Notary Services
What Is a Deed? Meaning and Use in the UAE
November 4, 20266 minute read
What is a deed? A deed is a formal written document, signed on purpose, that records an agreement, a gift, a transfer or a grant of authority. In the UAE, people often have a deed notarised so that the signers and the signing are checked. Our in-house notary public at our Business Bay office does this in person, online or on a home visit.
Call or WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766 and tell us which deed you need.
The practical catch is that "deed" is a general word. The name on the page changes with the purpose, such as a power of attorney, a partnership deed or a declaration. The words inside matter more than the title.
What Is a Deed in Plain Words?
A deed is a document that does one clear job. It states who is giving, who is receiving, and what exactly is being given or agreed. Both sides, or the person giving, sign it.
Common examples people bring to a notary:
- A power of attorney, where one person gives another person authority to act for them.
- A partnership deed, where business partners record how they work together.
- A deed of gift, where someone gives an asset to a family member.
- A declaration or undertaking, where one person states facts or makes a promise in writing.
If your document is a sworn statement, read our page on what is an affidavit. If it gives someone authority, see what is tawkeel.
Why a Notary Public Is Involved
A deed that only you signed is your word on paper. A notary public checks your ID, watches you sign and applies the seal. That is what lets banks, courts and government offices take the document seriously.
Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession. In Dubai, notaries public are also regulated by Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013. For the plain meaning of the seal, see what notarised means.
Checklist
What Is a Deed: Requirements and Documents Required
Each deed has its own paperwork. Most files ask for the same basics:
Before you go
- Passport or Emirates ID for every person who signs.
- The draft deed, or a clear description of what it must say.
- Proof of authority if someone signs for a company or for another person.
- Any supporting document the deed refers to, such as a title document or a trade licence.
Foreign documents may need attestation before the UAE accepts them. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a foreign document is attested in the issuing country, then by MOFAIC in the UAE. We explain this on our page on what is attestation.
Files are turned away for simple reasons: blank fields, signing before the appointment, missing proof of authority, or a foreign document without its attestation chain.
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.
Step by step
What Is a Deed Procedure: Steps
- Tell us the purpose of the deed and who will sign.
- We draft your document and handle the legal translation if it is needed.
- You check the draft and correct anything that is wrong.
- Every signer meets our in-house notary public with ID.
- The notary public checks the IDs, watches the signing and applies the seal.
You can sign in person at our Business Bay office, online or on a home visit. Online notary services run through the official channels, the Ministry of Justice E-Notary system and Dubai Courts remote attendance. We tell you whether your deed can go that way.
Prices
What Is a Deed Fees: What You Pay
The cost has two parts: the government fee and our own fee. Keep them apart when you compare prices.
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024, notarising a general or special power of attorney is AED 100 per party. A private notary on the federal schedule may add up to 30%, so that route is AED 130 per party. Dubai Courts has also set private notary fees, reported by the Dubai Media Office as AED 100 per party for registration plus AED 100 per signature. Translation, MOFAIC attestation and embassy fees are separate.
Our own prices start from AED 1,500 for a power of attorney and from AED 600 for affidavits and declarations. Legal translation starts from AED 50 per page, and a drafting add-on starts from AED 200. A home visit is quoted 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.
Processing Time
The time depends on the type of deed, the number of signers and whether translation or attestation is needed. We do not promise a fixed time. Send us the document and we tell you what your file needs.
How We Help
We draft your document, handle the legal translation, and our in-house notary public notarises it, in person at our Business Bay office, online or at a home visit. An Arab notary public sits at our Business Bay office. Office appointments are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time). WhatsApp answered 24/7.
How much does a deed cost?
It depends on the deed. Our prices start from AED 1,500 for a power of attorney and from AED 600 for affidavits and declarations, with government fees paid on top at cost. Send us the document and we confirm the final price before you pay.
How long does a deed take?
It depends on the deed, the number of signers and any translation or attestation. We do not promise a fixed time. Ask us on WhatsApp and we tell you what your file needs.
What documents are required for a deed?
Every signer brings a passport or Emirates ID. You also bring the draft or a clear description of the deed, and proof of authority if someone signs for a company or another person. See our page on a special power of attorney in Dubai for one example.
Can a deed be done online?
Sometimes. Online notary services run through the Ministry of Justice E-Notary system and Dubai Courts remote attendance. We tell you whether your deed can go that way before you book.
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Talk to us
Get Your Deed Notarised
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. Our office is at 707 Burj Khalifa Blvd, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. WhatsApp: wa.me/971502648766.
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