Dubai notarisation services go online

Under the new system, an applicant will have to come the department to sign his application and collect the document, a move officials say will reduce waiting times and improve service.

Dubai // The Dubai Courts launched the region's first "online notarisation" system yesterday, a development officials expect to reduce waiting times and improve service.

Fourteen notary services are now available online, according to Ahmad bin Hazeem, the director general of Dubai Courts, with more to follow by the end of the year. He said the system was being introduced due to an increase in demand.

About 300,000 people visited the courts' notary services department last year, and nearly 170,000 documents were processed. That was an increase over the 138,000 documents processed in 2009.

Now, "an applicant will only have to come the department to sign his application and collect the document," he said.

Services available now include the ratification of documents for the ministry of labour, unemployment letters, papers to sell marine vessels, lawsuit waivers and complaint waivers, said Abdul Razaq al Qassim, the director of the Notary Department.

Users can visit the Dubai Courts website, www.dubaicourts.gov.ae, and click on the notarisation tab for a list of services. After filling out the online form, they can select a preferred date to pick up the notarised document from the courthouse.

Mr bin Hazeem said there were "minimal" fees for the service.

Mr bin Hazeem said the project had been a challenge for the Dubai Courts, but noted that it would save money.

Mr al Qassim said the remaining 41 notary services would become accessible online over the course of the year. E-notary services for detainees and convicts may eventually be implemented as well, Mr bin Hazeem said.