The fine imposed on the Abu Dhabi Private Notaries Fine garnered attention since the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) levied an AED 30,000 penalty on the private notary. The case emphasizes the UAE’s stance towards compliance within the notary profession, although AED 30,000 does not represent a prescriptive amount for each category of violations. Under UAE regulations, administrative fines will be imposed for different breaches of professionalism, and there may be disciplinary and/or legal action for particularly serious breaches. This guide outlines the new rules, penalties, compliance process, and enforcement procedure that are important to know for private notaries and clients in Abu Dhabi.
What Is a Private Notary in Abu Dhabi?
A private notary is a licensed professional who is authorized to act as a notary within the limitations and requirements set forth by the notarial profession. According to ADJD, a notary public is an individual who is approved or licensed by the Judicial Department to notarize customary documents. It has a public, private, and governmental system of notaries.
A private notary is a natural person registered in the competent department’s register who is authorized to carry out notarial duties in accordance with the law and its executive regulations. The federal legislation shall be in force in the UAE for notarial work, in accordance with the legislation of the local judicial authorities, if applicable.
A Private Notary can carry out various tasks such as notarising documents and contracts, administering oaths, notarising signatures, drafting and notarising affidavits, and dating and certifying private instruments, provided the law allows it.
Furthermore, ADJD specifies that not all documents can be automatically notarised. Documents cannot contain any elements that contradict the law or order, fall under the scope of another official, or be restricted under the notary’s restrictions.
Why Was an Abu Dhabi Private Notary Fined AED 30,000?
The Private Notary Affairs Committee of ADJD imposed an Administrative Fine of AED 30,000 on a private notary in April 2026 for not adhering to the laws, decisions,s and regulations of the private notary profession. No specific person was publicly named, nor was any detail of the underlying case given away in the announcement.
This is significant.
Abu Dhabi’s regulatory authorities are clearly seeking to enforce the professional requirements,s as evidenced by the reported AED 30,000 penalty. It has not, on the basis of the information it is possible to find publicly, made it a rule that AED 30,000 will be paid automatically when a private notary makes an error.
The existing federal administrative-penalty schedule has a number of fixed penalties, such as AED 5,000, AED 10,000, AED 15,000, AED 20,000, and AED 30,000 for specific offences.
The logical way to do this, therefore, is to first know the behavior, then know the legal rule, and then know the penalty.
What Law Governs Private Notaries?
The modern regulatory framework includes key elements.
Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022
The notary profession is regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022. It is an instrument to define the profession, establish the functions and duties of notaries, establish the conditions for the private practice of notaries, and lay out a disciplinary framework. The law came into effect in December 2022.
A private notary, for instance, is required to meet statutory conditions for a license, such as educational and professional requirements, good conduct, professional liability insurance, and required licensing procedures.
Cabinet Resolution No. 16 of 2024
Cabinet Resolution No. 16 of 2024 provides the executive regulations for Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022. According to the UAE Legislation portal, the resolution is active and will take effect on March 16, 2024.
The professional procedures are supplemented by executive regulations.
Cabinet Resolution No. 146 of 2025
The discussion about the administrative fines will be particularly relevant in the context of Cabinet Resolution No. 146 of 2025. It is the one that creates the list of administrative penalties for acts committed contrary to Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 and its executive rules. The resolution came into effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette on 31 October 2025.
The schedule provides for specific violations and administrative penalties.
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What Are the Current Administrative Fines for Private Notaries?
There is no one “standard” fine amount in the administrative penalty schedule. Rather, it correlates specific professional failures to specific amounts.
Some examples include:
| Violatio | Administrative fine |
| Failure to verify identity, legal capacity, status or consent | AED 20,000 |
| Failure to read the transaction and explain its legal effects, or record the explanation as required | AED 10,000 |
| Failure to follow procedures concerning persons with special circumstances | AED 15,000 |
| Failure to follow prescribed correction procedures for certain material errors | AED 5,000 |
| Failure to prepare, sign, seal or deliver required minutes | AED 10,000 |
| Issuing certain register certificates to unauthorised persons | AED 20,000 |
| Improper procedures involving affidavits made under oath | AED 20,000 |
| Notarising signatures without recording the notarisation in the register | AED 10,000 |
| Failure to maintain required registers | AED 20,000 |
| Certain prohibited notarisation activities | AED 30,000 |
| Certain conflicts of interest | AED 30,000 |
| Practising through an unlicensed office in specified circumstances | AED 5,000 |
| Practising before taking the required legal oath | AED 5,000 |
These are some examples of the items listed in the Schedule attached to Cabinet Resolution No.146 of 2025. They are not intended to be a complete list of violations and conditions, as there are more.
The bottom line is this: it will depend on the violation.
Is AED 30,000 the Standard Fine?
No. The prevailing regulations clearly list administrative penalties based on the violation. For instance, if some of the correction procedures are not followed, AED 5,000 will be imposed, while explaining the legal effects of a transaction is AED 10,000. The specified violations may lead to AED 30,000 if more serious.
This implies that websites or social media posts stating that AED 30,000 is automatically due for every professional error from a private notary can deceive readers.
In the case of April 2026, the amount of the fine was AED 30,000, but the level of detail in the publicly released announcement was not enough to conclude which of the provisions in the federal administrative schedule was the basis for this specific fine. From the public announcement, I’m not quite sure of the actual violation.
What Can Happen Beyond an Administrative Fine?
Under UAE notary law, a financial penalty is not the only possible punishment.
The competent committee may, in appropriate cases, in addition to or instead of the administrative stipulation provided for in this subparagraph, impose other penalties and sanctions, including a written warning, costs of remedying damage, and revocation of the licence. It also doubles the fine (with its conditions) for administrative fines issued for recidivism after one year.
Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 provides for a disciplinary regime of private notaries.
Disciplinary penalties
Disciplinary consequences may include: Article 40 of the federal law provides for:
- A warning
- Up to six months’ suspension of the licence.
- The revocation of the licence and permanent removal of the notary’s name from the register (private notary).
A disciplinary penalty is to be imposed only after the prescribed investigation and hearing process, pursuant to the law.
These disciplinary penalties should not be confused with the administrative fine schedule.
Criminal liability
In some egregious cases, the federal law may also provide for criminal sanctions. For instance, there are specific rules about what can and cannot be disclosed, and criminal penalties of between AED 30,000 and AED 100,000 in the circumstances as set out in law.
It is not, therefore, to be understood that every time an administrative fine is imposed, it is the maximum penalty available under the law.
Can a Private Notary Challenge a Penalty?
There are procedural protections for private notaries in the federal system, where they are subject to discipline.
Disciplinary procedures are carried out by the Public Prosecution before the Private Notary Disciplinary Board under the provisions of the disciplinary procedure in Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022. The notary shall be summoned, and the board may conduct the investigation. A private notary can make himself a part of the process, provide a written defense, or hire a lawyer.
The law also gives the right of appeal to the competent court of appeal within the period prescribed in the law against a disciplinary judgment. In the absence of a private notary, the period is from notification; in the presence of a private notary, the period is 30 days from the date of issuance.
There is also a grievance process for administrative penalties under Cabinet Resolution No. 146 of 2025. When applying for a notary penalty, it is important to consult the specific decision and the relevant statutes, as the process and time limits may vary depending on the nature of the decision.
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What Are the Most Important Compliance Areas?
Where it matters most, the penalty schedule tells you.
Identity and legal capacity
The notary is responsible for properly identifying and establishing the legal capacity, status, and consent of the parties involved. The administrative schedule provides a specific allocation of the AED 20,000 for failure to conduct this verification requirement.
This is a basic requirement, as notarisation provides a legal and official quality to the transaction or a document. When the person before the notary appears, it is important to verify that the person is correctly identified and able to perform the transaction.
Explaining the transaction
In cases governed by the law, the rules mandate that the transaction, and its legal consequences, be explained in an appropriate manner. Under the schedule, the failure to read and explain the transaction as required or to record the explanation properly is an administrative penalty of AED 10,000.
Record keeping
Accurate registers and document management are essential to notarial work. There are a number of sanctions in the penalty schedule for registers, certificates, minutes and retention of instruments or supporting documents.
This means that accuracy in recording is no longer an administrative process, but an integral part of the compliance obligations.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is another important professional responsibility. The federal law has criminal penalties for disclosure of professional secrets in circumstances covered by the relevant provision, and the administrative framework has penalties in relation to the confidentiality of electronic registers.
What Does the Fine Mean for Clients?
The regulatory action is primarily intended to remind clients that they must rely on the notarial service as they are required to do.
ADJD has an official list of all private and Government branches of Notaries in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The published list provides information on authorized offices and contact information to help users check the availability of private notary services.
Clients should also ensure that the document is complete, identities and supporting information are correct, and the transaction is within the legal scope of the notary’s powers.
Notarisation does not take the place of any separate requirements for approval or registration by another government authority for a document. According to ADJD, documents outside the scope of another entity’s competence could be beyond the scope of the notary’s permission.
How Does Abu Dhabi’s Notary Service Work?
Traditional and digital notarial transactions are offered by ADJD.
Applications may be made electronically, by a registered typing office, or via other authorised means depending on the transaction, as per ADJD’s FAQ. Once the application is submitted, it will be reviewed and either approved, rejected,d or returned with comments for amendments or for missing documents.
If an application is approved, an appointment might be needed for notarisation to be completed. Though the process is typically done remotely via video call, depending on the transaction and the identity-verification process, some transactions can be completed without an interview, ADJD says.
ADJD also maintains a Notary Services Bureau in English for persons and businesses who require notarisation in English.
Conclusion
The Abu Dhabi private notaries fine has come into sharp focus with the recent enforcement action, but the law governing the fine is more detailed than just an AED 30,000 fine. The Cabinet Resolution No. 146 of 2025 sets forth administrative fines for various infractions, and Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 offers the general professional and disciplinary framework. Therefore, private notaries are required to ensure a high level of adherence to identity verification, transaction procedures, record-keeping, confidentiality, licensing, and scope-of-authority prerequisites. Clients can help reduce problems by utilizing an authorised notary from the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) and making certain that all paperwork complies with the pertinent legal needs. The case of AED 30,000 is noteworthy because of the fact that Abu Dhabi authorities are taking action against people who fail to meet professional standards and are not treating compliance with the standards as routine.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fine for a private notary in Abu Dhabi?
The fines will depend on the type of violations, ranging from AED 5,000 to AED 30,000, according to the current schedule.
Why was a private notary fined AED 30,000 in Abu Dhabi?
The fine was for the failure to abide by laws, decisions, and professional regulations, ADJD said. The exact violation was not released to the public.
Can a private notary be fined more than AED 30,000?
Yes, if there is more than one infringement, there may be greater penalties, as they can be doubled under the applicable rules.
Can a private notary lose their licence?
Yes. Under the law, if the offence is serious and/or repeated, the licence may be suspended or revoked.
Who regulates private notaries in Abu Dhabi?
Private notary services are governed and monitored by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) in Abu Dhabi.
How can I verify an authorised private notary in Abu Dhabi?
If you use a notary service, ensure that you use a licensed branch of notaries that is either on the official list of governmental notaries or on the list of licensed notary branches.
What should I do if I have a complaint against a private notary?
The complaint can be filed via ADJD’s formal complaints process with the necessary documents and information.
