Do commercial or transactional contracts in the UAE need to be notarized in order to be valid?

Do commercial or transactional contracts in the UAE need to be notarized in order to be valid? 

For most commercial or transactional contracts, the answer is no—notarization is generally not required. However, certain agreements must be notarized, including:

✅ Memorandum of Associations
✅ Powers of Attorney
✅ Local Agency Agreements
✅ Wills and Marriage Contracts

These documents typically need to be registered with UAE government authorities, making notarization mandatory.

Contracts governed by DIFC or ADGM laws also do not typically require notarization.

In short, commercial contracts—such as services, franchises, licenses, and collaboration agreements—as well as transaction documents like share purchase agreements, joint venture agreements, and shareholder agreements do not require notarization.