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Guide: Notary Services ยท 4 minute read
Can I Notarize My Own Documents? What to Do in the UAE
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Can I notarize my own documents? In short, no. A notary public checks the identity, capacity and consent of the person who signs, so the signer cannot also be the one who checks. We draft and check your document, and our in-house notary public notarises it in person at our Battuta Gate office, online or on a home visit.
WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790 and tell us what the document is for.
Can you notarise your own documents?
Notarisation works because two different people are involved. One signs. The other checks who is signing, whether that person understands the document and whether the person signs willingly, and then applies the seal.
If you do both jobs yourself, nobody has checked you. The seal would prove nothing. That is why people who ask "can I notarize my own signature?" get the same answer: another person has to do it.
Why a notary cannot act on their own papers
The same reasoning applies to a notary. A notary who wants a personal document notarised is in the position of any other signer. The notary public is the one who signs, so someone else has to witness and seal it. This is the idea behind a notary conflict of interest: the person checking must not be the person with a stake in the paper.
If you are a notary asking "can I notarize my own documents if I am a notary?", the sensible route is to ask another notary to do it. The rules that apply to a notary's own conduct are set by the authority that regulates the profession. Ask that authority if you are unsure.
Your own signature, your own will, your own affidavit
The answer is the same for each of these documents.
Your own signature
You cannot certify it yourself. A notary public witnesses it.
Your own will
You can write your own will. The notary step, if you want one, is done by another person. The will is registered with the registry you choose, and the appointment is set with that registry.
Your own affidavit
It is a sworn statement. You swear it before a notary public. You do not swear it before yourself.
A copy of your own document
A copy is certified by a person who sees the original. See certified true copy in the UAE.
For the difference between an affidavit and the notary's work, read difference between notary and affidavit.
What to do instead in the UAE
Take the document to a notary public. Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession. In Dubai, notaries public are regulated by Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013.
There are three routes:
01
Our office
You sign before our in-house notary public at the 10th floor, Battuta Gate offices, Dubai.
02
Online
You sign before our in-house notary public by video. The UAE Ministry of Justice also runs its own E-Notary System, which is a separate service.
03
Home visit
Our in-house notary public comes to you. Ask us for a quote.
The notary checks your ID and applies the seal. Which route fits depends on the document.
Checklist
What to bring
Your Emirates ID or passport
The document, unsigned if it still needs your signature
The names and IDs of anyone else who must sign
The name of the office that will receive the document
If you are not sure what the document should say, ask us. We draft the document, check every clause and prepare the Arabic text through a legal translator. See our page on legal drafting in Dubai.
Watch for
Mistakes that get the document refused
01
Signing before you reach the notary
02
Trying to "self notarise" by adding your own stamp or wording
03
Using a template with blanks left open
04
Not bringing the ID that matches the name on the document
05
Assuming a notarised paper is also attested for use abroad
If your document goes abroad, it is attested by MOFAIC, then by the destination country's embassy or consulate in the UAE. See the MOFAIC attestation page.
Fees
Our fee depends on the document. Examples: an affidavit is from AED 600, and a will is from AED 4,000 (the registry fee is separate). The government fee for executing and notarising an affidavit is AED 300 under Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024.
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.
We prepare documents. We do not represent people in court. If your matter is a dispute, you need a practising advocate.
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.
Can I notarize my own signature?
No. A notary public must witness your signature. You cannot do both jobs. Bring your ID and sign before our in-house notary public.
Can I notarize my own will?
No. You can write your own will, but another person must handle the notary step. The will is registered with the registry you choose. See how to register a will in the UAE.
Can I notarize my own documents if I am a notary?
The same logic applies. A notary who needs a personal document notarised asks another notary. Check the rules with the authority that regulates your profession.
Can I notarize my own affidavit?
No. An affidavit is a sworn statement made before a notary public. You cannot swear it before yourself. We can draft it and notarise your signature.
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Send us your document
Call or WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790, or email support@notariolawyersuae.com. Tell us what the document is for and who will sign it, and we will reply with what it needs and a starting price. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
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