Plain explainers
What is a private notary, and how is it different from the government notary?
What is a private notary? In Dubai it is someone whose name Dubai Courts has entered on its roll, which lets that person take over part of the Government notary's work. Those on the roll are practising lawyers holding a Dubai Courts notary licence, each working from an office of their own. The government notary, by contrast, is the notary service of Dubai Courts itself, working from court service centres.
Both are official. Both act under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013. This page explains who each one is in the words of the law, where to find them, what each costs, and how to decide. It is a guide to the two offices, not an advert for either.
Definitions in the law's own words
Under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013:
- The term Notary Public covers three people: the Government notary, the private notary, and a government entity's employee whose name is on the roll.
- A Private Notary Public is an individual on the roll who exercises the particular functions of the Government notary that have been assigned to them.
- The President of the Court, or a judge acting on his authority, supervises notaries on technical matters.
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 (which applies outside local judicial systems such as Dubai's):
- A Private Notary is "a natural person whose name is listed in the Competent Department's register, and is duly authorized to perform the notarial services".
- Article 3 limits notarial duties to public notaries, private notaries and the State's accredited consuls.
In Arabic the two are كاتب العدل العام (the public notary) and كاتب العدل الخاص (the private notary). In everyday Arabic, كاتب العدل usually means the public one.
What is the government notary?
The government notary is the notary service run by the state authority itself. In Dubai that is Dubai Courts. So when someone says the public notary at Dubai Courts, or the government notary public in Dubai, this is the office they mean. It works from Dubai Courts service centres, and Wafi Mall is the one most people know. Our guide to Dubai Courts notary public locations lists the centres from the official source.
Side by side
Side by side
| Government notary (Dubai Courts) | Private notary | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | The Dubai Courts notary service | A person on the Dubai Courts roll, in practice a licensed lawyer |
| Where | Dubai Courts service centres | The private notary's own office |
| Legal basis | Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 | Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 |
| Legal effect of the act | Official notarial act | Official notarial act |
| Scope | The full notary service | "Certain functions" assigned to the private notary |
| Fees | Set by Dubai Courts | Set by a Dubai Courts decision in force from 2 January 2026: AED 100 per party registration, AED 100 per signature |
| Visits outside the office | Not a usual service | Allowed, AED 1,000 per trip under the same decision |
| Appointment times | Published by Dubai Courts | Set by each office |
The key row is "legal effect". A document notarised by a private notary is not a lesser document. It is notarised under the same Dubai law.
Where to find a private notary
Dubai Courts keeps the roll, and publishes a private notary registry. Use it to confirm that an office is genuine before you book. Offices on the roll are in different parts of Dubai, which can make a private notary the nearest option in areas with no Dubai Courts centre. The notary services near you page shows which areas have a listed Dubai Courts point and which do not.
Outside Dubai, on the federal system, the register of private notaries is kept by the competent department. Article 2 of Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 allows a private notary to add 30 percent of the official fee on top, as a professional fee. So on the federal schedule a power of attorney is AED 100 per party at a public notary, and AED 130 per party at a private notary.
Private notary public services in Dubai: when each route fits
Choose the government notary when:
- the Dubai Courts centre near you takes your document and its hours suit you,
- your document is one of the functions not assigned to private notaries, or
- the receiving office has asked for it specifically.
Choose a private notary when:
- you need an appointment at a particular time,
- no Dubai Courts centre is near you,
- you need the notary to come to you, at home, in hospital or at an office, or
- several people must sign together and one booked session is easier.
A note on the other private notary topics
Private notaries are also the ones who make home and hospital visits, and some people look for ready templates. Those are covered in depth at privatenotarydubai.com. For the legal rules on notary misconduct, see our page on notary penalties in the UAE.
How we help
We tell you whether your document suits the government notary or a private notary, prepare it in Arabic and English, and you sign before our in-house notary public or at the office your document needs.
A power of attorney prepared by us starts from AED 1,500, an affidavit from AED 600 and signature witnessing from AED 900. A notary visit is priced on request. 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. The government side is explained on notary public charges.
Is a private notary a lawyer?
In Dubai, yes: the private notaries on the roll are lawyers. But a law degree or a practising licence is not enough by itself; without a place on the Dubai Courts roll, a lawyer cannot notarise.
Are private notaries allowed in the UAE?
Yes. Both Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 and Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 provide for private notaries.
Will a government office accept a document from a private notary?
It is an official notarial act under the same law, so it should be treated as notarised. If a particular office insists on Dubai Courts, follow its instruction.
Is a private notary more expensive?
It depends on the act. Dubai prices private notary work under its own court decision, so compare the fee for the exact act you need.
How do I know a private notary is genuine?
An authorized notary in Dubai is either the Government notary at Dubai Courts or a private notary whose name is on the Dubai Courts roll. To check a private notary, compare the name against the Dubai Courts private notary registry, or on the federal system against the competent department's register.
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How notarisation works
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Hub
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Sources for this page
- Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai: https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2013/Law%20No.%20(4)%20of%202013%20Concerning%20Notaries%20Public%20in%20the%20Emirate%20of%20Dubai.html
- Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, Articles 1, 2 and 3: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024, item 9 and Article 2: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491
- Dubai Courts private notary fee decision, Dubai Media Office: https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/december/29-12/dubai-courts-is-preparing-to-implement-the-decision-regulating-the-fees-of-the-private-notary-public