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How to Get an Affidavit in Dubai, Step by Step
An affidavit in Dubai is a written statement of facts that you sign in front of a notary public, who checks your identity and witnesses your signature so the document can be relied on by a court, an authority or an embassy. Our in-house notary public does this at our Business Bay office, online, or on a home visit. Most people need one for a specific reason: sponsoring a relative, confirming their marital status, proving where they live, or backing up a claim they cannot otherwise document. This page walks through what an affidavit is, the types people ask for most, and the steps from drafting to notarisation and, if the document is going abroad, attestation.
Quick answer
At a glance
- An affidavit is a sworn statement, signed before a notary public, who checks the signer’s ID and witnesses the signature.
- Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated federally by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, and in Dubai by Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013.
- The federal fee schedule sets executing and notarising an affidavit at AED 300 (Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024, in force from 16 March 2024). A private notary in Dubai adds professional fees on top, set separately.
- The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an affidavit for use abroad follows the attestation chain (notary, then MOFAIC, then the destination country’s requirements), not an apostille.
- Some affidavits are only executed at your own embassy or consulate, not at a UAE notary; check before you book an appointment.
- The signer, called the affiant or deponent, must usually attend in person with original ID.
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What we cover under affidavits and declarations
Need an affidavit in Dubai? See the common types, what to bring and how the notary step works. We prepare, translate and book notarisation for you.
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Our notary services in Dubai cover the full affidavit process: drafting, translation, notarisation by our in-house notary public and taking care of the attestation step that follows.
If you already know which type you need, jump straight to its page: affidavit of support, affidavit of the same person, affidavit of single status, declaration of residency or declaration of unemployment.
What an affidavit is, and when you need one
An affidavit is a statement of facts that you swear or affirm is true, then sign in front of a notary public. It is different from a normal letter because signing it under oath carries legal weight: authorities can act on it as though it had been tested in court, and knowingly putting false information in it is a serious matter.
People in Dubai most often need an affidavit for:
- Immigration and visa support, such as an affidavit of support for a family member’s visa application.
- Confirming identity across documents, when your name is spelled differently on two official papers and an affidavit of the same person links them.
- Marital status, when a foreign authority or a UAE process needs an affidavit of single status.
- Residency and employment status, through a declaration of residency or a declaration of unemployment.
- Sworn statements for court or a foreign process, where you are asked for a “sworn affidavit” rather than a plain letter.
Common affidavit and declaration types
| Type | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Affidavit of support | Sponsoring a family member’s visa or immigration application |
| Affidavit of the same person | Linking two documents where your name appears differently |
| Affidavit of single status | Confirming you are not married, for marriage or immigration processes |
| Declaration of residency | Proving where you live for a foreign authority or institution |
| Declaration of unemployment | Confirming you are not currently employed, for visa or benefits purposes |
| Statutory declaration of a common law union | Confirming a long-term relationship where no marriage certificate exists |
Each of these is a distinct document with its own wording and, often, its own supporting evidence. Naming the wrong one to the notary or the receiving authority is one of the most common reasons a document gets sent back for correction.
Step by step: how to get an affidavit in Dubai
- Work out exactly what the receiving authority wants. Ask for the specific wording, whether it must be in Arabic or can be bilingual, and whether they need it notarised, attested, or both. This one question avoids most rejections.
- Draft the affidavit. We prepare the wording in plain, accurate language: your details, the facts you are swearing to, and the formal declaration of truth. If the document is going to a UAE authority, it is usually drafted in Arabic or bilingual Arabic-English.
- Translate it if needed. If your affidavit needs to be understood in two languages, the Arabic side is done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, not a general translation service.
- Attend the notary appointment. You sign the affidavit in front of the notary public, who checks your ID and witnesses the signature. With us, that is our in-house notary public, and we confirm what to bring.
- Pay the notary fee. The federal schedule sets AED 300 for executing and notarising an affidavit. A private notary in Dubai charges this plus its own professional fee, set under a separate Dubai Courts decision.
- Get it attested, if the document is going abroad. After notarisation, the affidavit goes to MOFAIC for attestation, then may need attestation at the destination country’s embassy in the UAE or, once it arrives, at that country’s foreign ministry. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so no apostille stamp exists for a UAE-issued document; the attestation chain above is what a foreign authority expects to see.
This chain sounds like more steps than it is. Each stage has its own office and its own queue, so knowing the order in advance, notary first, then MOFAIC, then the destination embassy if one is needed, saves a wasted trip.
Documents to bring, and who must attend
- Your original passport and, if you are a resident, your Emirates ID.
- Any supporting document the affidavit refers to (a marriage certificate, a tenancy contract, a salary certificate, whatever backs up the facts you are swearing to).
- The unsigned draft affidavit, if you have already prepared one, or the exact wording the receiving authority requires.
The affiant, meaning the person making the sworn statement, normally has to attend the notary appointment in person so the notary can confirm their identity and witness the signature. If you are outside the UAE, ask about the Ministry of Justice’s E-Notary system or a virtual notary appointment rather than assuming you must travel.
Affidavits for use inside the UAE vs affidavits for use abroad
An affidavit that stays inside the UAE, for example one submitted to a Dubai bank or a local authority, generally only needs notarisation. An affidavit going to a foreign court, embassy or immigration office usually needs the extra attestation step described above, and the destination country decides what it will accept, not an apostille, because the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention.
Some destinations run their own consular process instead of a UAE notary appointment. A common example is the sponsor affidavit some Philippine visa applications require: it is executed at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate itself, not at a Dubai notary. Always check the receiving authority’s exact instructions before booking, because a UAE notary cannot substitute for a document your own embassy has to issue. Our affidavit of support page sets out which route applies to which nationality.
Common mistakes that get an affidavit rejected
- Signing the affidavit before the notary appointment. The notary has to witness the signature, so sign in front of them, not before.
- Assuming any affidavit can be apostilled. It cannot, because the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention; it only offers the attestation chain described above.
- Using a translation that is not from a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice, when the receiving authority needs an official translation.
- Getting the wrong type of affidavit. “Affidavit of support” and “affidavit of the same person” are not interchangeable; check the exact document name the authority asked for.
- Missing a required original document at the appointment, which means rebooking.
Get help with your affidavit
Call or WhatsApp us on +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and tell us which authority is asking for the affidavit. We will confirm the wording, language and documents you need before you book an appointment. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
How we help
How we help
There are three ways to get it notarised with us: in person at our Business Bay office with our in-house notary public, through our online notary public services, or on a home visit. We prepare and draft your affidavit in the correct wording and language, translate it where a legal translation is required, and tell you exactly what to bring. Our in-house notary public checks your ID, witnesses your signature and applies the seal. Where the affidavit needs to travel further, we take care of the MOFAIC attestation step and explain what the destination country will also ask for. You still sign the document yourself, in front of the notary, because that is what makes it a valid sworn statement.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I get an affidavit in Dubai?
You have it drafted in the correct wording and language, then sign it in person before a notary public, who checks your ID and witnesses the signature. If the document is going abroad, it then goes through MOFAIC attestation.
Does an affidavit have to be notarised?
Yes. An affidavit only has legal weight once it has been sworn and signed in front of a notary public, who confirms the signer’s identity and witnesses the signature.
How much does an affidavit cost in Dubai?
The federal schedule sets executing and notarising an affidavit at AED 300. A private notary in Dubai adds its own professional fee on top, under a separate Dubai Courts fee decision.
Where can I get my affidavit notarised?
At our Business Bay office with our in-house notary public, online, or on a home visit. It can also be done at a Government notary public office under Dubai Courts, or at a private notary, which is a lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts to carry out the work of a notary. See our page on notary public services in Dubai for how the two compare.
Can I apply for an affidavit online?
Some affidavits can be started or completed remotely through the Ministry of Justice’s E-Notary system or a virtual notary appointment, but this depends on the document and your situation.
What is an affidavit of residency?
A declaration of residency confirms where you live in the UAE for a foreign authority, employer or institution that needs proof of your address. See our declaration of residency page for the full requirements.
Does an affidavit need to be in Arabic?
UAE notarial documents are generally drafted in Arabic, with bilingual Arabic-English versions common in practice.
Where can I get an affidavit form?
The wording depends on what you are swearing to and who is asking for it, so there is no single universal form. We draft the affidavit to match the exact requirement the receiving authority has given you.
More answers, grouped by topic, are on our questions and answers page.
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Talk to us about your document
Call or WhatsApp +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and tell us what document you have and where it needs to be used. We are at Empire Heights Tower B, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai.