A person signing a contract with a pen
Attestation

Signature verification and attestation

Signature verification confirms that a signature on a letter, declaration or power of attorney (POA) belongs to the person named and was made in the capacity stated. We work out which office must verify it, prepare the document and handle the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation that often follows.

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Overview

What signature verification involves

When you sign a document that someone else will rely on, they need to know the signature is yours and that you had the right to sign. A notary public, or another office entitled to confirm it, checks your identity, sees you sign or confirms your signature, and records that on the document. Attestation can then build on that confirmation.

Inside the UAE, this is notary work. Dubai has notaries in the courts' notary public departments and private notaries listed on the official roll, and a number of their services run online with a video identity check. In many other countries a local notary does the same job, before the foreign ministry, the UAE embassy and MOFA complete the chain.

We don't sign, witness or notarise anything ourselves. We make sure the document is ready for the person who will, then handle the attestation steps around it.

Who it's for

When a signature needs attestation

  • 01

    Powers of attorney

    When you appoint someone to act for you on property, company, bank or government matters, in the UAE or abroad.

  • 02

    Declarations and undertakings

    Sworn statements, consent letters and no-objection letters that an authority or embassy will rely on.

  • 03

    Company letters going abroad

    Experience letters, salary certificates and authorisation letters signed by a UAE company for use in another country.

  • 04

    Agreements signed in one country and used in another

    Contracts whose signatures must be accepted by a foreign authority, or by a UAE body if signed overseas.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • Working out which office must verify the signature for your purpose
  • Typing the POA, declaration or letter in Arabic and English on your instructions
  • Preparing the identity documents and supporting papers the notary will ask for
  • Helping you book a notary appointment, in person or remote where available
  • MOFA submission and follow-up once the signature is verified
  • Legal translation where the receiving office needs Arabic or another language

Not included

  • We don't advise on what powers to grant or what a declaration should say
  • We don't witness, verify or notarise signatures ourselves
  • We can't have a signature verified without the signer taking part
  • We don't represent you before courts or authorities
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • The document in its final wording, or the signed original if it was signed abroad
  • The signer's passport, and Emirates ID if a UAE resident
  • For company signers: the trade license and proof of their authority to sign
  • For a POA: a passport copy of the person receiving the powers
  • The receiving office's requirements, if it has given any in writing

Notaries may ask for extra items depending on the document type, which we confirm before your appointment.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Notary fees are fixed under Dubai's notary rules and paid at cost. A document that goes on to MOFA costs AED 150 if it is personal and AED 2,000 if it is commercial, with embassy and translation charges on top. We show each government fee separately from our own, which is quoted in writing first.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    A UAE notary step can often be completed in one appointment once the document is ready. Steps abroad and any follow-on attestation take longer, so we give you a realistic order of steps at the start.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Tell us what the document is for

    You

    Explain who will receive the document and where it will be used, and send the draft or the signed original.

  2. Step 2: Prepare the document

    Global Sky PRO

    We type or format the document on your instructions, in Arabic and English if needed, and gather the supporting papers.

  3. Step 3: Sign before the notary

    You

    You attend the notary, or join a remote session, with your identity documents. The notary checks who you are before you sign.

  4. Step 4: Signature verified

    Authority

    The notary public, or the competent office abroad, records the verification on the document.

  5. Step 5: MOFA attestation

    Authority

    Where the document is going abroad, or was signed abroad and has passed the home-country and embassy steps, MOFA attests it.

  6. Step 6: Translate and return

    Global Sky PRO

    We arrange translation if required and return the attested document to you or send it to the receiving office.

Good to know

Details that save time

Signing a power of attorney: points to settle first

A POA is only as useful as its wording. Before you sign, be clear on who you are appointing, what they may do and for how long. If you are unsure of the legal effect, speak to a licensed lawyer; we type and process the POA on your instructions but do not advise on its content.

  • Names must match passports exactly, in both languages
  • Each power should be described specifically enough for the receiving office
  • A company POA needs proof that the signer may grant it
  • A POA signed abroad for use in the UAE needs the full attestation chain and usually an Arabic translation

Common reasons a signature is rejected

Rejections usually come from preparation, not from the signature itself.

  • The document was signed before the appointment instead of in front of the notary
  • The signer's name or ID number differs from the passport
  • A company signatory cannot show authority to sign
  • The wording changed after verification, so the verified version no longer matches
FAQs

Signature verification: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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When does a signature need attestation?

When an office that did not see you sign needs to rely on your signature. Typical examples are powers of attorney, declarations, consent letters and company letters going abroad. Inside the UAE, a notary's verification is often enough; for use in another country, MOFA attestation and the destination's own steps usually follow. We confirm what your receiving office expects.

Who verifies signatures in the UAE?

Mainly notaries public. In Dubai these are government notaries in the courts' notary departments and private notaries registered on the official roll, and some services are offered remotely with a video identity check. Some documents are verified by the issuing organisation instead. Where the document is going abroad, MOFA then attests the verification.

Can I attest a signature on a POA?

Yes. A POA signed in the UAE is signed before a notary public, who verifies your identity and signature; if it will be used abroad, MOFA attestation and the destination country's steps follow. A POA signed abroad for UAE use goes through that country's notary and foreign ministry, the UAE embassy and MOFA, and usually needs an Arabic translation.

Do I have to be in the UAE to sign?

Not always. If you live abroad, you can sign before a notary in your country and send the document through that country's attestation chain to the UAE. Remote notary services in Dubai may also be an option, depending on the document and your circumstances. We help you choose the route that fits and prepare the paperwork for it.

How does Dubai Chambers verify a company signatory's signature?

Through its Signature Verification service, which confirms the signature of a Dubai Chambers authorised signatory on commercial documents, contracts and correspondence. It is open to Dubai Chamber of Commerce members through the online services portal or the Dubai Chambers app, and the document must be signed by that signatory. At the time of writing, the fee is AED 100, with AED 10 for each copy after the fifth in the same transaction, and processing takes two hours when all requirements are met.

Source: Dubai Chambers: Signature Verification

Is a signature attested by video in Dubai legally valid?

Yes, when it goes through a channel the law recognises. Dubai's notary law, Law No. 4 of 2013 as amended by Law No. 26 of 2021, allows notary work to be carried out digitally under rules set by the Director of the Courts, and treats those acts as valid and legally effective without the parties appearing in person. The office receiving your document still decides whether to accept it, so we check that before you book a remote session.

Source: Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. 26 of 2021 amending Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning notaries public

Is a POA attested by MOFA as a personal or a commercial document?

It depends on what the power of attorney (POA) is for. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) lists a POA of a personal nature among personal documents, attested for AED 150, and a POA of a commercial nature, as well as a general POA, among commercial documents, at AED 2,000. For signed letters, MOFA lists to-whom-it-may-concern letters among personal documents. We confirm the class before you pay, alongside any notary and translation charges.

Source: MOFA: document attestation FAQs

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Attestation is performed by the issuing authorities, the relevant embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We handle preparation, submission and collection. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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