General Affidavit (UAE)

A General Affidavit in the United Arab Emirates is a sworn written statement in which a person, known as the deponent, sets out facts within their own knowledge and affirms their truth before the Notary Public. Once attested, the affidavit becomes a formal document that can be relied upon as evidence before the Dubai Courts, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, the Federal Courts, and a wide range of government departments and private institutions. It is prepared under the general laws of the UAE, including the UAE Civil Code (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985), which governs obligations and the evidential value of attested instruments.

The document records a solemn declaration. The deponent identifies themselves, states the purpose of the affidavit, sets out the relevant facts in clear numbered paragraphs, and confirms that the statements are true and within personal knowledge. Where any fact is stated on information and belief rather than direct knowledge, the source is identified. The Notary Public then verifies the deponent's identity by Emirates ID or passport, witnesses the signature, and affixes an official seal that gives the affidavit its evidential standing.

Affidavits serve many practical purposes in the UAE. They are used to confirm the loss of an original document such as a tenancy contract, share certificate, or title deed; to declare a change of name or a single status; to confirm relationships for visa or inheritance purposes; to support an application before a government authority such as the Federal Tax Authority or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA); and to place sworn evidence before a court. Because the deponent swears to the truth of the contents, an affidavit carries greater weight than an unsworn letter.

The affidavit is closely related to the statutory declaration, and in UAE practice the two are often used interchangeably as notarised sworn statements. What distinguishes the affidavit is its frequent use as evidence in legal proceedings, where the deponent vouches for facts that a court or authority will rely upon. A false statement in an affidavit can expose the deponent to liability, since the document is made under solemn affirmation for an official purpose.

The General Affidavit (UAE) is a versatile instrument for documenting facts in a form that authorities trust. By combining a clear statement of facts with attestation by the Notary Public, it converts a personal assertion into a recognised legal record. For use abroad, the affidavit can be legalised through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translated into the language of the destination by a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice, so that foreign authorities accept it on the same footing as a locally sworn statement.

A General Affidavit in the United Arab Emirates is needed whenever a person must place facts on record under oath so that a court, government department, bank, or other institution can rely on them. The document is called for in a broad range of personal and administrative situations.

A General Affidavit is required when an original document is lost or destroyed and the holder must confirm the loss before a replacement can be issued. A tenant who has lost an original tenancy contract, a shareholder who has mislaid a share certificate, or an owner who cannot find a vehicle ownership document swears an affidavit confirming the loss, often supported by a police report, for submission to the Dubai Land Department, a company registrar, or the traffic department.

A General Affidavit is needed to confirm a personal fact for an official purpose, such as a declaration of single status for a marriage abroad, a confirmation of name where documents show different spellings, or a statement of relationship to support a family visa application before the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Authorities accept the sworn statement as evidence of the fact declared.

A General Affidavit is required to support an application or claim before a government body. A taxpayer may swear an affidavit to clarify a matter before the Federal Tax Authority, an applicant may confirm facts before the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), and a claimant may swear to facts in support of an insurance claim or a benefit application. The affidavit gives the authority a reliable record of the deponent's assertions.

A General Affidavit is needed to provide sworn evidence in litigation. A party or witness in proceedings before the Dubai Courts, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, or the Federal Courts may submit an affidavit setting out facts relevant to the case, which the court can consider as evidence subject to the rules of procedure.

A General Affidavit is also used to confirm facts for cross-border purposes, such as confirming income, residence, or family details for a foreign authority, in which case the affidavit is attested by the Notary Public and then legalised and translated for use abroad. Preparing the affidavit carefully, with accurate facts and any supporting documents identified, ensures that the receiving authority accepts it without query.

A valid General Affidavit for the United Arab Emirates should contain several elements so that it is accepted as sworn evidence by the Notary Public, the Dubai Courts, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and government bodies under the laws of the UAE, including the UAE Civil Code (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985).

Deponent Identification: The full legal name of the deponent exactly as shown on the Emirates ID or passport, with nationality, identification number, address, and occupation. The Notary Public verifies this identity at attestation.

Statement of Purpose: A short statement of why the affidavit is made and the authority or institution that will receive it, which frames the facts that follow.

Statement of Facts: The substantive content, set out in short, clear, numbered paragraphs. Each fact should be within the deponent's own knowledge; where a fact is stated on information and belief, the source must be identified. Precision and brevity strengthen the document.

Confirmation of Truth: A declaration that the facts stated are true and correct, made conscientiously, with an acknowledgment that a false statement in an evidential document is an offence under UAE law.

Supporting Documents: A list of any documents attached to or referred to in the affidavit, such as a copy of the Emirates ID, an Ejari certificate, or a police report reference, so the receiving authority can cross-check the facts.

Date and Place: The date the affidavit is sworn in DD/MM/YYYY format and the emirate of notarisation.

Signature Block: A line for the deponent's signature, made in the presence of the Notary Public.

Notarial Attestation Block: The Notary Public attestation confirming the deponent's identity, that the deponent signed in the notary's presence, and the official seal naming the emirate. This block gives the affidavit its evidential weight. forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for UAE users; for use abroad, the affidavit may additionally require legalisation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translation by a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice, and the deponent should confirm any specific format the receiving court or authority requires before swearing the document.

Completing a General Affidavit for the United Arab Emirates calls for accuracy and restraint, because the deponent swears to the truth of the facts before the Notary Public and the document may be relied upon as evidence.

Step one is to enter the deponent's details. Record the full legal name exactly as it appears on the Emirates ID or passport, then add nationality, the identification number, the residential address, and the occupation. The Notary Public checks these fields against the original identity document at attestation.

Step two is to state the purpose of the affidavit. Describe briefly why the affidavit is needed and which authority or institution will receive it, for example confirming a lost tenancy contract for the Dubai Land Department or supporting a visa application before the GDRFA. A clear purpose helps the receiving body understand the context of the facts.

Step three is to set out the statement of facts, the heart of the affidavit. Write the facts in short, numbered paragraphs, each dealing with a single point, and state only matters within personal knowledge. Where a fact is known only on information and belief, identify the source. Avoid argument, opinion, and exaggeration; an affidavit records facts, not submissions.

Step four is to list supporting documents. Identify any documents attached to or referred to in the affidavit, such as a copy of the Emirates ID, an Ejari certificate, or a police report reference number, so the receiving authority can verify the facts.

Step five is to set the date and place. Enter the date the affidavit is sworn in DD/MM/YYYY format and the emirate of notarisation.

Step six is execution. Attend the Notary Public in person with the original Emirates ID or passport. The deponent signs the affidavit in the presence of the notary, who confirms identity, witnesses the signature, and affixes the official seal that gives the affidavit its evidential standing under the laws of the UAE. Where the affidavit is intended for use abroad, it should then be legalised through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translated into the language of the destination by a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice, so that the foreign court or authority will accept it.

A General Affidavit in the United Arab Emirates takes its legal force from attestation before the Notary Public and from the general law governing evidence and obligations, including the UAE Civil Code (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985). The affidavit is a sworn statement, and its value as evidence before the Dubai Courts, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and government bodies depends on its having been properly made and attested.

Attestation by the Notary Public is the essential formal requirement. The notary verifies the deponent's identity using the Emirates ID or passport, satisfies themselves that the deponent understands the contents and signs voluntarily, witnesses the signature, and affixes an official seal. An unattested affidavit carries little evidential weight before UAE authorities and is generally not accepted in proceedings.

Truthfulness is a legal obligation. The deponent swears that the facts are true, and making a false statement in a document intended for use as evidence is a punishable offence under UAE law. The deponent must therefore confine the affidavit to facts within personal knowledge, identify the source of any matter stated on information and belief, and avoid asserting matters that cannot be supported.

Capacity and voluntariness are required. The deponent must be an adult of sound mind acting freely; the Notary Public will decline to attest where capacity or free consent is in doubt. The facts must be set out clearly enough for the receiving court or authority to act on them.

Use abroad triggers further steps. An affidavit sworn in the UAE for use in another country must usually be legalised through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and where the destination requires, apostilled or further legalised through that country's processes, then translated into the language of the destination by a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice. Where the affidavit supports a matter regulated by a specific authority, such as the Federal Tax Authority or the GDRFA, the deponent should confirm any particular format that authority requires, since some bodies prescribe wording or accompanying documents before they will accept a sworn statement.

Errors in a General Affidavit for the United Arab Emirates commonly cause the document to be rejected by the Notary Public or the receiving authority, or expose the deponent to liability for a false statement.

The most serious mistake is stating facts that are not true or not within the deponent's knowledge. Because an affidavit is sworn and may be used as evidence, a false statement is a punishable offence under UAE law; the deponent must confine the affidavit to facts they can vouch for and identify the source of anything stated on information and belief.

A second mistake is failing to have the affidavit attested by the Notary Public. An unattested sworn statement carries little evidential weight before the Dubai Courts, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, or government bodies and is generally not accepted; the deponent must sign in the presence of the notary, who verifies identity and affixes the seal.

A third mistake is mixing fact with argument or opinion. An affidavit records facts, not submissions; including persuasive argument, speculation, or emotional language weakens the document and may lead a court to give it less weight. The facts should be set out in short, numbered paragraphs, each addressing one point.

A fourth mistake is mismatched identity details. A name or identification number that differs from the Emirates ID or passport causes the Notary Public to reject the affidavit; entries must match the source identity document exactly.

A fifth mistake is omitting supporting documents that the receiving authority expects, such as a police report for a lost-document affidavit, which can cause the application to stall. A final mistake is failing to legalise and translate an affidavit intended for use abroad; without attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translation by a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice, a foreign court or authority will usually refuse the document.