Getting a document notarized for use in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a crucial legal process for both individuals and businesses, especially when dealing with official, legal, or business transactions. Notarization ensures that the document is legally valid, authentic, and recognized by the relevant authorities in the UAE. Whether it is a personal document, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate, or a business document, such as contracts or powers of attorney, the notarization process adds legal assurance and prevents potential disputes or fraud.

Steps to Notarize a Document for Use in the UAE

The process for getting a document notarized for use in the UAE involves several steps. These steps may vary slightly depending on the country of origin and the type of document, but the general process is outlined below:

1. Prepare the Document

Before you can begin the notarization process, you must ensure that the document is properly prepared and ready for notarization. Common documents that require notarization for use in the UAE include:

• Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates.
• Educational qualifications (e.g., diplomas, degrees).
• Powers of attorney.
• Affidavits.
• Legal contracts (e.g., business agreements, property sales).
• Identification documents (e.g., passports).

Ensure the document is original or a certified copy if necessary. If the document is not in Arabic, the official language of the UAE, it must be translated into Arabic by a certified legal translator, as the UAE government requires documents to be in Arabic or accompanied by an Arabic translation.

2. Notarization by a Notary Public

The next step is to have the document notarized by a notary public. A notary public is an official authorized to verify the identity of the signatory and witness the signing of the document. The notarization process typically involves:

• Verifying the identity of the signatory using valid identification (e.g., passport or national ID).
• Ensuring that the person signing the document is doing so willingly and under no duress.
• Witnessing the signing of the document.
• Affixing the notary public’s seal and signature to the document to certify that it has been notarized.

If the document is being notarized outside the UAE, you will need to visit a notary public in the country where you reside.

3. Attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Once the document is notarized, it must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the country of origin. The MOFA will verify the notary’s seal and signature to confirm that the notarization is legitimate. This step is crucial because it ensures that the notarized document is officially recognized by the government.

In some cases, the document may also need to be authenticated by additional government agencies, such as the Ministry of Education (for educational documents) or the Ministry of Justice (for legal documents).

4. Attestation by the UAE Embassy or Consulate

After the document has been authenticated by the MOFA, it must be submitted to the UAE Embassy or Consulate in the country of origin for further attestation. The UAE Embassy will confirm that the document has been properly notarized and authenticated, making it legally valid for use in the UAE.

If the document is being processed in a country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, the document may only need to be apostilled instead of going through the embassy attestation process. However, the UAE is not a member of the Apostille Convention, so most documents will require embassy attestation.

5. Attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE

After the document has been authenticated by the UAE Embassy or Consulate, it must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) in the UAE. This is the final step in the authentication process. MOFAIC will confirm that the document has been properly notarized and authenticated, ensuring that it is legally valid for use within the UAE.

Once this final attestation is complete, the document can be used for official purposes in the UAE, such as legal proceedings, business transactions, or immigration applications.