Have a deadline? Call us and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Notary services in Dubai — we prepare and check your documents and powers of attorney and arrange certified translation, notarisation and attestation. MBM does not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation; we explain what they require.
Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
If you are looking for a notary public in Dubai, the useful first question is what the document is for, because that decides which notary route, which translation and which attestation it needs. MBM is a law firm in Dubai and Sharjah. We prepare and check your documents and powers of attorney, then arrange certified translation, notarisation and attestation, so the document is right before it reaches the notary. MBM does not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation. Where a document going abroad needs those steps, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the destination country's embassy or consulate carry them out themselves, and we explain what each requires. You do not have to work out the chain on your own: we take the legal work off your shoulders and you will always know where your document stands. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
Looking for the Dubai Courts notary office? That is a government service, and the official source for its locations, services and opening hours is the Dubai Courts website. MBM is a law firm, not a court counter. If your document is simple and you already know exactly what the receiving body wants, you may not need us. Where a lawyer helps is before you queue: checking that the document says what it needs to say, that the translation will be accepted and that the next step in the chain has not been missed.
Pick the card that matches your situation and we will point you to the right part of this page. If none fits, call us or send a photo of the document on WhatsApp.
Contracts, declarations and other documents that need a notary. See what to bring. First we check: what the document is for, who must sign and whether the receiving body names a route. Talk to us about notarising a document
General, specific, property, court and company powers of attorney. See power of attorney notary in Dubai. First we check: what the agent must be able to do, who will rely on the document and whether the wording suits them. Talk to us about a power of attorney
Board and shareholder resolutions and MOA amendments. See company resolutions and MOA amendments. First we check: the company's constitutional documents, who must sign and what the bank or authority expects. Talk to us about a company resolution
We prepare and check the document, arrange translation and notarisation, and explain the steps that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy carry out. See attestation and legalisation. First we check: the destination country, the receiving body's written requirements and which steps in the chain apply. Talk to us about a document for use abroad
Documents from another country that a UAE authority has asked for. See the chain explained. First we check: the issuing country, the UAE body asking for it and whether a certified translation is needed. Talk to us about a foreign document
Arabic and other language pairs, arranged before notarisation or any later Ministry or embassy step. See translation. First we check: the language pair, who will receive the translation and whether names match your passport and Emirates ID. Talk to us about a certified translation
A neutral comparison of the Courts route and a private notary. See how the routes compare. First we check: what you need done and whether you need a law firm at all. Ask us which route fits
Notarisation in Sharjah follows its own route. See how we work with you. First we check: where you are, where the document will be used and your deadline. Talk to us about a Sharjah document
Tell us what the document is and where it will be used. First we check: the document, the receiving body and the deadline. Tell us about your document
Our role is the legal work around the notary appointment: getting the document right, getting it translated if needed, arranging notarisation and attestation, and, when the document is going abroad, explaining the Ministry and embassy steps that follow. These are the document types that reach us most often.
We draft or review the power of attorney so its scope matches what you need, then arrange notarisation. See power of attorney. First we check: the tasks the agent must do, the limits you want and what the receiving body will accept. Talk to us about a power of attorney
Resolutions authorising a signatory, a transaction or a corporate action, checked against the company's own constitutional documents. First we check: who must sign, what the articles allow and what the bank or authority needs to see. Talk to us about a resolution
Ownership transfers, manager changes, capital changes and activity amendments. We check the draft and arrange notarisation where the route requires it. First we check: the current MOA, the incoming and outgoing parties and the authority that will process the change. Talk to us about an MOA amendment
Documents that need a notary to verify signatures or register the agreement, prepared so they are ready for signature. First we check: that the final text is agreed, who signs and whether translation is needed. Talk to us about a contract
Sworn or signed statements for use with an authority, a bank, a court or abroad, drafted so they say only what you can stand behind. First we check: who will receive it, what it must prove and whether every fact in it is yours to state. Talk to us about a declaration
Certificates and commercial documents that must be accepted by a foreign authority. We prepare and check them, arrange translation and notarisation, and explain the later steps that the Ministry and the embassy carry out. First we check: the destination, the receiving body's requirements and the order of steps. Talk to us about a document for use abroad
Document notarisation in Dubai is not one service but a family of them. A notarised signature on a personal declaration is a different task from notarising a company resolution that a bank will rely on. We tell you at the first consultation what your document needs, and we say plainly when it needs nothing more than a visit to the relevant counter.
"Document notarization Dubai" is the US spelling, but the process is the one described on this page. In general terms, notarization of documents in Dubai means a notary deals with the signing formalities: who is signing and that the signature was made before the notary. The notary does not decide whether the content is right for your purpose, which is why we check the document and what the receiving party wants before you book. See notary fees in Dubai for how fees are separated.
What we handle for companies:
Banks, free zones and government departments often ask a company for notarised or attested corporate documents. If your company needs a resolution, a signatory authority or a changed MOA, we review the wording first, because a resolution that does not match the company's constitutional documents can be rejected after you have paid for notarisation. Our corporate and commercial team can advise if the underlying decision needs legal advice. Companies that handle many documents can also look at retainer legal services.
Most confusion about documents for use abroad comes from treating three separate steps as one. Each step is done by a different body and each answers a different question about the document.
For a UAE document going abroad, the steps are generally taken in the order below, but the number of steps and their order depend on the document, the country that will receive it and the body that has asked for it. We help you establish the chain for your document before you start, so you do not pay for a step that the receiving party does not need.
| Situation | What usually happens | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| UAE document for use abroad | Translation if needed, then notarisation, then attestation, then legalisation by the destination country's embassy where it asks for it | Check the document, arrange translation and notarisation, and explain what the Ministry and embassy steps require |
| Home-country document for use in the UAE | The document often has to be authenticated in the country that issued it first, and the UAE authority then decides what else it needs | Help you confirm what the UAE authority will accept and explain the steps |
| UAE document for use inside the UAE | Often notarisation alone, sometimes with a certified Arabic translation | Check the document and arrange notarisation |
| Not sure | Depends on the document and the receiving body | Ask the receiving body what it requires, then map the steps with you |
As we understand it, a UAE document going abroad is generally notarised first, then attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalised by the embassy or consulate of the destination country. A document issued abroad for use in the UAE generally goes the other way: it is notarised in the country that issued it, authenticated by that country's authority, legalised by the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, and then attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE. A certified Arabic translation by a Ministry of Justice licensed translator is usually part of the chain for a UAE authority. This is a general outline only. Requirements change and differ by country and by receiving body, so we check them with you before you start and do not work from a fixed list.
MBM does not provide MOFA attestation. MOFA attestation is a federal process carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself, and MBM does not provide it. Where a document going abroad needs that step, the Ministry does it, and we explain what is required. We can prepare and check the document and arrange translation and notarisation beforehand. The same goes for embassy legalisation: it is carried out by the destination country's embassy or consulate, not by MBM.
Dubai has more than one way to notarise a document, and which one suits you depends on the document, on the receiving party and on your timing. This section explains the two routes in neutral terms. It is a description of the system, not a description of what MBM is.
| Question | Dubai Courts Notary Public Department | Private notary office in Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | The government notary service run by Dubai Courts | Private notary offices that operate alongside the Notary Public Department under the same supervisory framework |
| What can it notarise? | Documents within the notary framework | A defined set of transaction types. Ask the office whether your document is within that set |
| Who has to sign? | Generally the signatory attends in person with a valid Emirates ID and passport | Generally the signatory attends in person with a valid Emirates ID and passport |
| Can it be done remotely? | Dubai Courts offers remote sessions for some document types. Check whether yours qualifies | Ask the office whether it offers anything comparable |
| Does the document need translating? | A document not in Arabic often needs a certified translation first | A document not in Arabic often needs a certified translation first |
| How do you book? | Generally through the Dubai Courts website or app, as we understand it. Check the official site for current options | Generally by contacting the office directly. Ask how it takes appointments |
| How are fees set? | By the Dubai Courts fee schedule, which as we understand it was updated with new rules from January 2026. Check the current schedule | As we understand it, private notary fees are also set by Dubai Courts rather than by each office. Ask the office for its current fees |
| How quick is it? | Depends on queues and appointment availability | Depends on the office's availability and on whether your document is ready |
| Where do you check current services? | The official Dubai Courts website | Ask the office, and confirm that it can notarise your type of document |
As we understand it, private notaries in Dubai work under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning notaries public, as amended in 2021. Under Article 21 of that law, a private notary generally cannot notarise instruments that create or transfer real property rights, or Muslim family and waqf matters. That is why a property transfer follows its own official procedure and a notarised document alone may not be enough. This is a general summary only, and we confirm the position for your document before you book anything.
As we understand it, Article 35 of the same law gives a notarised instrument the evidentiary value of an official document. That is not the same as acceptance by every bank, authority or developer, which still depends on its own requirements, so ask the receiving party before you notarise.
The Courts notary and private notaries are routes; MBM's service sits around them, and MBM is not itself a notary. At the first consultation we confirm which notary route will be used for your document, so you always know who is notarising it and why.
MBM has an office in Dubai Media City and an office in Sharjah (Al Khalidiya). Both are law offices and we meet clients there or speak by phone or WhatsApp. The notarisation itself takes place with the notary that fits your document. Tell us where you are and what the deadline is, and we will explain the practical route. Notarisation in Sharjah and the other northern emirates generally follows the federal system rather than Dubai Courts, so our Sharjah office is not a notary location.
Notary attestation in Dubai, for a document going abroad, generally means a notarised document being authenticated at the next level so that it can be used in another country. The federal step (MOFA attestation) is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassy legalisation by the embassy or consulate, not by MBM. Whether you need either depends on where the document is going. Some countries and bodies ask for the full chain; others ask for less.
Tell us what the document is for, which country will receive it and who asked for it. The receiving body's requirements decide the chain, so we start there.
We review the content and form. Errors in names, dates, signatory authority or wording are far easier to fix before notarisation than after attestation.
If the receiving country or body needs another language, we arrange certified translation before the document goes through the chain.
We arrange notarisation through the route that fits the document.
Where the document is going abroad, MOFA attestation is carried out by the Ministry itself and legalisation by the destination country's embassy or consulate, where required. MBM does not carry out either step. We explain what each one asks for.
We tell you what we have completed and what is left for you to take to the Ministry or the embassy.
Turnaround depends on the embassy or consulate, not on MBM. It can range from very quick to several business days, depending on the country and the type of document. Check the embassy's own current guidance, and we explain what to expect for your document rather than assuming.
What we handle for expats:
Expats often need a birth, marriage, education or commercial certificate accepted by their home authorities. Where the embassy or consulate in Dubai handles legalisation, the embassy carries it out itself. MBM does not, but we explain what it asks for and tell you if it asks for a step beforehand. Requirements change, so we check them each time and do not work from a fixed list.
If your document is not in Arabic, it often needs a certified translation before a notary, court or authority will accept it, and a generic or uncertified translation is frequently rejected. MBM coordinates translation by Ministry of Justice (MOJ) licensed translators, so the translation is ready before your notary appointment or embassy submission, not after.
What we arrange translation for:
We arrange Arabic and English translation and other language pairs for legal documents such as powers of attorney, contracts, resolutions, certificates and court papers. Legal translation is not just about words. Names must match the passport, the Emirates ID and the trade licence, and legal terms must mean what the original means. A mismatch between two documents is one of the most common reasons for rejection.
In most cases translation comes first, because the notary and the authority both need to read the same text. Some chains need a translation at the end, after an authority has stamped the original. Because the right order differs, we confirm it with the receiving body at the start. Our legal team reads the translation against the original before it is used.
Not sure whether you need translation, attestation or both? Tell us the document and where it is going. Your first consultation is free.
A short, practical process: the document is checked first, the route is chosen second and the notary or authority sees it only when it is ready.
A free, confidential first consultation by phone, WhatsApp or at our Dubai or Sharjah office. Tell us what the document is, who will sign and where it will be used. You do not need to bring everything.
A member of our legal team reads the document or draft, checks the wording against its purpose and flags what must change. If the document does not exist yet, we draft it.
You receive a written scope and fee position before you instruct us, with the government, notary and translation costs shown as separate items that depend on the document.
Certified translation is arranged where needed, and the document is finalised so that everyone who must sign knows what they are signing.
We arrange notarisation through the route that suits the document and tell you who will notarise and what each signatory must bring.
Where the document is going abroad, we explain the later steps that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy carry out, then confirm what we have completed and return the document to you.
You do not need every item below to make a first call. If you are working to a deadline, call first and gather documents afterwards. The table shows what each type of document usually needs and what tends to affect how quickly it can move.
| Document | What to bring | What affects timing |
|---|---|---|
| Power of attorney | Valid Emirates ID and passport of the person signing, a draft if you have one, and details of the person receiving authority | Whether the document needs drafting, whether translation is needed and where the signatory is |
| Company resolution or MOA amendment | Trade licence, current MOA, details of shareholders and managers and any board approvals | Whether every signatory is available and whether the authority will accept the wording |
| Contract or agreement | The agreed final version and ID for each signatory | Whether the parties have agreed the text and whether translation is needed |
| Declaration or affidavit | Valid ID and a draft of the statement | How clearly the purpose is stated and who will receive it |
| Document for use abroad | The original, any existing translation and the receiving body's written requirements | The embassy's own processing time and the number of steps in the chain |
| Translation | The original document and any previous translation | Length, language pair and the need for certification |
Notarisation of documents in Dubai usually needs the signatory present, so tell us early if someone is abroad or unavailable. Options depend on the document and where the person is, and we explain them rather than assume.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. If you decide to instruct us, we give you a written scope and fee position before you instruct us, so you know what our legal work covers before paid work starts.
Notary fees, government fees, translation costs and courier charges depend on the document and the route, and they are separate from MBM's legal fee. We list them separately so that you can see what you are paying for and who receives it. Notary fees in Dubai are regulated rather than set by each office, and as we understand it new fee rules took effect from January 2026 (Executive Council Resolution No. 72 of 2025). Because the fees vary by document and can change, we do not publish a price list on this page. Ask at your first consultation and we will answer directly.
Document for a bank, an embassy or a court? Tell us where it is going and what the deadline is. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
Most rejections come from preventable mistakes, and they are usually found only after time and fees have been spent.
You can reach MBM by phone, by WhatsApp or at our offices in Dubai and Sharjah. You can send a message and a photo of the document at any time for a first look.
If you are outside the UAE, tell us where you are. The route depends on the document and the country, and we explain the options before you spend anything.
A notary confirms identity and signature. A lawyer checks that the document does what you need it to do. Those are different questions, and a document can be properly notarised and still fail because of the wording. You do not have to work this out alone: we take the legal work off your shoulders, and you will always know where your document stands.
For documents that must be used in another country, the delays usually start with a missing step, a mismatched name or a translation that is not accepted. Catching those before the first appointment is what saves you the time. No outcome is promised. Acceptance of a document is decided by the notary, authority or embassy that receives it.
Your free first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah. Documents are handled in confidence from the first message.
Founder & Managing Partner
Mohamed Badr leads MBM and has 17 years of legal experience. His career has included roles at law firms and multinational corporations in the UAE, advising businesses on high-stakes disputes, corporate restructuring and commercial litigation.
Names and titles as published on mbm-co.com. Your first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah.
General information about notarisation, attestation and legalisation in Dubai. It is not legal advice, and requirements change, so please contact MBM to discuss your document.
Start with the receiving party, because it decides the route and whether a certified translation is needed first. Then have the document checked so it says what it needs to say, and sign it before the notary, generally in person with a valid Emirates ID and passport. MBM prepares and checks the document and arranges notarisation and attestation; we do not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation. We confirm the notary route with you at the first consultation.
Notarisation in Dubai is available through the Dubai Courts Notary Public Department and through private notary offices that operate alongside it. The Dubai Courts website is the official source for current services and locations. MBM does not run a notary counter. We prepare and check your document and arrange notarisation, so you arrive with it ready. Your first consultation is free.
The Dubai Courts Notary Public Department is the government service. Private notary offices operate alongside it under the same supervisory framework, for a defined set of transaction types. Which route suits you depends on the document and on what the receiving party accepts. See the comparison on this page, and ask the receiving party before you book.
MBM is a law firm, and its service is the legal work around notarisation: drafting or checking the document, arranging translation, and arranging notarisation and attestation. MBM does not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation. At your first consultation we confirm which notary route will be used for your document, so you know who is notarising it.
Notarisation is done by a notary and verifies signature and identity. MOFA attestation is a federal authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, used so that a document can be relied on in another country. Embassy legalisation is carried out by the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be used. MBM does not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation: the ministry and the embassy carry out their own steps, and we explain what each requires.
As we understand it, Article 35 of the Dubai notary law gives a notarised instrument the evidentiary value of an official document. Whether a particular body accepts a document still depends on its own requirements, not only on notarisation. The safest approach is to ask the receiving court, department, bank or developer what it requires before you notarise. We can help you check this and prepare the document to match.
We prepare and check documents for use abroad and arrange translation and notarisation. If the destination requires MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation, those steps are carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy, not by MBM, and we explain what each requires. The steps depend on the country and the receiving body, so we help you establish the chain for your document before you start.
It depends on the country that issued it and the UAE body that has asked for it. A document issued abroad often has to be authenticated in its country of origin before a UAE authority accepts it, and it may also need a certified Arabic translation. Tell us the document and the receiving authority and we will map the steps.
If your document is not in Arabic, it often needs a certified translation before a notary or authority will accept it, and a generic or uncertified translation is frequently rejected. MBM coordinates translation by Ministry of Justice licensed translators so the translation is ready before your appointment.
Generally the signatory attends in person with a valid Emirates ID and passport. Company documents usually also need the trade licence, the MOA and any relevant resolutions. Requirements vary by document, so check with us before you travel to an appointment.
Some document types are eligible for remote sessions offered by Dubai Courts, but not all are. Eligibility depends on the document and on the circumstances. Tell us what you have and we will tell you whether it is likely to qualify, so you do not lose time on the wrong route.
It depends on the document, the route and, for legalisation, the embassy. A document that is ready and correctly prepared moves faster than one that needs drafting, translation or correction. We do not promise dates. Tell us your deadline and we will tell you honestly what is realistic and which step is likely to take longest.
Cost depends on the document and the route. Notary fees are regulated and, as we understand it, new fee rules applied from January 2026, so check the current schedule. Notary fees, government fees, translation and courier costs are separate from MBM's legal fee, and we show them separately. We give you a written scope and fee position before you instruct us. The first consultation is free.
MBM does not currently offer to attend your home or office to sign. Whether any notary can attend elsewhere depends on the notary and the document. Tell us where you are and what your deadline is and we will explain the routes that exist for your document.
Notarisation in Sharjah and the other northern emirates generally follows the federal system rather than Dubai Courts, so our Sharjah office is not a notary location. We can prepare and check your document in Sharjah or by phone and WhatsApp, and tell you where it needs to go.
As we understand it, under Article 21 of Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 a private notary generally cannot notarise instruments that create or transfer real property rights, or Muslim family and waqf matters. This is a general summary and requirements change, so ask us before you book and we will confirm the route for your document.
As we understand it, a UAE document going abroad is generally notarised, then attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalised by the destination country's embassy or consulate. MBM does not provide the Ministry or embassy steps; we prepare the document, arrange translation and notarisation, and explain what the later steps require. The order depends on the country and the receiving body.
Not every document follows the same route. Some transactions have their own official procedure, such as property transfers at the Land Department, and a notarised document alone may not be enough. Ask us before you book so you do not notarise a document that the receiving body will not accept.
Yes. If the document does not exist yet, MBM's legal team can draft it, for example a power of attorney, a resolution or a declaration. If you already have a draft, we review it and tell you what to change before anyone signs.
Yes. We check the draft against the company's constitutional documents and arrange notarisation where the route requires it. The correct route can depend on how the company is set up, so we confirm it first. See power of attorney and company resolutions.
Yes. MBM's first consultation is free and confidential. It is a discussion of your document and where it will be used. If you then choose to instruct MBM, we confirm the scope and the fee in writing before any paid work starts.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. Tell us briefly what has happened. A member of MBM’s legal team will review your enquiry and come back to you with the appropriate next step.
If you are working to a deadline, please call rather than waiting for a reply to a form. Send a photo of the document on WhatsApp if that is easier.
Dubai · Office 3204, Level 32, Business Central Towers – Tower B, Dubai Media City
Sharjah · Office 2001, Level 20, Al Hind Tower, Al Khalidiya District
Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
Your first consultation is free and confidential. Call us, send a photo of the document on WhatsApp or use the form, and we will tell you honestly what is possible and what the next step is.
