How to Verify a Licensed Notary Public in Saudi Arabia
Before you hand over an important document a power of attorney, a property deed, or a company contract it’s worth knowing whether the person notarizing it actually holds a valid license. Fortunately, Saudi Arabia makes this easy to check through an official government platform, not guesswork or word of mouth.
This guide explains exactly how to verify a licensed notary public in Saudi Arabia using the Ministry of Justice’s official channels.
Last updated: November 2026, based on the Ministry of Justice’s official pages.
What Does It Mean to "Verify" a Notary Public?
What is Notary Public In Saudi Arabia, a notary (موثق) is someone who has been granted an official notarization license by the Ministry of Justice, after meeting specific eligibility conditions, passing a written examination and completing the required training. Verifying a notary simply means confirming that the person is genuinely licensed, currently authorized to practice, and connected to the Ministry of Justice’s official systems rather than someone falsely claiming the title.
This is different from verifying a specific document, like checking whether a power of attorney itself is valid. That’s a separate process, which we’ll touch on below.
Who Needs to Verify a Notary?
Verification is useful for:
- Individuals about to sign a power of attorney, company contract, or real estate document
- Businesses working with a notary for the first time
- Anyone contacted by someone claiming to be a licensed notary, especially for services offered outside a normal office setting
- People who found a notary through an unofficial source (social media, a referral, a random advertisement) rather than a government channel
Since a notary handles legally binding matters including powers of attorney and property transfers confirming their license protects you from relying on someone without proper authorization.
How to Verify a Licensed Notary Public in Saudi Arabia
The Ministry of Justice operates an official platform for this called Mwathiq (موثق), available at mwathiq.sa, which is run under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice. Here’s how to use it:
- Go to the official Mwathiq platform (mwathiq.sa) or open the Al-Mowathiq mobile app.
- Search the notary directory. The platform lets you search for notaries by region for example, the Eastern Province (which includes Al Khobar, Dammam, and Dhahran), Riyadh, Makkah, and other areas.
- Filter by the service you need, such as powers of attorney, company contract notarization, or real estate transactions, to see notaries who handle that specific type of work.
- Review the notary’s listed details. A verified listing typically shows the notary’s name, license information, contact number, email, and office location — details that let you confirm you’re dealing with an officially licensed professional rather than an unverified individual.
- Contact the notary directly through the details shown on the platform to proceed with your notarization request.
Because this directory is maintained directly by the Ministry of Justice’s platform, searching it is a reliable way to confirm licensing status, and using it to search is free.
Verifying a Notary vs. Verifying a Document
It’s worth keeping these two things separate:
- Verifying the notary confirms the person is licensed — done through Mwathiq, as explained above.
- Verifying a specific document, such as an already-issued power of attorney, is typically done separately through the Najiz platform or app, by entering the power of attorney’s number and issue date to check its validity.
If your goal is to confirm that a POA someone gave you is genuine, that’s a Najiz lookup. If your goal is to confirm the person notarizing your document is licensed in the first place, that’s Mwathiq. Want to know the Power of Attorney Requirements in Saudi Arabia?
Important Things to Know
- Only Saudi nationals with good conduct, a university degree in Sharia, judiciary or law (with at least a “Good” grade), a passed written examination and the required specialized training are eligible to become licensed private notaries this is part of why official verification matters.
- A notary licensed through Mwathiq can typically handle services like issuing and canceling powers of attorney, notarizing company contracts, and real estate-related transactions, though the exact scope can vary.
- If a notary’s details don’t appear on the official platform, that’s a signal to be cautious before proceeding with them.
Conclusion
Verifying a licensed notary public in Saudi Arabia doesn’t require guesswork the Ministry of Justice’s Mwathiq platform gives you a direct, official way to confirm a notary’s license before handing over an important document. Taking a few minutes to check can save you from complications down the line.
For more tips, read how to choose a reliable notary public in Khobar.
Need a Verified Notary Public in Khobar?
If you’re in Al Khobar and need a power of attorney, contract, or official document notarized, Khobar Notary provides licensed notarization services for individuals and businesses. Contact us today to get clear guidance on your specific transaction and complete it with confidence.
FAQs
1. Is there an official website to check if a notary is licensed in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. The Ministry of Justice’s Mwathiq platform (mwathiq.sa) allows you to search for licensed notaries by region and service type.
2. Can I verify a notary through the Najiz app?
Najiz is primarily used to verify specific issued documents, such as a power of attorney’s number and date. For verifying whether a person is a licensed notary, the Mwathiq platform is the relevant tool.
3. Is searching the notary directory free?
Yes, searching and browsing the Mwathiq notary directory is free to use.
4. What information can I see about a notary on Mwathiq?
Listings typically include the notary’s name, license details, contact number, email, and office location.
5. Who is eligible to become a licensed notary in Saudi Arabia?
According to the Ministry of Justice, an applicant must be a Saudi national of good conduct, hold a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in Sharia, judiciary or law (with at least a “Good” grade), pass a written examination and complete a specialized training course. The training can be waived for someone with at least one year of experience as a judge, notary, lawyer or legal consultant.
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