Start here: the right place to certify your copy depends on who issued the document, not on what kind of document it is. Send it to the wrong counter and you will be turned away. Use the table below, then call us.
Last reviewed: [29 august 2026] · Reviewed by [Azhar Ali], [Consultant], Notary Services in Dubai · Licence No. 44169
Where to go, by document
| Your document | Correct route | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport, Emirates ID | Licensed lawyer / legal consultancy | 15–30 min | [AED __] |
| Degrees, transcripts, experience letters | Lawyer or notary | Same day | [AED __] |
| Birth, marriage, death certificates | Lawyer or notary | Same day | [AED __] |
| Bank statements, DEWA bills, tenancy contracts | Lawyer or notary | Same day | [AED __] |
| Contracts, POAs, board resolutions | Notary public | Same day | [AED __] |
| Mainland trade licence, MOA | Notary public or DED | Same day | [AED __] |
| Free zone licence, incorporation certificate, AoA | Your licensing authority — not a notary | 2 working days | AED 100 + 20 |
The most common mistake: notary counters in the UAE do not issue certified true copies of passports. People queue at Dubai Courts with a passport and get sent away. Passport copies go through a licensed lawyer.
The second: if your company is registered in a free zone, a notary cannot certify your licence or incorporation documents. Only the authority that issued them can. For Dubai Development Authority companies that means an online request through the AXS portal, filed by the General Manager, at AED 100 per document plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham per transaction, delivered in 2 working days. Other free zones run their own version on their own portals.
We handle everything in the first six rows. If row seven is you, we will say so in one message rather than taking your money.
What to bring
- The original. Not a scan, not a certified copy of a copy — the original itself.
- The photocopy, or let us produce it.
- Emirates ID or passport of whoever is requesting.
- For company documents, a letter of authorisation or the trade licence.
The original stays with you. That is the whole point of the exercise.
Why copies get rejected
The reasons people come back a second time:
- Original not presented. No original, no certification. There is no way around this.
- Incomplete pages. A passport certification usually needs the bio page and the visa page. Certify one and not the other and it fails at the bank.
- Expired document. A certified copy of an expired licence is still a copy of an expired licence.
- Wrong stamp for the receiving party. A bank compliance team, a foreign university, and GDRFA do not all accept the same certification.
- Poor copy quality. Faint or cropped photocopies are refused at the counter.
Ask the receiving party what they need before you pay. One message to them saves a wasted trip.
If the copy is leaving the UAE
Certification is only step one. A copy going to a foreign authority normally also needs:
- Certified true copy — lawyer or notary, in Dubai
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation
- Consulate legalisation by the destination country, or an apostille where that country’s rules allow it
Budget 3–7 additional working days. Tell us the destination country at the start — the order matters, and doing it backwards means paying twice.
Our service
We are a private notary office, Marasi Drive, Business Bay. Walk in, or send the document by WhatsApp first and we will confirm the route and the price before you travel.
FAQ
Can a notary public certify my passport copy? No. Notary counters in the UAE do not issue certified true copies of passports. Use a licensed lawyer or legal consultancy.
How much does a certified true copy cost in Dubai? It depends on the route and the document — see the table above. For reference, a DDA free zone document is AED 100 per document plus AED 20 in dirham fees.
Do you need my original document? Yes, every time. The certification states that the copy was compared against the original, so the original must be physically present. You keep it afterwards.
Can it be done the same day? Usually 15 to 30 minutes at the office if the original is with you. Free zone authority requests take 2 working days and cannot be rushed by us.
Is a certified true copy accepted abroad? For private institutions like banks and universities, often yes. For foreign government use you will normally need MoFA attestation and consulate legalisation or an apostille on top.
Can my PRO bring the documents instead of me? For company documents, yes, with a letter of authorisation. For personal documents like passports, the holder should attend.
Is a certified true copy the same as attestation? No. Certification confirms the copy matches the original. Attestation confirms the certifying party’s seal is genuine. Documents leaving the UAE usually need both.
General guidance, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; confirm current requirements with the relevant authority.
