Notary & MOJ Attestation in Abu Dhabi
UAE Notary & MOJ Attestation, Explained
A notarized document, power of attorney or court paper needs to be attested by the right judicial authority before UAE MOFA will attest it for use abroad. In Abu Dhabi that is ADJD; in Dubai it is Dubai Courts; in Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain it is the federal Ministry of Justice. We coordinate every step in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
What Does “MOJ Attestation” Mean in the UAE?
“MOJ attestation” is shorthand for authentication of a notarized or court-issued document by a judicial authority, a step that usually comes before UAE MOFA attestation or a UAE government process. Attestation here is different from notarization itself: notarization is where a notary public (or a digital judicial platform) certifies that a signature, declaration or copy is genuine; attestation/authentication is the later step that confirms that certification is valid, so a receiving authority can rely on it. The UAE government portal describes these as judicial attestation services delivered through Notary Public Departments in the courts, or through digital judicial platforms, to document and confirm people’s declarations and legal acknowledgments before official entities.
Who Handles Notary Attestation in Abu Dhabi?
In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) runs its own notary and attestation services, accessed through the TAMM Abu Dhabi platform or the ADJD app/website — not through the federal Ministry of Justice. ADJD’s English Notary Services Bureau, opened in 2023, lets documents be notarized in English without an Arabic translation, covering powers of attorney, board resolutions, memorandums of association and declarations, handled online by video for applicants from roughly 80 countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, Singapore, Spain, South Korea and Monaco (reach the English notary desk at englishnotary@adjd.gov.ae). ADJD has also launched what it describes as the region’s first fully automated Power of Attorney issuance service: applicants choose a pre-approved template, log in with UAE Pass, and receive a digitally certified POA in Arabic or English that can be verified instantly or cancelled at any time.
What About Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and the Rest of the UAE?
Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah each run their own local judicial department (ADJD, Dubai Courts and RAK Courts respectively). Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain do not have a separate local judicial authority — courts and prosecution in those emirates sit under the UAE’s federal judiciary, which the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) oversees at the federal level, alongside appointing judges and licensing lawyers, experts and legal translators. MOJ’s own site lists “Attestation of Official Deeds” as a live service under its Notary Public and Authentication category, confirming the federal attestation step still exists as a named MOJ service — we were not able to load the full page this update to confirm its current process, fees or turnaround, and recommend confirming directly with MOJ or with us before relying on a specific timeline. Dubai’s own notary and attestation route — Dubai Courts Notary Public and Dubai-licensed private notaries — is covered on our Notary Attestation in Dubai page.
Does a Notarized or Court Document Still Need UAE MOFA Attestation?
Usually, yes, once the document is headed outside the UAE. UAE MOFA’s own published rule for UAE-issued documents is that the issuing government entity attests first and MOFA attests next (with a UAE mission abroad added where relevant) — so for a notarized document, affidavit, POA or court paper, the judicial authority that issued or certified it (ADJD, Dubai Courts, RAK Courts, or the federal Ministry of Justice) is the first stop, and UAE MOFA attestation follows before the destination country’s own embassy or consulate in the UAE takes over, if a further step is needed there. One narrow step is already digital: MOFA and ADJD signed an agreement in October 2025 linking ADJD’s digital attestation to the TAMM platform, so a marriage contract notarized by ADJD can already be digitally attested by both ADJD and MOFA in one TAMM transaction, instantly, whether the applicant is inside the UAE or abroad. MOFA has said it plans to extend the same digital link to other ADJD-issued documents, though no date has been announced for documents beyond marriage contracts.
Power of Attorney Attestation in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
A power of attorney (POA) signed in the UAE, whether for use here or abroad, generally needs to be executed before a notary — in Abu Dhabi, through ADJD’s English Notary Bureau or its automated POA platform; in Dubai, through Dubai Courts or a Dubai-licensed private notary. A POA meant for use outside the UAE then follows the same attestation chain as any other notarized document: UAE MOFA attestation, then the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE if that country requires it. We also handle general and special powers of attorney as a dedicated service — see our General Power of Attorney and Special Power of Attorney pages for the document itself, and talk to us about attesting a POA you already hold.
Documents We Handle Under Notary & MOJ Attestation
- Powers of attorney (general and special)
- Affidavits, declarations and sworn statements
- Board resolutions, memorandums and articles of association
- Commercial contracts and agreements notarized before a UAE court or notary
- Court judgments and other judicial documents that need MOFA attestation before use abroad
Our Notary & MOJ Attestation Process
- We confirm which judicial authority issued, or should notarize, your document — ADJD, Dubai Courts, RAK Courts, or the federal Ministry of Justice for Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain.
- We coordinate notarization or certification with that authority, in person or via its digital platform where available.
- We submit the notarized document for UAE MOFA attestation.
- If your destination country requires its own embassy or consulate legalization in the UAE, we handle that step too.
- You receive the fully attested document, ready for use abroad or with the UAE authority that requested it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does MOJ attestation mean in the UAE?
MOJ attestation refers to authentication of a notarized or court-issued document by the federal Ministry of Justice, confirming the document is genuine before it is attested by UAE MOFA for use abroad or accepted by another authority.
Is MOJ attestation the same as notarization?
No. Notarization is where a notary public or judicial platform certifies that a signature, declaration or copy is genuine. Attestation is the later step that authenticates that notarization so a receiving authority can rely on it.
Who notarizes documents in Abu Dhabi?
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) handles notarization in Abu Dhabi, through the TAMM Abu Dhabi platform, the ADJD app or website, and its English Notary Services Bureau for documents in English.
Does the Ministry of Justice handle notarization in Dubai?
No. Dubai has its own local judicial department, Dubai Courts, which handles notarization there. The federal Ministry of Justice’s role applies in Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, the emirates without a separate local judicial authority.
Can I notarize a power of attorney in English in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. ADJD’s English Notary Services Bureau notarizes documents including powers of attorney in English without requiring an Arabic translation, and the process can be completed online by video.
Does a notarized UAE document still need UAE MOFA attestation to be used abroad?
Generally yes. UAE MOFA’s rule for UAE-issued documents is that the issuing entity, such as the judicial authority that notarized the document, attests first, and MOFA attests next before the document is sent abroad.
Can I notarize and attest a UAE document from outside the UAE?
ADJD’s English Notary Bureau serves applicants from roughly 80 countries by video call without requiring physical presence in Abu Dhabi. Whether your specific document and purpose qualifies should be confirmed with us or ADJD directly.
Is there a digital shortcut for MOFA attestation of ADJD documents?
Yes, for marriage contracts. Since October 2025, MOFA and ADJD have linked digital attestation through TAMM, so a marriage contract notarized by ADJD can be digitally attested by both ADJD and MOFA in one step. MOFA has said this will extend to other ADJD documents, though no date has been announced.
What documents typically need notary attestation before MOFA?
Powers of attorney, affidavits and declarations, board resolutions and company documents (MOA/AOA), commercial contracts notarized before a UAE court, and court judgments or other judicial documents.
How long does notary and MOJ attestation take?
No official timeline is centrally published, and it varies by document, emirate and judicial authority. Contact us for a specific estimate for your document.
Sources and last reviewed: UAE government portal, structure of the UAE judicial system and Public Attestation Services; UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MoFA-ADJD digital attestation integration announcement (20 October 2025); UAE Ministry of Justice, Attestation of Official Deeds service listing (moj.gov.ae); Gulf News reporting on ADJD’s English Notary Services Bureau and automated Power of Attorney service. Page last reviewed 10 November 2026.
Need a Notarized Document Attested in Abu Dhabi or Dubai?
We coordinate notarization, MOJ/ADJD attestation and UAE MOFA attestation for powers of attorney, affidavits, board resolutions and court documents, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.