Dubai Notary Fees 2026: Government Rates & What You'll Actually Pay
No vague estimates. Real fee breakdowns, explained plainly by our Deira team with 29 years of Dubai Courts experience.
Since 1997, our Deira office has helped thousands of expats understand exactly what they will pay, before they commit to anything.
Fee confusion is one of the top three reasons people delay getting documents notarized in Dubai. Most clients tell us they spent time searching online, found wildly different numbers, and could not tell what was real. So let us explain it clearly.
The total cost of notarizing a document in Dubai is made up of two separate parts:
1. Dubai Courts Government Fee
Fixed by the government. Paid directly to the court cashier. Non-negotiable. Does not change between law firms. Exempt from VAT.
2. Professional / Service Fee
Charged by the notary firm or advocate for drafting, bilingual preparation, court escort, and corrections. Subject to 5% UAE VAT. Varies by provider and complexity.
The sections below break down both components. All government fees listed are approximate as of 2026; Dubai Courts periodically reviews its schedule, and fees for specific document types can vary based on scope, value, and company share capital.
Need notary services in Dubai? Our Deira office replies promptly — WhatsApp us for a free quote.
How Dubai Courts Fees Work
Dubai Courts operates a notary service under the framework of the UAE Notary Law and Federal Law No. 11 of 1992 on Civil Procedure. The court sets its own fee schedule, which is published officially and updated periodically.
Key things to know about the government fee:
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It is the same regardless of which law firm or notary service you use. No firm can reduce the government fee by any amount.
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It is paid at the court cashier window, usually at the time of notarization (or sometimes after the document is approved). You can pay by card or cash at Dubai Courts.
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For company-related documents, the fee sometimes scales with the company's registered share capital; higher capital means higher fees for certain document types.
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Government fees are exempt from UAE VAT; you pay the listed court fee with no additional tax on top.
Fee Table: Common Notarization Services 2026
The following are approximate Dubai Courts government fees as of 2026. All amounts are marked as "starting from"; actual fees may be higher depending on document scope and specific courts' assessment:
| Service | Government Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple attestation / true copy | From AED 150 | Certifying a photocopy matches original |
| Affidavit / sworn declaration | AED 200–300 | Depends on complexity and subject matter |
| General Power of Attorney | From AED 320 | Broad authority over all matters |
| Special POA (property / vehicle) | From AED 510 | Specific asset or transaction |
| Will notarization | AED 450–600 | Depends on asset complexity |
| Company document notarization | From AED 510 | May scale with share capital |
| MOFA attestation (additional) | Varies | Required for international use |
All fees are approximate. Dubai Courts' official fee schedule is authoritative; confirm current rates at the time of your appointment. Fees quoted here are for illustrative purposes and are subject to change.
What the Professional Service Fee Covers
When clients engage us to handle their notarization, our professional fee covers a set of services that protect them from rejection and wasted time. Here is exactly what is included:
Document drafting in Arabic and English
We prepare a bilingual document that meets Dubai Courts' exact formatting, language, and legal requirements. This is the highest-value part of our service; a poorly drafted document is the most common cause of rejection.
Document pre-check and identity verification
We review your passports, Emirates IDs, and any supporting documents before submission, checking for name mismatches, expiry dates, and completeness. This step alone saves most clients a second trip.
Court escort and submission
For clients who need it, we attend Dubai Courts alongside you, queue on your behalf, and manage the submission process. We know the court officers and understand how each counter operates; this can cut your court visit from two hours to under 45 minutes.
Corrections and resubmission (if needed)
In the rare event that the court requests an amendment, we handle the correction and resubmission at no additional drafting charge. Our pre-submission review process means corrections are uncommon, but you are covered if one is needed.
Want an exact quote?
WhatsApp us your document type; we respond with an itemized cost breakdown covering both government and professional fees promptly during business hours.
WhatsApp for a QuoteIs a Private Notary More Expensive Than Going to Dubai Courts Directly?
Yes, if your document is accepted first time. The tradeoff is this:
| DIY (Direct to Courts) | With Professional Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee | Same | Same |
| Professional service fee | None | AED 200–800+ |
| Rejection risk (standard POA) | Moderate to High | Very Low |
| Time at courts (typical) | 2–4 hours | 45 min – 1.5 hrs |
| Best for | Simple true copies, confident Arabic speakers | POA, wills, company docs, complex attestation |
Most of our clients are expats whose time is valuable. The professional fee typically saves more in avoided wasted trips and rejections than it costs, especially for POAs and company documents where the stakes of getting it wrong are higher.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
These are the additional costs that sometimes surprise clients. We always disclose them upfront, but be aware of them when comparing quotes from different service providers:
Same-day urgency premium
If you need notarization completed the same day, most professional firms charge a premium on top of their standard service fee. Government fees remain unchanged. Always ask upfront what the urgency premium is, and whether same-day is even possible given court schedules.
Translation fees
If your document requires a certified Arabic translation by a UAE Ministry of Justice licensed translator, this is billed separately. Translation fees vary by document length and typically range from AED 100–400 per document. We can arrange this but it is a pass-through cost at the translator's rate.
MOFA attestation fee (for international use)
If your notarized document needs to be used outside the UAE, it requires an additional stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). MOFA charges its own fee on top of the Dubai Courts fee; this is often overlooked when budgeting. Ask us about the full chain cost if your document is going abroad.
Rejection resubmission costs
If you self-submit a document and it is rejected, you may need to pay the government fee again on resubmission, plus the cost of correcting or redrafting the document. This is the real financial risk of the DIY route for complex documents.
Do I Need to Pay VAT on Notary Services?
The short answer: yes, on professional fees, but not on government court fees.
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on Value Added Tax, professional services provided by law firms, advocates, and legal consultants in the UAE are subject to the standard 5% VAT rate. This means our professional service fee is quoted and invoiced inclusive of VAT.
Dubai Courts government fees, the amounts you pay directly at the court cashier, are government charges and are VAT exempt. You pay exactly the amount on the fee schedule, with nothing added.
We issue VAT invoices on request for all professional services. If your company needs this for accounting purposes, simply ask when you contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to notarize a General Power of Attorney at Dubai Courts?
The Dubai Courts government fee for a General Power of Attorney is approximately AED 320 as of 2026. This is the fee paid directly to the court cashier and is non-negotiable. In addition, if you use a notary service firm like ours to prepare the bilingual draft and assist you at court, there is a separate professional fee. WhatsApp us for an itemized quote that covers both components with no hidden charges.
What is the difference between the government fee and the notary professional fee?
The government fee is set by Dubai Courts and goes directly to the court; it covers the cost of the official notarization stamp and court record. The professional fee is charged by the notary law firm or advocate for services like drafting the document in Arabic and English, reviewing your documents, escorting you to court, and liaising with court staff. You always pay both if you use a professional service. If you prepare your own documents and attend court alone, you pay only the government fee, but rejection risk increases significantly.
Does VAT apply to notary services in Dubai?
Yes. A 5% VAT applies to professional service fees charged by notary firms, advocates, and legal consultants. This is a standard UAE VAT obligation under Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017. The government court fees paid directly to Dubai Courts are government charges and are exempt from VAT. We always quote our professional fee inclusive of VAT so there are no surprises.
Is it cheaper to go directly to Dubai Courts without a notary firm?
It can be cheaper in court fees if everything goes perfectly; you avoid the professional service fee. However, the savings are typically AED 200–600, and a rejected submission means paying the court fee again plus losing the time you spent queuing. In our experience, clients who attempt complex POAs or company documents without professional help face a higher risk of rejection. For simple true copy attestations, going directly is often fine. For anything involving drafting (POA, affidavit, will), professional assistance pays for itself.
Are there extra charges if I need my document urgently (same-day)?
Yes, there is typically a same-day urgency premium charged by the notary service firm, not by the courts themselves. Court government fees remain the same regardless of urgency. Our same-day premium depends on the document type and how full our schedule is that day. WhatsApp us in the morning and we will tell you if same-day is possible and what it costs; we are always transparent about this upfront.
Price Disclaimer
All fees shown in this guide are indicative reference figures only. We are a licensed private notary office; we are not Dubai Courts. Dubai Courts government fees are official charges levied directly by Dubai Courts and are separate from our professional service fee. Government fee schedules are set and updated by Dubai Courts and may change without notice.
Final pricing is provided by official written quotation only. No work begins until the full cost is agreed in advance. Contact us for an exact, itemized quote before instructing.
General Information Disclaimer
The content of this article is provided for general reference purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Government fees, regulations, procedures, and timelines are set by UAE authorities and are subject to change without notice. All specific fee figures are indicative only; verify current rates with the relevant authority (Dubai Courts, MOFA, or the applicable consulate) before instructing. For advice specific to your documents and circumstances, contact us directly.
Get an Honest, Itemized Quote
Tell us what you need; we will break down the government fee and our service fee separately, with no hidden charges. Our Deira office responds within one hour during business hours.