Federal Decree by Law No. (20) of 2022 Regulating the Notary Profession
Federal Decree by Law No. (20) of 2022
This decree-law regulates public and private notaries in the UAE, including appointment and licensing, competence, authentication of instruments, verification of identity and capacity, records, professional duties, disciplinary rules, digital notarisation and implementing regulations.
Overview
What this legislation covers
This decree-law regulates public and private notaries in the UAE, including appointment and licensing, competence, authentication of instruments, verification of identity and capacity, records, professional duties, disciplinary rules, digital notarisation and implementing regulations.
Who or what it applies to
- Public notaries.
- Private notaries and persons seeking private-notary licensing.
- Persons and companies seeking notarisation, authentication or notarial certification.
- Judicial and governmental authorities supervising the profession.
Key points
Important points at a glance
Regulates both public and private notaries under the federal framework.
Defines notarial competence and the acts/documents that may be notarised or authenticated.
Requires verification of identity, capacity and the legality of the transaction before completion of notarial acts.
Provides rules for private-notary licensing and professional duties.
Regulates records, registers and preservation of notarial instruments.
Supports use of electronic and digital procedures within the applicable legal framework.
Cabinet Resolution No. (16) of 2024 provides the executive regulations.
Cabinet Resolution No. (19) of 2024 concerns fees for public-notary transactions and private-notary fees.
Cabinet Resolution No. (146) of 2025 is identified on the official portal as the administrative-penalties schedule.
Article 58 provides for commencement three months after Official Gazette publication.
The decree-law was issued on 26 September 2022.
Practical explanation
Understanding the law
Purpose and legislative background
The law standardises notarial practice, strengthens document reliability and allows regulated public and private notarial services to operate within a modern digital-capable framework.
The law remains the principal federal notary-profession framework. Key related instruments identified by the official portal are Cabinet Resolution No. (16) of 2024, No. (19) of 2024 and No. (146) of 2025.
Scope and who it applies to
- Public notaries.
- Private notaries and persons seeking private-notary licensing.
- Persons and companies seeking notarisation, authentication or notarial certification.
- Judicial and governmental authorities supervising the profession.
Key definitions
- Public Notary: a notary appointed in the public judicial/notarial system.
- Private Notary: a licensed private practitioner authorised to perform notarial acts within the statutory scope.
- Notarial act: an authentication, certification, declaration, oath or related act falling within the notary's legal competence.
Main rights and obligations
- A notary must verify the identity and legal capacity/authority of parties.
- A notary must refuse an act that is prohibited or outside legal competence.
- Private notaries must comply with licensing and professional-regulation requirements.
- Notarial records and documents must be preserved in the manner required by law and the executive regulation.
Procedures and compliance
- Identify whether the document/transaction falls within notarial competence.
- Prepare identity, authority and supporting documents.
- Complete any required legal review and appearance/remote verification.
- Execute and register the notarial act through the approved system.
- Pay applicable fees and obtain the certified document/copy.
Deadlines and time limits
- Issued date: 26 September 2022.
- Effective date recorded: 28 December 2022.
- Document-specific validity or filing periods arise from the underlying transaction and implementing rules, not from a single general notary deadline.
Enforcement, violations and penalties
The law contains disciplinary and other enforcement provisions. The official portal also lists Cabinet Resolution No. (146) of 2025 as the administrative-penalties schedule for violations of the decree-law and its executive regulation.
Important distinction: Penalties and enforcement powers must be taken from the enacted article and any current implementing resolution. Practical commentary in this file explains the framework but does not create additional duties or sanctions.
Practical scenarios
- A company signing a power of attorney should verify the signatory's corporate authority before the notarial appointment.
- A private notary offering remote services should confirm current digital identity and technology requirements.
- A document containing a prohibited clause may be refused even if all parties consent.
- A person relying on a copy should obtain an officially certified copy from the authorised notarial system where required.
Amendments and related legislation
The law remains the principal federal notary-profession framework. Key related instruments identified by the official portal are Cabinet Resolution No. (16) of 2024, No. (19) of 2024 and No. (146) of 2025.
What businesses and individuals should check
- Notarisation does not cure an underlying transaction that is prohibited or fails a mandatory legal condition.
- Private notaries must comply with licensing, premises, systems and professional-insurance requirements in the current executive regulation.
- Check current accepted digital-notarisation methods and identity-verification requirements before arranging remote execution.
- Fees should be checked against Cabinet Resolution No. (19) of 2024 and current local/federal practice.
- Confirm the current version of the principal law and any implementing resolutions on the date the issue arises.
- Check whether a federal, local-Emirate or financial/free-zone rule changes the applicable regulatory perimeter.
- Keep the official source reference used for any compliance or procedural decision.
When legal advice may be useful
Professional interpretation may be useful where the applicable legal regime is disputed, a licensing or jurisdictional boundary is unclear, a transitional rule affects an existing right, a procedural deadline may expire, or a penalty/enforcement measure is possible.
Information status
Research checked on 2026-08-31. This page is general legal information and should be re-verified against the official UAE source before use in a transaction, proceeding or compliance decision.
Practical notes
- Notarisation does not cure an underlying transaction that is prohibited or fails a mandatory legal condition.
- Private notaries must comply with licensing, premises, systems and professional-insurance requirements in the current executive regulation.
- Check current accepted digital-notarisation methods and identity-verification requirements before arranging remote execution.
- Fees should be checked against Cabinet Resolution No. (19) of 2024 and current local/federal practice.
Legislation text
Text and provisions
Official-text notice. This file is a structured English rendering prepared from the UAE Legislation portal and the official sources listed in the package. It is not represented as the legally controlling Arabic text. For interpretation and application, consult the original Arabic text and the latest Official Gazette / official UAE legislation source.
Federal Decree by Law No. (20) of 2022 Regulating the Notary Profession
Verified legislative metadata
| Instrument | Federal Decree by Law No. (20) of 2022 |
|---|---|
| Issued date | 2022-09-26 |
| Effective date | 2022-12-28 |
| Status | Active / in force |
| Official source | UAE Legislation |
Structured rendering of the legislation
General provisions and competent authorities
The decree-law defines the notary profession and sets the framework for Ministry/judicial supervision.
Public notary
The statute governs appointment, competence and duties of public notaries.
Private notary
The law establishes the licensing and professional framework for private notaries, including conditions, duties and supervision.
Notarial acts and documents
The notary verifies identity, capacity, authority and legality before carrying out the notarial act, and the law regulates documents that may or may not be notarised.
Records, copies and electronic processes
The decree-law provides for official records, copies, document custody and use of approved electronic procedures.
Discipline and liability
The law provides disciplinary mechanisms and consequences for professional violations.
Executive regulation and fees
Cabinet Resolution No. (16) of 2024 supplies executive detail, while Cabinet Resolution No. (19) of 2024 addresses fees.
Article 58 — Publication and entry into force
The decree-law was issued on 26 September 2022 and provides for entry into force three months after publication. The package records the verified commencement date as 28 December 2022.
Key points confirmed during research
- Regulates both public and private notaries under the federal framework.
- Defines notarial competence and the acts/documents that may be notarised or authenticated.
- Requires verification of identity, capacity and the legality of the transaction before completion of notarial acts.
- Provides rules for private-notary licensing and professional duties.
- Regulates records, registers and preservation of notarial instruments.
- Supports use of electronic and digital procedures within the applicable legal framework.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (16) of 2024 provides the executive regulations.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (19) of 2024 concerns fees for public-notary transactions and private-notary fees.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (146) of 2025 is identified on the official portal as the administrative-penalties schedule.
- Article 58 provides for commencement three months after Official Gazette publication.
- The decree-law was issued on 26 September 2022.
Source hierarchy
Where the principal decree-law delegates detail to an executive regulation, Cabinet resolution, Ministry/regulator decision or judicial-authority rule, that implementing instrument should be read together with the principal law. A later amendment or replacement instrument prevails to the extent provided by law.
Verification
Official source & references
Official legislation sourcehttps://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563Open ↗Official Gazette: Official Gazette No. 736
This page is a research and educational resource. Legislation can be amended, repealed, supplemented by regulations or interpreted by courts and authorities. Obtain advice before relying on it for a live matter.