Sworn Affidavit / Statement (UAE)

A Sworn Affidavit / Statement in the United Arab Emirates is a written declaration of facts made under oath or solemn affirmation by an individual (the deponent), signed before a UAE-authorised notary public (kuttab al-adl) or, in certain court contexts, before the relevant court registry. The deponent swears or affirms that the contents of the affidavit are true to the best of their knowledge and belief, and the notary public authenticates the deponent's identity and signature, creating an official document with enhanced evidentiary weight under UAE law.

The principal legal framework governing sworn affidavits in the UAE is the UAE Federal Evidence Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2022), which replaced the prior Federal Law No. 10 of 1992. The Federal Evidence Law establishes the hierarchy of evidence in UAE civil and criminal proceedings and sets out the evidentiary weight of different categories of documents. Under Articles 16 to 23 of the Federal Evidence Law, official documents — including notarised affidavits authenticated by a Ministry of Justice-authorised notary public — are presumed authentic and their contents are presumed accurate unless formally challenged. This 'official document' status makes a properly executed UAE sworn affidavit one of the strongest forms of individual evidence in UAE legal proceedings.

The UAE Notary Public Law (Federal Law No. 4 of 2012), and the implementing regulations issued by the Ministry of Justice, govern the appointment, powers, and procedures of UAE notaries public (kuttab al-adl). Notaries are authorised to attest documents, administer oaths, certify signatures, and issue authenticated copies. A sworn affidavit prepared and attested by a Ministry of Justice-authorised notary public — including those at the Dubai Courts Notary Public Office, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Notary Public Section, and equivalent offices in the Northern Emirates — carries the full weight of an officially attested document.

The Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021) is indirectly relevant to sworn affidavits because they frequently involve the disclosure of personal data — Emirates IDs, passport numbers, financial information, family details — in a formal legal context. The UAE Data Office's guidance on processing personal data in legal proceedings applies.

Sworn affidavits in the UAE are used for a wide range of purposes: proving identity or residence to banks (Central Bank of the UAE-regulated institutions such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank), demonstrating financial status or beneficial ownership to regulators (the Securities & Commodities Authority/SCA, the Financial Intelligence Unit/FIU), supporting applications to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICA), supporting visa applications and family sponsorship requests to the Ministry of Interior, providing evidence in civil proceedings before the Dubai Courts or the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and supporting applications to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) in employment-related matters.

A Sworn Affidavit / Statement in the United Arab Emirates is needed in numerous personal and official contexts where a formal, authenticated declaration of facts is required.

A Sworn Affidavit is needed when a bank (Central Bank of the UAE-regulated: Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Mashreq, etc.) requires a customer to declare the source of funds, beneficial ownership of an account, or financial status. Anti-money laundering compliance under the UAE's AML Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018) and regulations issued by the Central Bank of the UAE require banks to obtain signed declarations from customers in certain circumstances; an affidavit provides the formal evidentiary record the bank needs.

A Sworn Affidavit is needed when a UAE resident needs to declare their marital status, family composition, or relationship to a beneficiary — for example, for health insurance purposes under Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013 (mandatory Dubai health insurance) or Abu Dhabi Law No. 23 of 2005, for pension applications, or for estate distribution purposes.

A Sworn Affidavit is needed when supporting a visa or residency application to the Ministry of Interior or ICA — for example, a declaration of financial support for a dependent family member's visa, or a declaration of a specific relationship (guardianship, sponsorship).

A Sworn Affidavit is needed when providing evidence in civil court proceedings before the Dubai Courts or the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. The UAE Civil Procedure Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022) permits affidavit evidence in civil proceedings. A properly notarised affidavit is given significant evidentiary weight by UAE civil courts.

A Sworn Affidavit is needed when a UAE resident has lost an important document — passport, Emirates ID, driving licence, educational certificate — and needs to declare the loss to the relevant authority (ICA, RTA, Ministry of Education, etc.) as part of a replacement application.

A Sworn Affidavit is also needed for employment-related declarations — for example, declaring that one holds a specific educational qualification, has a specific number of years of experience, or is the sole holder of a professional licence — for submission to MOHRE or a professional licensing body.

A Sworn Affidavit / Statement for the United Arab Emirates must contain specific elements under the UAE Federal Evidence Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2022) and the Notary Public Law (Federal Law No. 4 of 2012) to carry official document status and maximum evidentiary weight.

Deponent's full identification: the affidavit must record the deponent's full legal name, Emirates ID number (format 784-XXXX-XXXXXXX-X), nationality, occupation, and UAE address. The notary public will verify the deponent's identity against the Emirates ID card at the time of swearing.

Oath or affirmation: the affidavit must record whether the deponent is swearing an oath (on religious belief — Islamic, Christian, Jewish, or other) or making a solemn affirmation (without religious reference). Both are valid under UAE law, and both carry the same criminal penalty for false statements under the UAE Penal Code (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021).

Date and place of swearing: the affidavit must record the specific date (DD/MM/YYYY) and the place where the oath or affirmation was administered — for example, 'Dubai Courts Notary Public Office, Bur Dubai' or 'Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Notary Public Section.'

Purpose statement: the affidavit should state clearly what it is intended to be used for and to whom it is submitted. This helps the recipient authority or institution match the affidavit to the relevant transaction or proceeding.

Sworn statement body: the facts the deponent swears to must be numbered, specific, and based on the deponent's personal knowledge. Hearsay — statements about what others have told the deponent — should be clearly identified as such. Opinions and legal conclusions should not be included in the sworn facts section; these belong in legal submissions, not affidavits.

Deponent's signature: the deponent must sign the affidavit in the presence of the notary public. Notaries public at Dubai Courts and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department require the deponent to appear in person and produce their original Emirates ID.

Notary's attestation: the notary public signs and stamps the affidavit with their official seal, recording their name, registration number, and the date of attestation. This attestation converts the affidavit from a private document into an officially attested document under UAE law.

The forms-legal.com UAE Sworn Affidavit template provides a structured format covering all required elements for submission to UAE courts, ICA, banks, and government authorities.

Completing a Sworn Affidavit / Statement for the UAE requires care in drafting the statement body and preparation before appearing before the notary public.

Step one: determine the purpose. Before drafting the affidavit, identify precisely what facts the recipient authority or institution needs you to declare. If the affidavit is for a bank's AML compliance team, the bank will specify what facts they need. If it is for court proceedings, the legal advisor will specify the relevant facts. Draft the statement to address exactly what is required — do not include irrelevant facts that may cause confusion.

Step two: complete the deponent's details. Enter your full legal name as it appears on your Emirates ID. Record your Emirates ID number (format 784-XXXX-XXXXXXX-X), nationality, occupation, and UAE residential address. These details will be verified by the notary public against your original Emirates ID.

Step three: select oath or affirmation. Most UAE residents choose an oath consistent with their religious belief. Those who prefer a non-religious solemn affirmation may select that option. Both carry identical legal weight under the UAE Federal Evidence Law.

Step four: draft the statement body. Number each fact as a separate paragraph. Use clear, direct language. State only facts within your personal knowledge — do not speculate or estimate. For example: '1. My name is Jennifer Ann MacPherson. 2. My Emirates ID number is 784-XXXX-XXXXXXX-X. 3. On 01/05/2026, I transferred AED 50,000 from my First Abu Dhabi Bank account IBAN AE07-0260-0000-XXXX to the account of [name].' Avoid legal conclusions ('I am entitled to...') and opinions ('I believe that...').

Step five: identify the submitting authority. State clearly who will receive the affidavit — for example, 'Dubai Courts, Civil Division' or 'Emirates NBD, KYC Compliance Department.'

Step six: appear before a notary public. Take your completed draft affidavit and your original Emirates ID to the Dubai Courts Notary Public Office (Bur Dubai), the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Notary Public Section, or a Ministry of Justice-authorised notary public in your emirate. The notary will verify your identity, administer the oath or affirmation, and attest the document with their signature and official seal. Notary public fees for a standard affidavit in the UAE range from AED 100 to AED 300 depending on the emirate.

Step seven: retain certified copies. After notarisation, request certified copies from the notary for your records. Download your draft from forms-legal.com as PDF or Word before appearing before the notary.

A Sworn Affidavit / Statement in the United Arab Emirates must comply with the requirements of the UAE Federal Evidence Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2022) and the Notary Public Law (Federal Law No. 4 of 2012) to carry maximum legal force.

Capacity: the deponent must be an adult with full legal capacity under the UAE Civil Code (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985). The age of majority is 21 under the Civil Code, but in practice UAE notaries public attest affidavits from persons aged 18 and above. Minors must be represented by their legal guardian.

Personal appearance: under the Notary Public Law (Federal Law No. 4 of 2012), a deponent must appear in person before the notary public with their original Emirates ID or passport. The notary verifies the deponent's identity before administering the oath. Remote or telephone-based affidavits are not valid in the UAE — the physical appearance requirement is strict.

Truthfulness requirement: the deponent must swear or affirm that the contents are true. Under the UAE Penal Code (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021), making a false statement in a sworn affidavit or before a public official constitutes perjury (shahadat al-zur), punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine. The penalty is increased if the false statement is made in criminal proceedings.

Language requirements: UAE notary public offices typically attest affidavits in Arabic (the official language of UAE courts) or in Arabic and English. An affidavit entirely in a foreign language should be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation by a Ministry of Justice-accredited translator. For submission to courts, the Arabic version governs.

Official document status: a properly notarised affidavit has 'official document' status under the UAE Federal Evidence Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2022) Article 17, meaning its authenticity and the correctness of the notary's attestation are presumed accurate and cannot be challenged by ordinary means — only by a specific formal challenge procedure before the court.

Scope limitation: an affidavit is valid only for the facts stated. It cannot create legal rights or obligations in favour of or against third parties who are not the recipient of the affidavit.

Sworn affidavits in the United Arab Emirates frequently fail to serve their intended purpose or are rejected by receiving authorities because of avoidable drafting and procedural errors.

The most common mistake is including opinions and conclusions rather than facts. An affidavit should state only observable facts within the deponent's personal knowledge — not conclusions about what those facts mean, and not opinions about what others intended or did. Recipients of affidavits — Dubai Courts, ICA, Central Bank-regulated banks — are sceptical of affidavits laden with conclusory statements rather than specific facts.

A second common mistake is failing to appear in person before the notary public. Some deponents try to send the affidavit to the notary by email or have a third party present it on their behalf. UAE notaries public require the deponent's physical presence for identity verification. An affidavit not personally sworn before a notary lacks official document status and will be rejected by courts and most institutions.

A third mistake is omitting or understating specific details. A statement such as 'I have lived in Dubai for a long time' is vague. An accurate, enforceable affidavit states: 'I have continuously resided at Flat 5, Deira, Dubai, UAE, from 01/03/2022 to the present date.' Specific dates, addresses, amounts, and names make an affidavit compelling and useful evidence.

A fourth mistake is not obtaining a certified Arabic translation when submitting to Arabic-language authorities. The Dubai Courts and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department conduct proceedings in Arabic. An English-only affidavit submitted to a UAE court without a certified Arabic translation by a Ministry of Justice-accredited translator will be rejected or cause significant delays.

A fifth mistake is not retaining the original notarised document. The original notarised affidavit with the notary's wet signature and official seal is the official document. Photocopies or digital scans do not have official document status under the UAE Federal Evidence Law. The deponent should retain the original and provide certified copies to recipients.

A sixth mistake is swearing an affidavit about events that occurred before the deponent had personal knowledge of them. An affidavit can only cover facts within the deponent's personal knowledge. Statements about events before the deponent's arrival in the UAE, or events the deponent heard about from others, must be clearly marked as hearsay and carry less evidentiary weight.