What a private notary may and may not do
Compliance and scope of practice
The private notary is licensed by Dubai Courts and acts within the powers set out in Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013, as amended. Being transparent about the limits of that scope is part of our duty to clients.
A private notary may not
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Muslim personal-status and Waqf matters
Reserved to Dubai Courts. This includes marriage, divorce, inheritance and wills for Muslims.
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Create, transfer, change or extinguish real rights in real property
A property POA may be notarised; the disposal of the real right itself and its registration are done at the Dubai Land Department.
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Matters reserved to another authority
For example Ejari tenancy registration, RERA procedures and title registration at the Dubai Land Department.
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Anything contrary to law, public order or public morals
The notary refuses to notarise any such instrument.
Conflict of interest
The notary does not notarise an instrument in which they have a personal interest or to which a relative is a party; such a transaction is referred to the centre's other notary.
Confidentiality
Keeping transactions and data confidential is a legal duty of the notary and the centre's team.
Arabic language
Arabic is the language of notarisation. Instruments drafted in a foreign language are notarised together with a certified legal translation, and the translator's signature is attested where required.
Use abroad — apostille and legalisation
To use a notarised instrument outside the UAE: after notarisation, the instrument is attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then either apostilled for member states of the 1961 Hague Convention or legalised at the relevant embassy for non-members. The centre guides you to the right route; the attestation itself is done by those authorities.
Documents notarised by a licensed private notary have the same legal force as government notary documents across the UAE.
Not sure whether your transaction is within scope? Message us on WhatsApp before you visit.
Legal basis
- Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning Notaries Public, as amended, including Law No. 26 of 2021 on the electronic notary
- Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 regulating the notary profession
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on official fees and the private notary's professional fee
- Decision No. 312 of 2025 — Dubai Government Official Gazette, Issue 752, effective 2 January 2026