Notarising Documents for use in the United Arab Emirates

Our Partners - expert in the process of legalising documents for use overseas – based in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, may be contacted directly. (more information)

In the UK, a Notary Public is essential for any transaction involving the UAE because the UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. This means UK documents are not automatically recognised and must undergo a multi-step "legalisation" process, of which notarisation is the foundational first step.

The primary purposes for using a UK Notary for the UAE fall into three categories:

1. Employment & Professional Relocation. If you have been offered a job in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other Emirate, proof of your qualifications are required … Degree Certificates, Professional Licenses… more


2. Business Setup & Corporate Governance. Expanding into the UAE, opening a bank account, Power of Attorney to o appoint a local agent, Board Resolutions, Constitutional Documents, Commercial Contracts more


3. Family Sponsorship & Personal Legal Matters. Sponsoring Dependents, Selling Property, Wills & Inheritance more

All you need to know about Consular Legalisation for United Arab Emirates

Getting documents legalised for use in the UAE is generally not an easy or straightforward process and can be lengthy and confusing.

The process is complex, with specific requirements for each document type and often requires multiple steps of authentication. In early 2025, the UAE introduced a new digital attestation process which is intended to be faster but has stricter rules. Rules that may cause confusion for some organisations; it is for this reason we recommend you contact us now.

If your document has already been notarised, or you are a Notary Public that needs expert assistance, contact Notary.co.uk – they will happily act as your agent.