Several countries worldwide demand that papers be signed in front of and in the presence of attorneys or solicitors to confirm the legitimacy of the signer’s signature. When attempting to conduct a transaction outside the UAE, citizens of Dubai and the other Emirates are frequently confronted with this requirement. For any signatures to be witnessed, the attorneys or solicitors must let the signatory do so in their presence and then submit the required attestation to the witnessing of signatures. Additionally, the attorneys or solicitors offer a stamp attesting to their participation in the witnessing process. Typically, the person who has to be witnessed presents a valid passport or Emirates ID and signs the paper in an attorney’s presence.
The act of witnessing gives the concerned government agencies, embassies, banks, and third parties reassurance that the subject has signed the document themselves.
What is the Witness of Signature Attestation?
A lawyer witnesses the signatures on papers like statutory declarations, affidavits, and application forms. The witnessing includes the lawyer attesting that the signatory made the signature on the document in his presence and that the signatory’s identification was confirmed using a passport or other acceptable ID. Government agencies, embassies, banks, and other private organizations frequently need this witnessing to ensure that the document’s signer is who they say they are.
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Purpose of Witness of Signature Attestation
For any signatures to be witnessed, the attorneys or solicitors must let the signatory do so in their presence and then submit the required attestation to the witnessing of signatures. Additionally, the attorneys or solicitors offer a stamp attesting to their participation in the witnessing process. Typically, the person who has to be witnessed presents a valid passport or Emirates ID and signs the paper in an attorney’s presence.
Government agencies, embassies, banks, and other private organizations worldwide frequently need this witnessing to verify that the document’s signer did sign it.
What does the witness of signature attestation entail in Dubai and the UAE?
A lawyer can witness signatures by acting as a witness to the signing of a document. In the presence of a lawyer, the signatory displays a valid passport or other forms of identification and signs the document. The attorney confirms that the document’s signer did so in the presence of the attorney by signing and stamping the paper.
Witness of the document by Notary Public vs. Lawyers
- In the United Arab Emirates, public notaries often witness papers that are allowed by law. In some circumstances, the Notary public will not witness papers meant to be utilized outside the United Arab Emirates. Accordingly, these papers are witnessed by UAE attorneys following the demands of the government agency or embassy requesting the witnessing of signatures.
- The difference between a lawyer and a witness of a signature by a notary public in the United Arab Emirates may cause some misunderstanding. It is significant to remember that notary public are only allowed to witness or testify to a limited number of documents in Dubai and the rest of the UAE. The document in issue must also be translated into Arabic by legal translators officially licensed to conduct legal translation of documents in the UAE, even if it is one of the documents authorized to be signed before a notary public in Dubai and across the UAE. Examples of papers that can be signed before a notary public in Dubai and the rest of the UAE include powers of attorney, memoranda and articles of incorporation, and specific agreements like agency agreements.
- The notary public does not usually witness the signatures on papers outside the UAE. Statutory declarations, application forms, immigration paperwork, bank account applications, agreements for the sale or purchase of property, etc., may be among the documents. Lawyers in the UAE perform the witnessing for those papers.
Who requires a Witness of a Signature Attestation?
Any individual who submits a document that bears his signature to government agencies, embassies, banks, or other private organizations may be required to sign it before an attorney who should likewise sign the document as a witness. To confirm that the individual in issue signed the document, this type of signature verification is accepted worldwide.
The following papers are included in our clients’ requests for witnessing services:
- Immigration papers
- Enrollment forms for academic or professional institutes.
- Applications for creating a bank account.
- Purchase and selling of real estate.
- Filing paperwork with the courts.
Which legal papers are usually witnessed?
You can use our services to have the following papers attested:
- Declarations
- Affidavits
- Application Forms
- Letters
- Authorities of attorney
- Confirmations
Please get in touch with us so we can let you know whether we can still help you with the witnessing requirement if your document is not one of those mentioned above.
How may Notary Public Dubai assist you?
Notarization in the mainland United Arab Emirates is necessary to validate legal papers, corporate contracts, and constitutional documents. It is also crucial for licensing businesses and transmitting accurate Powers of Attorney to and from persons.
A Notary Public Dubai is qualified to witness the signature on legal papers and other vital records, confirm the identification of persons, ensure that they do so openly and correctly, and engage in agreements voluntarily and consciously. The Notary will verify that the agreements between people and businesses comply with UAE laws and regulations.
Hassan Humaid Al Suwaidi is a UAE Citizen and the founder of the firm HHS Lawyers. He has a vast experience of 20 years of dealing with high-value and complex notary requirements. Hassan has been involved in some of the largest legal settlements in the UAE and is commended for his ability to attain the most favourable outcomes for his clients.
