Certified copies
Certified true copy in the UAE: a lawyer certified copy or a notary certified copy?
A certified true copy is a photocopy that a person with authority has compared with the original and signed as a true copy. In the UAE, the office that asks for it decides who that person must be. Some accept a lawyer certified true copy, many ask for a notary, and some only accept a copy from the office that issued the document. Read their wording first, then choose. Our in-house notary public certifies copies at our Battuta Gate office in Dubai or on a home visit.
The mistake we see most is a copy certified by the wrong person. A bank abroad that asked for a notarised copy may refuse a lawyer's stamp, and a university that wants a copy from its registrar may refuse both. Checking the receiver's wording before the appointment saves a second appointment and a second fee.
Side by side
Lawyer certified, notary certified or issued by the office: what each one shows
There are three common kinds of certified copy in the UAE, and a fourth for some nationalities. They are not the same thing, and a receiver that names one may refuse the others.
| Certified by | What the certification shows | Often asked for by |
|---|---|---|
| A notary public | A notary compared the copy with the original you showed, then signed, stamped and dated it | Banks, embassies, universities and companies abroad whose form says "notarised copy" or "certified by a notary" |
| A lawyer | A lawyer compared the copy with the original and signed it | Receivers, often private ones, whose list of accepted certifiers includes a lawyer or solicitor |
| The issuing office | The copy comes from the issuer's own records, such as a university registrar or a court | Courts, ministries and universities that want an official copy, not a checked photocopy |
| Your embassy or consulate | Your own country's mission checked the copy | Offices in your home country, where your mission offers this |
A lawyer's certification and a notary's certification are different acts. In the UAE, notarial duties are carried out only by public notaries, private notaries and accredited UAE consuls (Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, Article 3). If the receiver writes "certified by a lawyer or a notary", a notary certified copy meets that wording. If it names only one, use that one. Our guide on whether a lawyer is a notary public explains the two roles.
Questions
Five questions to ask the receiver before you certify
The answers decide which certification you need and what the copy must look like. Ask them before the appointment, not after.
1
Who may certify the copy?
A notary, a lawyer, a named official, or only the office that issued the document.
2
What must the certification say?
Some receivers give the exact words, such as "certified true copy of the original", and ask for the certifier's name and contact details.
3
Does every page need the stamp?
For a passport or a long company document, ask whether each page must be marked or only the first.
4
How recent must the certification be?
Some receivers only accept a copy certified within a set period before you send it. Ask for their limit.
5
Does the copy also need attestation or a translation?
A copy going abroad may need MOFAIC attestation, and a document that is not in English or Arabic may need a legal translation.
Step by step
How our in-house notary public certifies your copy
You can come to our office on the 10th floor of the Battuta Gate offices in Dubai, or ask for a home visit.
01
Send us the receiver's instructions
A photo of the page or the email that lists what they accept is enough. We tell you whether a notary's certification fits, or whether you need the issuing office instead.
02
Bring the original and your ID
Bring the original document, not another copy, with your Emirates ID or passport. We make the photocopies if you do not have them.
03
The notary compares the copy with the original
Our in-house notary public checks the copy against the original and confirms your identity.
04
The copy is marked and sealed
Each certified copy is marked as a true copy of the original, then signed, stamped and dated. Your original is handed back to you after the check.
05
The next step, if it goes abroad
If the receiver needs MOFAIC attestation or a translation, we tell you the order and handle it with you.
Copies of company documents
Banks, free zones and registries abroad often ask a company for certified copies of its own papers. Common ones are:
Trade licence
For a bank account, a tender, or a registry abroad that records your UAE company.
Memorandum of association
Usually with any addendum, so the copy shows the current owners and managers.
Board or shareholder resolution
Often the resolution that appoints a signatory or approves a power of attorney. If the resolution does not exist yet, we draft it first: see board resolution and MOA drafting.
Certificate of incorporation
For a free zone company, ask the receiver whether a certified copy is enough or whether they want a copy from the free zone itself.
If your trade licence is an electronic document, ask the receiver whether they accept a certified printout or want a copy from the licensing authority.
01
When the copy goes abroad
The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so there is no apostille for a UAE document. A copy for use in another country usually follows the attestation route instead: certification in the UAE, then MOFAIC attestation, then the destination country's embassy or consulate in the UAE if the receiver asks for it.
MOFAIC charges by the type of document: AED 150 if it is personal, AED 2,000 if it is commercial. MOFAIC works online, through its website and app, and its Customer Happiness Centres are closed. MOFAIC attests a document in Arabic or English, or one with a legally certified translation.
If your document is in another language, we prepare the translation through our legal translation service before the attestation step.
Watch for
Why certified copies get refused
01
The wrong certifier The receiver asked for a notary or for the issuing office, and the copy carries someone else's stamp.
02
A copy of a copy The copy was certified from another photocopy, not from the original. Many receivers refuse it.
03
Missing details The receiver wanted the certifier's name, contact details or exact words, and the certification does not show them.
04
An old certification The copy was certified before the period the receiver accepts.
05
A missing step The copy went abroad without the MOFAIC attestation or the translation the receiver expected.
Prices
Fees
Our service price and the government fees are separate lines on your quote.
| Service | Our service price |
|---|---|
| Certified true copy | From AED 400 |
| Legal translation | From AED 50 per page |
| Translation coordination (add-on) | From AED 350 |
| Urgent handling (add-on) | From AED 250 |
| Courier pickup and delivery (add-on) | From AED 80 |
| MOFAIC attestation handling, personal document | From AED 150 |
| MOFAIC attestation handling, commercial document | From AED 300 |
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
On top of the handling price, MOFAIC's own fee is paid at cost: AED 150 for personal papers and AED 2,000 for commercial papers. For a visit, a private notary's trip outside their office is AED 1,000 under the Dubai decision on private notary fees. See legal document fees for the full list.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
If your question is not here, ask it on WhatsApp. Tell us what the document is for and who will sign it.
Is a lawyer certified true copy accepted in the UAE?
It depends on who receives it. Each receiver sets its own list of accepted certifiers. If the list says "a lawyer or a notary", a notary certified copy meets it. If it names a notary, a lawyer's signature alone is not enough.
Where can I get a true copy certified in Dubai?
From a notary public, from the office that issued the document, or from your embassy if it offers the service. Our in-house notary public certifies copies at our Battuta Gate office or on a home visit. Even the DIFC Courts Notary Service, which also certifies true copies, says that acceptance is up to the receiving authority.
Does a certified true copy prove that my document is genuine?
No. It confirms that the copy matches the original that was shown. If the receiver needs proof that the original itself is genuine, that is usually done by attestation, first by the authority that issued it and then by MOFAIC.
Can you certify a copy of a document issued outside the UAE?
Usually yes. The notary compares the copy with the foreign original in the same way. If a UAE office wants the foreign document itself recognised, the original normally needs attestation in its home country, at the UAE embassy there and by MOFAIC first.
How much does a certified true copy cost?
From AED 400 for our service, and the price is negotiable. If the copy needs MOFAIC attestation, MOFAIC's own fee of AED 150 or AED 2,000 is paid on top, at cost.
Get your copy certified
Call or WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790, or email support@notariolawyersuae.com with a photo of the receiver's instructions. We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit notary services. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7. You can also send the details through the request form on our contact page. If your document needs drafting first, see our document drafting and notarization page.
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Sources for this page
- Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession, Article 3: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563
- MOFAIC, frequently asked questions (attestation fees and channels): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs
- MOFAIC, attestation service (document language): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation
- HCCH, Apostille Convention status table (the UAE is not a party): https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41
- DIFC Courts, notary service: https://www.difccourts.ae/difc-courts/services/notary-service
- Dubai private notary fees, Dubai Media Office: https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/december/29-12/dubai-courts-is-preparing-to-implement-the-decision-regulating-the-fees-of-the-private-notary-public