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Certified True Copies in Dubai: How True Copy Attestation Works
Certified true copy attestation in Dubai is the process of getting an official confirmation, in writing on the copy itself, that a photocopy matches an original document exactly. At Notary Services Dubai, our in-house notary public certifies true copies at our Business Bay office or on a home visit. In general, a notary public, a private notary, or in some cases a lawyer or the body that issued the document checks the original against the copy, then signs, stamps and dates the copy to certify it. You need it whenever a bank, embassy, university or government office abroad will not accept your original document and wants a verified copy instead.
Quick answer
Quick answer
- A certified true copy is a photocopy marked, signed and stamped to confirm it is identical to the original.
- In the UAE, a notary public or private notary usually does this; in some cases a lawyer, the issuing authority, or your embassy can certify a copy instead.
- You need the original document and a valid ID (Emirates ID, passport or residence visa) for the appointment.
- There is no fixed legal expiry for a certified true copy. The organisation asking for it sets its own age limit.
- The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so there is no apostille option; a certified copy for use abroad usually needs MOFAIC attestation instead.
- Cost and turnaround depend on the document and how many copies you need.
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What we cover under certified true copies
Need a certified true copy in Dubai? Learn who can certify a copy, what to bring, and how we handle true copy attestation for you.
Certified true copies
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Notary Services Dubai provides notary attestation support for certified true copies across the UAE. We prepare your documents, certify them with our in-house notary public, and guide you through what each receiving country or organisation expects, so the copy you send is accepted the first time. This page is part of our full range of notary services in Dubai.
What a certified true copy is
A certified true copy is not just a photocopy. It carries a statement on its face, usually something close to “this is a true copy of the original document,” along with a signature, an official stamp or seal, and the date of certification. Some certifiers also add their name, licence or registration number, and the location where the check took place.
The certification is a statement about the copy, not about the content of the document. The notary or lawyer confirms that the copy matches the original page for page. They are not verifying that the underlying facts in the document are true, only that the piece of paper in front of them is an honest reproduction of the original.
This matters because a certified true copy lets you avoid sending an original document abroad. Passports, degree certificates and bank statements are expensive and slow to replace if lost in transit, so banks, universities, embassies and government departments accept a certified copy instead, provided it is properly marked.
Who can certify a copy in the UAE
More than one type of professional can certify a document as a true copy in the UAE, and which one you need depends on the document and where it is going.
- Notary public (Dubai Courts). The government notary public at Dubai Courts can certify documents as true copies as part of its notarial functions.
- Private notary. A private notary in Dubai is a lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts to act as a notary and carry out notarial acts, including certifying true copies, under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013.
- Lawyer. In some cases a practising lawyer can certify a copy of a document, separate from full notarial certification.
- The issuing authority. Some bodies, such as a university registrar or a government department, will certify a copy of their own certificate or record directly, and this is sometimes the only certification a receiver will accept.
- Your embassy or consulate. Some embassies certify true copies of documents for their own nationals, which can be useful if you need the certification to carry weight in your home country specifically.
With Notary Services Dubai, our in-house notary public certifies the copy, and we check first that notarial certification is what the receiver for your document accepts.
Documents we handle
We prepare and certify true copies for a wide range of everyday documents, each with its own requirements:
- Passport copy attestation, for visa applications, company setup and banking abroad
- Photo certification, where a photograph itself needs a notary’s confirmation
- Certified copy of a bank statement, commonly needed for visa and financial applications
- Proof of address certification, usually a DEWA bill, tenancy contract or bank letter
- Emirates ID copies
- Degree certificates, diplomas and academic transcripts
- Marriage and birth certificates
- Employment letters and experience certificates
- Driving licences
Each document type can have its own rules about which authority accepts it and how old the certified copy can be. If yours is not listed here, tell us what it is for and we will confirm the right route.
Step by step: how we do it
- Tell us what you need. Contact us with the document type, how many certified copies you need, and where the copy is going, so we can confirm the right certifying authority.
- Bring the original and a photocopy. If you do not have a photocopy, we can prepare one for you.
- Bring valid ID. Emirates ID, passport or residence visa, matching the name on the document.
- Choose how to sign. At our Business Bay office or on a home visit; we handle the scheduling and guide you on what to bring.
- Our in-house notary public checks the original against the copy. They confirm the copy is accurate, then sign, stamp and date it.
- You receive the certified copy and the original. The original is handed back to you; the certified copy carries the notary’s stamp, signature and details.
- Further steps if needed. If the copy is going abroad, we guide you through MOFAIC attestation and any embassy legalisation the destination country requires.
Using the copy abroad
If your certified true copy is going to be used outside the UAE, certification by a notary is usually not the final step. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so there is no apostille option for a UAE-issued or UAE-certified document. Instead, documents follow the legalisation chain: certification or notarisation in the UAE, then attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC), and in some cases legalisation by the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE.
If the receiving country does not use English or Arabic, the certified copy may also need translation by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice before it is accepted. We can guide you through this step too, through our documents attestation in Dubai service.
Does a certified true copy expire
There is no general legal validity period written into UAE law for a certified true copy. The certification itself does not carry an expiry date. In practice, the organisation asking for the copy sets its own age limit, and some banks, embassies or universities will only accept a copy certified within a recent window before they ask for a fresh one.
Other emirates
Certified true copy attestation is not only a Dubai service. If you are based elsewhere in the UAE, see our pages on true copy attestation in Abu Dhabi and true copy attestation in Sharjah for the local process in each emirate. The core steps are the same everywhere: original document, valid ID, and certification by a notary, private notary, lawyer or the issuing authority, followed by MOFAIC attestation if the copy is going abroad.
Fees
Cost and timing
The fee a private notary can charge is set separately by Dubai Courts, and we confirm the current fee for your document when you book. For comparison, the federal schedule under Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 sets some notarial fees, such as AED 100 per party to execute or notarise a power of attorney, but this does not cover Dubai private notary pricing directly.
How we help
How we help
There are three ways to get it done with us: in person at our Business Bay office with our in-house notary public, on a home visit, or through our online notary public services for documents that qualify. We prepare your documents and photocopies and guide you through what the receiving bank, embassy or institution expects from the certified copy, so you know exactly what to bring and in what order. Our in-house notary public carries out the certification itself: checking your original, confirming your identity, and applying the stamp, signature and date. You keep your original document throughout and leave with both the original and the certified copy in hand.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a certified true copy?
A certified true copy is a photocopy of an original document that has been checked, signed, stamped and dated by a notary, private notary, lawyer or issuing authority to confirm it is an accurate copy of the original. It is used when a receiving organisation will not accept an original document or a plain, unverified photocopy.
Where can I get a certified true copy in Dubai?
You can get a certified true copy in Dubai from the notary public at Dubai Courts, from a licensed private notary, or in some cases from a lawyer or the body that issued the document. At Notary Services Dubai, our in-house notary public certifies copies at our Business Bay office or on a home visit.
Who can certify documents in the UAE?
A notary public, a private notary licensed by Dubai Courts, and in some cases a lawyer, the issuing authority, or your embassy can certify a document as a true copy, depending on the document type and where the copy is going.
Is a certified true copy the same as the original?
No. A certified true copy is a verified reproduction of the original, not the original itself. For most official purposes it is accepted as equivalent to the original because a qualified authority has confirmed it is an accurate copy, but the original document remains the only true original.
Does a certified true copy expire?
There is no fixed legal expiry for a certified true copy in UAE law. In practice, the receiving organisation decides how old a certified copy it is willing to accept, and some ask for a copy certified within a recent window.
How much does it cost to certify documents in Dubai?
The cost depends on the document type and the certifying authority. Dubai private notary fees are set separately by Dubai Courts, and we confirm the current fee when you book.
How do I certify a document in Dubai?
Bring the original document, a photocopy if you have one, and valid ID such as your Emirates ID or passport, to a notary public, private notary or authorised certifier. Contact us and we will set a time with our in-house notary public and guide you through what to bring.
Can you certify a copy of a certified copy?
Generally, certification is meant to be done against an original document, not against a copy of a copy. If you need multiple certified copies, it is usually simpler to have the notary certify several copies from the original in one appointment.
More answers, grouped by topic, are on our questions and answers page.
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Contact Notary Services Dubai to prepare your documents and have them certified by our in-house notary public. Call or WhatsApp us on +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com for a reply. Our office is at Empire Heights Tower B, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.