Questions
The questions people ask before they instruct anyone
Answered plainly. Where the honest answer is “it depends on the document”, we say so and tell you how we find out.
About us
Are you a notary?
No, and the distinction matters. A notary in Dubai is an official who attests to the act of signing, and only a notary can perform that act. We draft the document, check it against what the receiving authority will accept, arrange the appointment and attend it with you. The notarial act itself is the notary’s.
Are you a law firm?
No. We draft and arrange. Where a matter needs legal advice, we say so.
Do you work in Arabic?
Yes, as the default. Every instrument is drafted in Arabic and English together, with fixed terminology, so the two texts cannot drift apart.
Where are you?
Empire Heights Tower B, Fountain Street, Business Bay, Dubai. Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00, Saturday 9:00 to 17:00, Sunday 10:00 to 16:00 by appointment.
The document
Which document do I need?
Describe what has to happen rather than the document’s name. The right instrument follows from the task, and it is often not the one people ask for. A special power of attorney is frequently safer than a general one.
Can you fix a draft somebody else wrote?
Yes, and most corporate work that reaches us is exactly that: a counterparty’s draft, or a template from another jurisdiction that needs to be made workable here.
Does it have to be in Arabic?
Many receiving authorities require Arabic, and which ones do is not something to guess at. We draft in both languages as standard so the question does not arise.
Which language governs if the two texts differ?
The one the governing language clause names. Leaving it unstated is the worst option, because the answer then depends on where the dispute happens. It takes one sentence and we always include it.
General or special power of attorney?
Special, usually. A general power drafted too widely is the single most common reason a corporate document is refused. A special power names the acts, and nobody has to make a judgement call about it.
Attending
Do I have to attend in person?
For the notarial act, the signatory attends. Whether that can be a representative under a power of attorney depends on the instrument, and we establish it for yours before anybody books anything.
Our only authorised signatory is abroad.
Sometimes a power of attorney granted in advance solves it. Sometimes the notary will require that person and no substitute. Tell us the document and the dates and we find out before you commit.
One of our shareholders is a company.
A corporate shareholder signs through a human being, and which human and on what authority is the question. Raise it at first contact rather than on the day.
What do I bring?
For anything corporate: the current trade licence, the memorandum and every amendment, and original passport and Emirates ID for everyone signing. We give you a specific list for your document so one appointment is enough.
The signatory does not read Arabic or English.
The instrument is read to them in a language they understand before it is signed. Tell us the language in advance.
Cost and time
What does it cost?
Our fees are published. The Dubai Courts fee is separate, set by the Courts, collected by us and passed on at cost. Two lines on every invoice.
Is the first reading really free?
Yes. Send a draft and you get back which instrument you need, whether it will be accepted, what it will cost and who has to attend. No charge, no obligation.
How long does it take?
The part we control is the reading and the drafting, and you hear back the same working day. The appointment depends on the notary’s diary. Anything after it depends on the ministry or mission involved.
What if it is refused?
If a defect is found before the appointment, we fix it. If it is refused at the counter, we deal with the reason and rebook. If it is refused afterwards by a bank or registry, we tell you plainly whether the cause was in the drafting, the process, or a requirement nobody could have known.
After notarisation
Is the document valid abroad?
Not automatically. A document going abroad usually needs a chain of further steps, at a ministry and then the destination country’s mission, performed by those bodies rather than by a notary. Tell us the country and we set out the chain before you commit.
Notarised, attested, legalised: what is the difference?
Notarisation is the notary’s act of attesting to a signing. Attestation is a different act by a different body, confirming a document or signature so another authority will accept it. Legalisation is the chain a document needs before a foreign country will rely on it. Three acts, three bodies, and treating them as synonyms costs people a day at the counter.
Do my originals come back?
Yes. Originals are shown to the notary and returned to you. Nothing stays with us unless you ask us to hold it.
Documents we prepare are accepted by the authorities and institutions our clients deal with every week, because we write to what each of them actually requires.
What clients say
Nine reviews from our Google Business Profile. We publish them as written, and we do not write them.
Had experience of getting some of my documents attested from the firm. Service was top notch. Mr. Ali explained everything in detail and was of great assistance. I would recommend firm for any legal assistance or document attestation.
Highly Recommended and Excellent Service. I had to do notarization for some documents and Miss Razan assisted us greatly with exceptional professionalism and courtesy. I extend my utmost commendation for the exemplary quality of service provided.
Excellent service from notary services Dubai. They are instant replying agency. Others take long hours to reply for simple questions. Highly recommended for notaries in Dubai
I needed statutory declaration for new Zealand notarized. They did for me online since I was based in Abu Dhabi. Thanks for your service.
Great and speedy service for getting the NOC to sponsor my child. Big thanks to Ali for handling everything smoothly and on time!
Excellent notary service! Everything was handled smoothly and professionally. They even agreed to schedule a call at a time that worked best for us, which was outside their usual practice, a real sign of their flexibility and client focus. Top professionals, willing to go above and beyond. Highly recommended
I contact this office for a notary today on Sunday they processed my notary and I got my documents today online
I am 100 percent satisfied with their true copy attestation highly recommend
Lovely staff professional work nice knowledge highly recommended
Reviews published on our Google Business Profile and verified by Trustindex. Shown as written.
Ask about your document
If your question is not here, it is probably one we have been asked. Send the draft or describe what has to happen, and you will have an answer the same working day.