Legal Guides
What Is DIFC? Meaning and What It Means for Your Documents
November 2, 20266 minute read
What is DIFC? It stands for Dubai International Financial Centre, and it is the body behind the DIFC Courts. For documents, the point is simple: DIFC matters can go to the DIFC Courts notary service, while most other personal and business papers go to a notary in Dubai. Our in-house notary public at our Business Bay office, online or on a home visit, can tell you which route fits yours.
Call or WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766 and tell us your document.
What Is DIFC: The Meaning of the Name
DIFC is short for Dubai International Financial Centre. You will see the name on court papers, company papers and contracts. When a document says "DIFC Courts", it points to the courts run by that centre, which are separate from Dubai Courts.
Many readers mix the two up. They ask for a "DIFC notary" when they only need a normal notarised document for a visa, a bank or a family matter. In that case a notary in Dubai is the usual route.
What Is DIFC Requirements: When the DIFC Notary Applies
DIFC Courts runs its own notary service for DIFC matters. You can read about it on the DIFC Courts notary service page. It covers oaths, affidavits, affirmations, declarations and certified true copies, and it offers virtual, in-person and automated options.
Use the DIFC route when the paper is for a DIFC matter, or when the receiving body names the DIFC Courts. Use a notary in Dubai when the receiving body only asks for a notarised document. If you are not sure, ask the body that will receive the document before you sign.
Side by side
DIFC Courts and Dubai Courts: Which One Is Which?
| DIFC Courts | Dubai Courts | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | The DIFC | The Dubai government |
| Notary work | Its own notary service for DIFC matters | A Government notary public and private notaries on a roll it keeps |
| Law behind notary work | DIFC rules | Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013, with Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 at federal level |
Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, which is published on the UAE Legislation portal. A private notary in Dubai is a lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts to carry out notarial acts. That is a description of the role. We are not the DIFC Courts and not Dubai Courts.
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.
What Is DIFC Documents Required
For any notary visit, bring the same basics:
- Your passport or Emirates ID.
- The document, unsigned. Sign only in front of the notary.
- Proof of authority, if you sign for someone else or for a company.
- Any attested papers, if a foreign document is involved.
A foreign document is attested in the issuing country, including the UAE embassy there, and then by MOFAIC in the UAE. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Our guides on attestation and MOFA explain each step.
Step by step
What Is DIFC Procedure: 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. Office appointments run Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time), and WhatsApp is answered 24/7.
- Message us the document and where it will be used.
- We tell you if it needs a notary in Dubai or the DIFC route.
- We prepare the draft and the translation if needed.
- You sign in front of our in-house notary public.
- We hand you the notarised document.
If the DIFC Courts is the right route, we say so. We do not book DIFC appointments for you, and the DIFC Courts decides what it accepts.
Prices
What Is DIFC Fees: What You Pay
Our starting prices:
- Affidavits and declarations: from AED 600.
- Certified true copy: from AED 400.
- Power of attorney of any type: from AED 1,500.
- Legal translation: from AED 50 per page.
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 DIFC Courts publishes its own schedule of fees on its website, so check there for the DIFC route.
Watch for
Mistakes to Avoid
- Asking for a "DIFC notary" when a notary in Dubai is enough.
- Signing before you reach the notary.
- Sending a foreign document without its attestation chain.
- Assuming the receiving body accepts any notarised paper. Ask what it wants first.
What does DIFC stand for?
DIFC stands for Dubai International Financial Centre. The DIFC Courts is the court system run by that centre.
How much does a DIFC notary cost?
The DIFC Courts sets its own fees and lists them on its site. For a notary in Dubai, our prices start from AED 400 for a certified true copy and from AED 600 for an affidavit, with government fees paid on top at cost.
How long does a DIFC notary take?
The DIFC Courts does not give a fixed time on its service page, and we do not promise one. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you the steps for your document.
What documents are required for a DIFC notary?
You need your ID and the document you want notarised. Some documents need extra verification, so check the DIFC Courts page. For a notary in Dubai, see what documents are notarised in the UAE.
Can a DIFC notary be done online?
Yes, the DIFC Courts lists a virtual option for some services. We also offer online notary public services, and we tell you whether your document suits it. Our page on what notarised means is a good start.
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Talk to us
Talk to Us About Your Document
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. Find us at 707 Burj Khalifa Blvd, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971502648766
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