claims, responses, and supporting submissions in the correct format
- Court filing and fee payment — submitting documents at the court registry and paying applicable court fees
- Case status follow-up — tracking case progress and communicating updates
- Court-certified translation — arranging certified Arabic translations of foreign-language documents for court use
- Court certificate collection — obtaining court-issued certificates, judgements, and official documents
How to Get a Document Notarised in UAE — Step by Step
Here is the complete process for getting a document notarised in UAE through TamkinExpress:
We confirm the exact type of notary service needed, the document's intended use, and whether legal translation or attestation is also required. This avoids costly errors at later stages.
For documents like Power of Attorney or affidavits, we draft the document to UAE notary public standards. For existing documents, we review for compliance before submission. MoA and commercial documents are checked against UAE Commercial Law requirements.
If your document is in a foreign language, we arrange certified legal translation into Arabic by a court-approved translator. All translations are stamped and signed to meet UAE notary and court requirements.
We arrange and attend the notary public appointment on your behalf (or with you, as required). The notary public verifies identities, witnesses the signing, and applies the official notary stamp and seal.
If the notarised document is intended for use outside UAE, MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation is required. TamkinExpress handles MOFA attestation as part of our complete document processing service.
Your fully notarised, translated, and attested document is delivered — legally valid, properly formatted, and ready for use before UAE authorities, courts, or overseas institutions.
Documents Required for Notary Services in UAE
The documents required vary by notary service type. Here is a general checklist:
For Power of Attorney:
- Original passport of the principal (person granting the POA)
- UAE Emirates ID (if UAE resident)
- Draft POA document prepared by TamkinExpress or your legal adviser
- Certified Arabic translation (if original document is in English or another language)
- Details of the attorney (person receiving authority) — passport copy and Emirates ID
For Affidavits and Statutory Declarations:
- Original passport of the deponent (person making the sworn statement)
- UAE Emirates ID (if UAE resident)
- Draft affidavit or declaration prepared by TamkinExpress
- Any supporting documents relevant to the declaration content
For MoA Notarisation (Company):
- Passport copies and Emirates IDs of all shareholders
- Initial approval from DED or relevant authority
- Prepared MoA document in Arabic (TamkinExpress prepares this)
- Tenancy contract for the business address
Legal Translation for Notary and Court in UAE
UAE courts and notary offices operate in Arabic. Any document in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation performed by a translator accredited by the UAE Ministry of Justice. Using an uncertified translation — even a high-quality one — will result in document rejection.
TamkinExpress works exclusively with UAE Ministry of Justice accredited legal translators for all Arabic-English and multilingual translations, ensuring your documents are accepted first time, every time.
Frequently Asked Questions — Notary & Court Services UAE
Documents that can be notarised in UAE include Power of Attorney, affidavits, statutory declarations, Memorandum of Association, sale and purchase agreements, tenancy contracts, personal declarations, and other legal documents requiring official authentication by a UAE notary public.
A Power of Attorney in UAE must be drafted in compliance with UAE legal requirements, translated into Arabic if in another language, and signed before a UAE notary public who verifies the identity of all parties. TamkinExpress prepares the document and manages the complete notarisation process.
Notarisation confirms the authenticity of signatures on a document before a UAE notary public. Attestation verifies the document's authenticity for use by a specific government authority or for overseas submission, typically done through MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Both processes may be required depending on the document's intended purpose.
Standard notarisation in UAE typically takes 1–2 working days once all documents are correctly prepared and translated. Court document filing and follow-up processes may take longer depending on the court's schedule and the complexity of the matter.
Yes. TamkinExpress provides court document preparation, filing, fee payment, case follow-up, certified translation, and court certificate collection for Abu Dhabi courts and other UAE emirate courts. We manage the complete process on your behalf.
Need notary public or court document services in UAE? TamkinExpress provides complete notary and court services in Abu Dhabi — Power of Attorney, affidavits, MoA notarisation, court filings, and certified legal translations, handled fast and correctly.