True copy attestation in Abu Dhabi means getting an official copy of a record that the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) already holds, through its notary or attestation section. You apply online with a valid Emirates ID. If your document never went through ADJD, you probably need a different service.
Send a photo on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm the requirements and quote in writing before we start.
Send a photo on WhatsAppThat last line is where most of the confusion starts. “True copy” gets used for two quite different things in the UAE, and people often book the wrong one. Before you apply, it helps to know which situation you are in. If your real need is a degree, a birth certificate or a marriage certificate accepted by an office here, the job is usually certificate attestation in Abu Dhabi, not a true copy at all.
We’re a private document services company, not a court or a notary, so anything we say about ADJD comes from its published pages.
What does “true copy” mean at ADJD?
ADJD’s Notarisation and Attestation Services guidance manual (July 2023 edition, the version on its website) lists two separate true copy services:
| Service in the manual | What it gives you | Which record it covers | Service code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Request for a true copy of a notarial record | An official copy of a record attested by the notary public | Powers of attorney, declarations and other notary records | ADJD-0054 |
| Request for a true copy of an attested document | A true copy of a record attested by the Attestation Section | Records from that section, such as family and personal status declarations | ADJD-0083 |
Both start from the same idea: the original record already sits with ADJD. You’re asking the department for an official copy of its own record, not asking someone to look at your paper and confirm it matches.
When do you need a true copy in Abu Dhabi?
The usual situations look like this:
- You lost your copy of a power of attorney or declaration notarized at ADJD, and you need it again.
- A bank, a government office or a court wants an official copy of a notary record, and your own printout won’t do.
- You’re a representative of the person named in the record, and you need a copy for a case or a company file.
Lost marriage contract? That one has its own separate service in the same manual, a request for replacement, so check it first rather than applying for a true copy.
What if your document never went through ADJD?
This is the common mix-up. Say a university abroad, a bank or a visa office asks for a “certified true copy” of your passport, degree or trade licence. Nobody at ADJD has a record of that paper, so the two services above don’t fit it.
Ask the receiving office one question before you spend any time: who must certify this copy? The answer will usually send you down one of these routes:
- A certified copy of a paper you hold. This is a notary matter, and whether a court notary or a private notary copy is accepted is the receiving office’s call. Our notary services in Abu Dhabi page explains how we arrange it. Our certified true copy page has the Dubai side.
- An attested certificate. If the office wants proof that a certificate is genuine, a copy won’t help. It needs the attestation chain, ending with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. See MOFA attestation in Abu Dhabi.
- A translated document. If the document isn’t in Arabic, the office may want an Arabic legal translation attached, either as well or instead.
Documents you need
From the manual’s two service cards:
| Item | Notarial record (ADJD-0054) | Attested document (ADJD-0083) |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates ID | Valid Emirates ID card | Valid Emirates ID of the concerned parties |
| The record | The document in question | The officer may ask for any document needed to prove the matter |
| Applying for someone else | Legal proof that you act for them | Legal proof that you act for them |
| Issued outside the UAE | Must be attested by MOFA | Must be attested by MOFA |
| Not in Arabic | Translated by a certified translator, with their valid licence card attached | Translated by a certified translator, with their valid licence card attached |
ADJD’s FAQ adds that a valid Emirates ID is a prerequisite for all its judicial and notary transactions, with exceptions only by decision of the competent authority. No Emirates ID? Talk to ADJD or a lawyer before you assume you can apply.
The translation line matters more than it looks. It’s about who translated the paper, not only about the words. Our legal translation in Abu Dhabi covers this, with the translator’s details the office needs to see.
How the application works
- Apply through the ADJD website and attach your documents. The manual lists the ADJD website as the channel for both services. ADJD’s FAQ says notary and attestation requests can also go through registered typing offices.
- Wait for review. ADJD sends SMS and email updates, and an application can be approved, rejected or returned for missing documents.
- Pay after approval. The fee is paid once the request is approved, not before.
- Verify your identity before the officer in charge. For an attested document, the manual says this applies if needed. ADJD’s FAQ says notary appointments are usually held by video on Webex, and that if you need to attend in person, staff will contact you.
- Get your copy. Final digitally certified documents can be downloaded from the website or app, or through a link sent by SMS.
The manual gives a completion time of 2 working days for both services. It dates from 2023, so treat that as ADJD’s published figure, and check the current time on the application or with the call centre on 600599799.
The flow is close to our walkthrough of online notarization in Abu Dhabi.
Why applications get held up
Most delays we’d expect here come straight from the conditions in the manual:
- The person applying isn’t the person named in the record and has no proof of authority to act for them.
- A court judgment isn’t final, or lacks the executive wording stamp where that’s required.
- A foreign document has no MOFA attestation.
- A translation arrives without the translator’s licence card.
- The record needs correcting. ADJD’s FAQ is clear that an attested transaction can’t be modified, so you’d file a new application, not ask for an amended copy.
Using a true copy abroad
A copy that works in Abu Dhabi may not be enough overseas. ADJD lists separate services for certifying a notary record or an attested document for use outside the country, so tell ADJD (or us) where the paper is going before you apply. After that, MOFA attestation may also come in. In October 2025 MOFA and ADJD signed an agreement linking digital attestation of ADJD documents through TAMM, starting with marriage contracts and planned to widen to all documents ADJD issues. Check TAMM for what is live today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is true copy attestation the same as certificate attestation?
No. A true copy gives you an official copy of a record, usually one ADJD already holds. Certificate attestation confirms that a certificate is genuine by taking it through a chain of authorities, ending with MOFA. If an employer or a ministry wants your degree verified, you need attestation, because a copy won’t prove the original is real.
Can I get a true copy of my passport from ADJD?
ADJD’s two true copy services cover records from its notary and attestation sections, and a passport isn’t one of those. If an office wants a certified passport copy, ask who must certify it. It may accept a notary, or it may name its own route. Get that in writing if you can.
Can someone else apply for a true copy for me?
Yes, if they act for you legally. ADJD’s manual says that when the person concerned can’t attend, or is a company, the application must come from someone acting on their behalf, with proof. Check what proof your case needs before you apply.
How long does a true copy take in Abu Dhabi?
ADJD’s July 2023 manual gives 2 working days for both true copy services. Timing can change, and an application returned for missing documents takes longer. Check the current time on the ADJD website. Tell us your deadline and we’ll confirm what’s possible before we start.
Can a private notary issue a true copy in Abu Dhabi?
ADJD’s FAQ says private notaries can process some transactions directly, and it publishes a list of private notary offices. Whether a private notary can handle your particular copy, and whether the receiving office will accept it, depends on the document. Ask both before you pay for anything.
Do I need a translation for a true copy?
If the document is in a language other than Arabic, ADJD’s manual says it should be translated by a certified translator, with their valid licence card attached. ADJD’s FAQ adds that English-only documents can be accepted in some cases, but an Arabic translation may still be needed depending on the transaction or the beneficiary.
Is true copy attestation the same as certificate attestation?
No. A true copy gives you an official copy of a record, usually one ADJD already holds. Certificate attestation confirms that a certificate is genuine by taking it through a chain of authorities, ending with MOFA. If an employer or a ministry wants your degree verified, you need attestation, because a copy won’t prove the original is real.
Can I get a true copy of my passport from ADJD?
ADJD’s two true copy services cover records from its notary and attestation sections, and a passport isn’t one of those. If an office wants a certified passport copy, ask who must certify it. It may accept a notary, or it may name its own route. Get that in writing if you can.
Can someone else apply for a true copy for me?
Yes, if they act for you legally. ADJD’s manual says that when the person concerned can’t attend, or is a company, the application must come from someone acting on their behalf, with proof. Check what proof your case needs before you apply.
How long does a true copy take in Abu Dhabi?
ADJD’s July 2023 manual gives 2 working days for both true copy services. Timing can change, and an application returned for missing documents takes longer. Check the current time on the ADJD website. Tell us your deadline and we’ll confirm what’s possible before we start.
Can a private notary issue a true copy in Abu Dhabi?
ADJD’s FAQ says private notaries can process some transactions directly, and it publishes a list of private notary offices. Whether a private notary can handle your particular copy, and whether the receiving office will accept it, depends on the document. Ask both before you pay for anything.
Do I need a translation for a true copy?
If the document is in a language other than Arabic, ADJD’s manual says it should be translated by a certified translator, with their valid licence card attached. ADJD’s FAQ adds that English-only documents can be accepted in some cases, but an Arabic translation may still be needed depending on the transaction or the beneficiary.
Where Wordcraft Comes In
We work out which service your office actually wants, prepare the application papers, and handle any legal translation, notary arrangement or attestation around it. You’d still verify your identity with ADJD where that’s required. Our office is at Al Ghaith Tower on Hamdan Street, and the Abu Dhabi branch page has directions. We offer free pickup and delivery of documents in Abu Dhabi. Tell us your deadline and we’ll confirm what’s possible before we start. Government fees are payable at cost, and we confirm the exact fee and our service charge in writing before any work begins. WhatsApp +971 56 681 3996 or call toll-free 800 9673.
Official sources read 6 Nov 2026: ADJD Notarisation and Attestation Services guidance manual (July 2023) · ADJD FAQs · ADJD public and private notary · MOFA and ADJD digital attestation agreement.