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Guide: Notary Services ยท 5 minute read
How Can a Lawyer Become a Notary Public in the UAE?
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How can a lawyer become a notary public in the UAE? In Dubai, a private notary is a lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts to carry out notarial acts, so the path starts with being a lawyer and ends with a licence from the court. We work on the document side: we draft and check your document, and our in-house notary public notarises it at our Battuta Gate office, online or on a home visit.
At a Glance
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.
Dubai has a government notary public (Dubai Courts) and licensed private notaries.
A private notary is a lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts to carry out notarial acts.
Dubai Courts keeps the roll of private notaries.
WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790 and tell us what your document is for.
Our own status is not the question here. To see whether a lawyer and a notary are the same person, read is a lawyer a notary public and can a lawyer be a notary in the UAE.
Who Can Be a Notary Public in the UAE
There are two kinds of notary in Dubai, and the way you reach each one is different.
- Government notary. The notary public at Dubai Courts. For a career, this is a post inside the court.
- Private notary. A lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts and on the roll the court keeps. For a career, this is a licence added to a legal practice.
Other emirates and free zones run their own notary arrangements. DIFC Courts, for example, runs its own notary service for DIFC matters.
How Can a Lawyer Become a Notary Public in Dubai?
The answer to how can a lawyer become a notary public has two parts, and both are decided by the authorities, not by us.
01
Be a lawyer
Representation before the courts is reserved to lawyers licensed in the UAE and on the Ministry of Justice roll of practising lawyers, under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022, Article 6.
02
Be licensed by Dubai Courts as a private notary
Dubai Courts licenses private notaries and keeps the roll. Ask Dubai Courts directly for the current application route, the conditions and any notary exam eligibility rules, because they are the court's to state.
We do not publish the conditions, because we are not the authority that sets them. Anything you read elsewhere about steps, timing or fees for the licence should be checked with Dubai Courts before you rely on it.
What a Notary May and May Not Do
A notary public does a defined job. The notary checks the identity, capacity and consent of the people signing and applies the seal. That is the core of every notarial act.
A notary may:
- Check who is signing and that they understand the document.
- Witness the signing.
- Notarise the instrument.
A notary does not, by being a notary:
- Represent you in court. That is reserved to lawyers on the Ministry of Justice roll of practising lawyers.
- Decide for the receiving office what it will accept.
- Make a foreign document valid in the UAE. A document from abroad is attested in the issuing country, including the UAE embassy there, and then by MOFAIC in the UAE.
In Dubai, a notarised instrument is in Arabic, or comes with a certified Arabic translation signed with it.
Notary Eligibility: Common Points
Do I need to be a lawyer first?
For the Dubai private notary role, yes. A private notary in Dubai is a lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts.
Does being a lawyer make you a notary?
No. The notary role is a separate licence.
Can I notarise my own client's document?
Ask Dubai Courts for its conduct rules. We do not state them.
If your question is about a disagreement, a claim or a court case, you need a practising advocate. We prepare the documents; we do not represent people in court. For a court-case power of attorney, see power of attorney for a lawyer in Dubai.
How We Help
If you are not training as a notary but need a notarised document, this is where we come in. We draft the document, check every clause, prepare the Arabic text through a legal translator, and our in-house notary public notarises it. You sign before our in-house notary public, in person at our office, online or on a home visit. The notary checks your ID and applies the seal. See notarised document requirements in the UAE for what the notary checks.
Our prices start at AED 1,500 for a power of attorney, AED 600 for an MOA and AED 400 for a certified true copy. 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.
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.
How to become a notary in the UAE?
Notary rules differ by emirate and by court. In Dubai, the private notary is a lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts to carry out notarial acts, so you first qualify as a lawyer and then apply to Dubai Courts. Ask the court for the current conditions.
Who can be a notary public?
In Dubai, the government notary public sits at Dubai Courts, and licensed private notaries are lawyers on a roll kept by Dubai Courts. Other emirates and DIFC have their own arrangements.
Can any lawyer be a notary?
No. A lawyer must be licensed by Dubai Courts for the notary role, and being a lawyer alone does not give you that licence. See can a lawyer be a notary for more.
How to get a notary licence?
Apply to the authority that licenses notaries in your emirate. In Dubai, that is Dubai Courts, which keeps the private notary roll. We cannot issue or process a licence.
Can an advocate be a notary?
An advocate who is licensed by Dubai Courts as a private notary can carry out notarial acts. The two roles are separate: one represents clients in court, the other checks identity and applies the seal.
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Need a Notarised 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. Our office is on the 10th floor, Battuta Gate offices, Dubai. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
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