# Declaration of Unemployment in the UAE > Need to show you are not working? What a UAE declaration of unemployment says, who asks for it, and how our in-house notary public notarises it. Source: https://notaryservicesdubai.com/declaration-of-unemployment-in-uae/ Last updated: 29 September 2026 Publisher: Notary Services Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai (+971 54 380 1094) A declaration of unemployment in the UAE is a signed statement confirming that you are not currently employed, used when an embassy, visa process or family sponsorship case needs formal proof of your unemployment status. You sign it in front of a notary public, who checks your ID and witnesses the signature before it can be relied on by the authority requesting it. Our in-house notary public does this at our Business Bay office, online, or on a home visit. This is different from a salary certificate or a labour ministry record. It is your own sworn statement, and it stands or falls on being accurate: it should never say more, or less, than your actual situation. Quick answer ## At a glance - A declaration of unemployment is your own signed statement, not a government unemployment record. - It is notarised before a notary public in Dubai. - Embassies, visa applications and family sponsorship cases are the most common reasons to need one. - Arabic translation is usually required if the receiving authority in the UAE needs it in Arabic. - If it is going abroad, MOFAIC attestation follows notarisation. ## What the declaration is and who asks for it A declaration of unemployment states, in your own words and under your own signature, that you are not currently employed. It commonly gets requested by: - **Embassies and consulates** , as part of a visa application where the applicant needs to show they have no current job, for example a dependent or spousal visa abroad. - **Family sponsors** , who may need to confirm the unemployment status of the person they are sponsoring. - **Visa applications in the UAE or elsewhere** , where the reviewing authority wants a formal, signed confirmation rather than a verbal statement. - **Schools, banks or courts** , in specific cases where a person's employment status affects an application or a case. If you have recently resigned or your employment was cancelled, keep any final settlement or cancellation paperwork; it can support the declaration even though it is not required to draft it. ## What it should state, with a sample layout Keep the declaration factual and specific. A typical layout includes: 1. Your full name, nationality and Emirates ID or passport number. 2. A clear statement that you are not currently employed, and since when if that is relevant to the request. 3. The purpose of the declaration, for example "for submission to [embassy/authority name]". 4. The date, place and your signature, followed by the notary's attestation. Sample wording: "I, [full name], holder of passport number [number] / Emirates ID number [number], hereby declare that I am not currently employed in the United Arab Emirates or elsewhere. This declaration is made for the purpose of [purpose] and its contents are accurate and complete." Avoid vague phrasing like "not working much" or claims about income you cannot support. A declaration that overstates or understates your situation can be rejected by the authority reviewing it, or cause problems later if your circumstances are checked. ## Who signs and what ID to bring You sign the declaration yourself, as the declarant. Bring: - **Original Emirates ID** , for the notary to verify your identity. - **Passport** , with the residence visa page if you hold a UAE residence visa. - Any cancellation letter, final settlement or resignation letter, if you have one and the request calls for supporting evidence. - If you are under 18, a parent or guardian normally needs to be present as well. ## Notarisation in Dubai and attestation if it goes abroad You sign the declaration in front of a notary public in Dubai, who checks your identification and witnesses your signature. That step is what gives the declaration standing as a notarised document rather than a private letter. If the declaration needs to be used outside the UAE, for example by an embassy or a foreign visa authority, it will usually need MOFAIC attestation after notarisation. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so there is no apostille for this document: it follows the standard legalisation route through MOFAIC and, where the destination requires it, that country's embassy in the UAE. ## Arabic translation where needed Some UAE authorities and courts require documents in Arabic. If your declaration of unemployment needs to be submitted in Arabic, the translation must be done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, not a general translation service. We can arrange this alongside the drafting and notarisation so the English and Arabic versions match. 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 draft the declaration of unemployment to state your situation accurately and check the wording against what the requesting authority needs. At the appointment, you sign in front of our in-house notary public, who checks your ID and applies the seal. Where the document is going abroad, we take care of the MOFAIC attestation, and we arrange registered legal translation into Arabic where it is required. FAQ ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a declaration of unemployment? It is a signed, notarised statement in which you confirm that you are not currently employed, used to support visa, embassy or family sponsorship applications. ### Where can I get a declaration of unemployment in the UAE? It is drafted to fit your situation and then signed and notarised in front of a notary public in Dubai. Bring your Emirates ID and passport to the appointment. ### How do I write a declaration of unemployment? State your full name and ID details, a clear and accurate statement that you are not employed, the purpose of the declaration, and sign it in front of the notary who witnesses it. ### Who asks for a declaration of unemployment? Embassies, visa authorities and family sponsors most commonly ask for one, usually as supporting evidence for a dependent, spousal or sponsorship application. ### Does a declaration of unemployment need to be notarised? Yes. It is signed before a notary public in Dubai, who verifies your identity and witnesses the signature, which is what makes it acceptable to the authority requesting it. ### Is there a sample declaration of unemployment? Yes, the layout above shows the structure most authorities expect. We adjust the exact wording to match what your embassy or visa process specifically asks for. More answers, grouped by topic, are on our [questions and answers page](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/faq/). Keep reading ## Related services Services ### [Affidavits and declarations](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-in-dubai-how-to-get-affidavit-in-dubai/) 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. Read more Affidavits and declarations ### [Affidavit of support](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-of-support-in-the-uae/) What an affidavit of support is, the documents you need, and how it works in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We prepare, translate and book notarisation for you. Read more Affidavits and declarations ### [Affidavit of same person](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-of-same-person/) Names spelled differently on your documents? How an affidavit of one and the same person works, what to bring, and how we prepare it in Dubai. Read more More in affidavits and declarations - [Affidavit of single status](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-of-single-status/) - [Common law union declaration](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/statuary-declaration-of-common-law-union/) - [Declaration of residency](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/declaration-of-residency-uae/) - [Gift deed](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/gift-deed-in-dubai/) - [Acknowledgement of debt](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/acknowledgment-of-debt/) - [Acknowledgement of cash receipt](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/acknowledgment-of-cash-receipt/) - [Wills](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/wills-in-uae-secure-your-legacy-in-the-emirates/) - [Commissioner of oaths](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/commissioner-of-oaths-in-dubai/) - [Power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-in-dubai/) Reviews ## What clients say Read what people we have helped say about us on our Google profile, or read [about Notary Services Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/about-notary-services-in-dubai/). About this page Prepared by the Notary Services Dubai team in Business Bay, Dubai. Last reviewed . ### Official sources we checked (4) - Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession: [https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563) - Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai (Dubai Legislation portal, dlp.dubai.gov.ae) - MOFAIC attestation service: [https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation) - HCCH Apostille Convention status table (UAE is not a party): [https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41) Get started ## Next step Call or WhatsApp +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and we will confirm the wording your declaration of unemployment needs before your notary appointment. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7. For the underlying document category, see our [affidavit in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-in-dubai-how-to-get-affidavit-in-dubai/) guide. If your case also needs confirmation of your address, see our [declaration of residency](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/declaration-of-residency-uae/) page, or for financial sponsorship support see our [affidavit of support](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-of-support-in-the-uae/) page. Some visa processes also ask for the declaration to be sworn before a [commissioner of oaths in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/commissioner-of-oaths-in-dubai/).