Dubai notary news and UAE attestation updates

Dubai private notary fees: a Dubai Courts decision in force from 2 January 2026

Dubai Courts prepared a decision regulating the fees of private notaries in Dubai, published in the Official Gazette of the Government of Dubai, issue 752, and in force from 2 January 2026. The Dubai Media Office reported the headline figures: AED 100 per party for registration, AED 100 per signature, and AED 1,000 per trip when the private notary works outside their place of work. Source: Dubai Media Office.

What it means for you: when a private notary visits your home or office in Dubai, the trip fee is a published government figure, separate from any service charge. 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.

A new Civil Transactions Law, in force from 1 June 2026

Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 replaced the earlier Civil Transactions Law from 1 June 2026. The rules on agency, which cover powers of attorney, are now in Articles 866 to 903. A power of attorney written only in general terms gives the agent acts of management only (Article 871), and revocation is in Article 898. Source: UAE Legislation.

What it means for you: old articles quoted on many websites no longer apply. There is still no general statutory validity period for a power of attorney; its term is whatever the document says. See attestation for a power of attorney in Dubai.

Federal notary fees: Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024

The federal fee schedule for notarial acts has been in force since 16 March 2024. It sets, for example, AED 100 per party to execute or notarise a general or special power of attorney, AED 200 per party to authenticate signatures on an instrument of unspecified value, AED 300 for an affidavit and AED 50 per page for a translation notarised with the instrument. A private notary on this schedule adds up to 30 percent as a professional fee. Source: UAE Legislation.

What it means for you: see the notary attestation fees guide for how these figures combine with MOFA and embassy fees.

Who may perform notarial acts in the UAE

Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, in force since 28 December 2022, says notarial duties are performed only by public notaries, private notaries and accredited UAE consuls. It does not apply to local judicial authorities with their own notary legislation, which is why Dubai notaries follow Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013. Sources: UAE Legislation, Dubai Legislation portal.

Apostille: still no UAE membership

The Hague Conference’s status table for the Apostille Convention still does not list the UAE. Documents for the UAE still need the embassy and MOFA route, even if an apostille is added in the home country. Source: HCCH status table. Read whether the UAE is an apostille country.

MOFA attestation fees

MOFA’s published fees remain AED 150 for a personal document and AED 2,000 for a commercial document. Source: MOFA FAQ. See MOFA attestation in Dubai.