A Practical Guide To Notarisation At The ADGM Notary Public Service

The ADGM Notary Public service provides a fully digital notarisation process for individuals and companies connected to Abu Dhabi. Below is a detailed guide covering eligibility, requirements, the step-by-step process, signing authority, powers of attorney, and the types of documents that fall outside the service’s jurisdiction.

Who Can Use the ADGM Notary Public Service?

The service is available to individuals residing in the UAE and companies registered within ADGM, as well as companies registered outside ADGM but within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The notarisation must relate to the operations of the entity or individual in question.

A Dubai-based company, for example, cannot use the ADGM Notary Public for documents relating to its own Dubai operations.

The entire process is fully digital. There is no need to visit an office in person. Requests are submitted through the ADGM e-Courts Platform, appointments are conducted via videoconference, and notarised documents are delivered electronically.

Requirements for Notarisation

All documents submitted for notarisation must meet the following criteria:

• The document must be in bilingual format — Arabic and English — certified by a legal translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice.
• The document must include the full personal details of the authorised signatory, including name, nationality, Emirates ID or passport number, and capacity, as well as the company’s details as stated on its commercial licence.
• All signatures must be handwritten on every page. DocuSign and electronic signatures are not accepted.

Supporting Documents

Depending on whether the applicant is an ADGM registered entity, a non-ADGM Abu Dhabi entity, or an individual, different supporting documents are required.

These typically include the commercial licence, articles of association, company extract or certificate of incumbency translated into Arabic, and Emirates ID or passport copies of the authorised signatory.

How the Process Works

All requests are submitted digitally through the ADGM e-Courts Platform. The process follows these steps:

1. Submit your request through the ADGM e-Courts Platform.
2. Pay the filing fee prior to scheduling the appointment.
3. The authorised signatory attends a videoconference appointment with the Notary Public with their original identification documents available.
4. Pay the notarisation fee after the appointment.
5. Receive the notarised documents electronically.

Who Can Sign on Behalf of a Company?

Simply appearing on a commercial licence as an authorised signatory is not enough to authorise a person to sign notarisation documents on behalf of a company.

A person may sign on behalf of a company only if they are a shareholder or director granted this authority under the ADGM Companies Regulations 2020, or if they hold a valid power of attorney or a shareholders’/board of directors’ resolution granting them that power.

This authority document must itself be either notarised by a notary public or, for ADGM entities, certified by the ADGM Registration Authority through a notary pack.

If the company has more than one shareholder or director, no single person can act alone unless they hold such an authority document. The alternative is for all shareholders or directors to sign the documents together.

All authorised signatories involved in a single notarisation must attend the same videoconference appointment — they cannot attend on separate occasions.

Powers of Attorney — Key Rules to Know

Powers of attorney are among the most commonly notarised documents at ADGM. The following rules apply:

Duration

For use within the UAE, a power of attorney may be notarised for a maximum of three years, or five years if granted in favour of a lawyer for the purpose of legal representation before UAE courts.

An indefinite power of attorney cannot be notarised for use within the UAE. This restriction does not apply to powers of attorney intended for use outside the UAE.

Scope

ADGM entities can draw a power of attorney in relation to assets or entities they own in Abu Dhabi outside ADGM, provided ownership documents are included. Where ownership is partial, the power of attorney must specify the relevant shares and percentage held.

Individuals and companies based outside ADGM but within Abu Dhabi may also draw a power of attorney in favour of an ADGM registered company.

Specialist Types

Different categories of power of attorney — including those relating to litigation, real property, vehicles, shares, inheritance, subsidiaries, and revocation — each require specific supporting documents.

For instance, a litigation power of attorney requires a copy of the lawyer’s licence issued by the UAE Ministry of Justice, while a property-related power of attorney requires the relevant title deed.

What Cannot Be Notarised by the ADGM Notary Public?

The following documents fall outside the jurisdiction of the ADGM Notary Public and cannot be notarised through this office:

• Bank statements — authentication falls under the authority of the relevant bank.
• Passport copies — these fall under the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship for UAE nationals, or the relevant home country authority for non-UAE nationals.
• Constitutional documents issued by the ADGM Registration Authority, such as commercial licences, certificates of registration, or certificates of incumbency — these are authenticated by the Registration Authority itself.
• Articles of association of Abu Dhabi companies registered outside ADGM — these fall under the competency of authorities such as the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
• Documents already attested or certified by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another Notary Public — re-notarisation is prohibited under Abu Dhabi Law No. 11 of 2017.
• Sale, purchase, or lease agreements for real property — these are handled by the ADGM Registration Authority or Abu Dhabi Municipality.
• Affidavits made under oath — the ADGM Notary Public can notarise affidavits containing a statement of affirmation, but affidavits made under oath must be directed to the ADJD Notary Public.

How We Can Help

As registered lawyers with the ADGM Courts Notary and Wills Office, we handle notarisation and Will registration matters regularly. We can:

• Review your documents and company structure.
• Advise on the correct authorisation.
• Prepare and submit your request.
• Represent you through the entire process from start to finish.