Attestation
What Is Notary Attestation? Meaning, and How It Differs From MOFA Attestation
November 5, 20266 minute read
What is notary attestation? It is the step where a notary public checks your identity, confirms you understand the document and watches you sign it, then adds a seal. Our in-house notary public at our Business Bay office does this in person, online or at a home visit.
Call or WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766 and tell us which document you hold.
The catch most people miss is that a notary seal does not make a document valid in another office or another country. It proves who signed. Other authorities may ask for more steps on top.
What Is Notary Attestation? The Meaning in Plain Words
Forms and employers often say "notary attested" or "attested by notary". They mean the document carries a notary public's seal and signature. The seal tells the reader that a real person, with checked ID, signed in front of an authorised notary.
So what is notary attestation in practice? A narrow thing. The notary does not approve the content as true or correct. The notary confirms the signing. For the wider idea of attestation, read what is attestation in the UAE. For the word notarised itself, see what notarised means.
Step by step
What the Notary Checks and Stamps
When you sign with our notary public, these things happen:
1
The notary checks your original ID, such as your Emirates ID or passport.
2
The notary makes sure you know what the document says and that you sign by choice.
3
You sign in front of the notary.
4
The notary records the act, signs and applies the seal.
An Arab notary public sits at our Business Bay office, 707 Burj Khalifa Blvd, Marasi Drive. We draft your document, handle the legal translation if you need one, and our notary public notarises it.
Side by side
Notary Attestation and MOFA Attestation Are Two Different Steps
People mix these up because both use the word attestation. They are done by different bodies, for different reasons.
| Notary attestation | MOFA attestation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does it | A notary public | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC) |
| What it confirms | Who signed, and that they signed | That the earlier seal or signature is genuine |
| Comes | First | After the notary, when the document leaves the notary's circle |
| Fee | Set by the notary fee schedule | AED 150 for a personal document |
MOFAIC attests documents in the UAE, and you can read its service page on MOFAIC attestation. A document going abroad is attested by MOFAIC, then by the destination country's embassy or consulate in the UAE.
The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a document for use abroad follows this chain. You can check the Hague status table. For a side by side view, see our page on the difference between notary and attestation.
Ask about your document
Tell us the document and how many people will sign, and we will give you the government fee and our starting price in one message.
Documents That Need Both
Not every document needs MOFA. A document that stays with a private party often needs only the notary. These often need both steps when they go to a government body or abroad:
- Powers of attorney used outside the UAE
- Company documents for a foreign authority
- Affidavits and declarations asked for by an embassy
- Certified copies of personal papers for visa or study files
Ask the office that will receive the document what it needs, then tell us. We tell you the order of steps for your file.
Can a Notary Attest Any Document?
No. A notary public handles documents that need a signature checked, a copy certified or a statement sworn. A notary does not issue or correct official records such as a birth or marriage certificate. Those come from the issuing authority.
See what documents a notary can notarise for the full picture.
Watch for
Common Mistakes
- Signing before you meet the notary. The notary must see you sign.
- Bringing a copy of your ID instead of the original.
- Leaving blank fields in the document.
- Assuming the notary seal is enough for an embassy.
- Skipping the legal translation when the receiving office wants Arabic or English.
Prices
Cost
Our starting prices: certified true copy from AED 400, legal translation from AED 50 per page, MOFA attestation handling from AED 150 for a personal document and from AED 300 for a commercial document, and a power of attorney from AED 1,500. MOFAIC fees are separate: AED 150 for personal documents. Ask us for the current figure for commercial documents. Translation and embassy fees are also separate.
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.
What does notary attested mean?
It means a notary public checked the signer's identity, watched the signing and sealed the document. It does not mean the notary vouches for the facts inside. Read more on notarised documents.
Is notary attestation the same as MOFA attestation?
No. The notary confirms who signed. MOFAIC later confirms that the seal on the document is genuine. They are two steps, done by two bodies.
Can a notary public attest documents?
Yes, for signatures, certified copies and statements made in front of the notary. A notary cannot replace the authority that issued your original record.
Is notary the same as attestation?
No. Notarisation is one kind of attestation. Attestation is the wider chain of checks, and the notary is usually its first link.
Do I need notary attestation before embassy attestation?
Often yes, for a document signed in the UAE. The usual order is notary, then MOFAIC, then the embassy or consulate. Check what the receiving country asks for, or send us the document and we tell you.
Guides
More guides
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Notary for foreign documents in Dubai: your consulate or a UAE notary
Need a notary for foreign documents in Dubai? When your consulate signs, when a UAE notary does, and what Indian, Filipino and British residents need.
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Difference between notary and attestation: notarisation and attestation in the UAE
The difference between attestation and notarization in the UAE: who does each, in what order, what each costs, and which one your document needs.
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Explainer
What is a private notary, and how is it different from the government notary?
What is a private notary, what is the government notary at Dubai Courts, how the law defines each, where to find them, and what each one costs.
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Talk to us
Next step
Now you know what is notary attestation and where it ends. Our in-house notary public is at our Business Bay office, and we also work online and by home visit. See our notarisation services or the page for our Business Bay notary.
Call or WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766, or email help@notaryservicesindubai.com. Tell us the document and how many people will sign, and we will give you the government fee and our starting price in one message.
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