What Is a Notary Public in Saudi Arabia? A Complete Guide
A Notary Public in Saudi Arabia is a qualified and authorized professional who performs official notarization functions under the Saudi legal framework. Notarization can give certain contracts, declarations, powers of attorney, and other documents official legal recognition in accordance with applicable Saudi regulations.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice regulates and supervises notarial activities, including the work of private notaries. The Ministry also provides electronic notarial services, allowing many transactions to be completed without a traditional visit to a notarial office.
This guide explains what a notary public does in Saudi Arabia, what services are available, how private notaries work, and when you may need notarization.
Last updated: November 2026, based on the Ministry of Justice’s official pages.
What Is a Notary Public in Saudi Arabia?
A notary public is a person authorized to carry out legally recognized notarization activities under Saudi Arabia’s Notarization Law and its Implementing Regulations.
The Ministry of Justice oversees the notarial profession and supervises private notaries to help ensure compliance with applicable regulations and professional responsibilities.
Notarial work can cover different types of legal transactions and declarations. Depending on the service and applicable requirements, this can include powers of attorney, financial declarations, certain corporate documents, real estate transactions, and other matters within the notary’s legal authority.
In simple terms, a notary’s role is to formally document or authenticate matters that fall within the notarial system.
What Does a Notary Public Do in Saudi Arabia?
The exact authority of a notary depends on the type of transaction and the applicable Saudi regulations.
Official Ministry of Justice information shows that notarial offices can handle matters such as:
- Property conveyance
- Mortgages and their termination
- Corporate charters
- Certain powers of attorney
- Guarantees and their dissolution
- Certain inheritance-related declarations
- Other contracts and declarations falling within notarial jurisdiction
Private notary services also provide access to several types of notarization without requiring the user to visit a traditional notarial office. The Ministry currently lists real estate transactions, financial declarations, powers of attorney, and notarization of articles of association among the available private-notary services.
What Is a Private Notary in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia also has private notaries, known in Arabic as الموثقون.
Private notaries operate under the regulatory supervision of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry’s General Directorate of Private Notaries is responsible for overseeing their operations, licensing and professional compliance, and monitoring their notarial activities.
The Ministry’s current licensing requirements state that a private-notary applicant must, among other requirements:
- Be a Saudi national
- Meet the required conduct and professional standards
- Hold a qualifying university degree in Sharia, judiciary, or law, or an equivalent qualification
- Be medically fit
- Pass the required written examination
- Complete the required specialized training unless an applicable professional-experience exemption applies
This is important for users who want to make sure they are dealing with an authorized professional rather than someone simply offering document-related assistance.
What Documents Can Be Notarized in Saudi Arabia?
The documents or transactions that can be notarized depend on the nature of the matter and the authority available under Saudi regulations.
Examples of services available through the Ministry’s private-notary system include:
- Powers of attorney
- Financial declarations
- Certain company and corporate documents
- Real estate transactions
- Other contracts and declarations covered by the notarial framework
- Attestation of official documents (passport, ID card, bank statement, national address, etc.)
The exact requirements can vary depending on the transaction, the parties involved, and the type of document.
Therefore, it is better to check the requirements for the specific notarization service rather than assuming that every document follows the same procedure.
Can Notarization Be Done Online in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi Arabia has expanded electronic notarial services.
For example, the Ministry of Justice provides a Virtual Notary Public service through Najiz. The service allows users to obtain certain notarial services electronically without visiting judicial facilities in person. The Ministry states that the service covers matters including powers of attorney, declarations, and real estate transactions, subject to the applicable requirements.
The general process involves:
- Logging in to Najiz using National Single Sign-On.
- Selecting All Electronic Services.
- Choosing the Virtual Notarial Office package.
- Opening the relevant service.
- Creating a new application.
- Selecting the type of service.
- Providing the required information.
- Submitting the application.
- Receiving notification of the application details by SMS.
Not every transaction should automatically be assumed to qualify for the same electronic route. The available service and requirements depend on the type of transaction.
See our step-by-step online notarization Najiz guide.
How Do Private Notary Services Work?
The Ministry of Justice provides an electronic Private Notary Services service through the Mwathiq platform.
According to the Ministry, users can:
- Log in to the Mwathiq portal.
- Select the type of service they need.
- Search for available private notaries.
- Request the service through the application or contact a private notary.
- Complete the notarization process.
The Ministry’s service page currently lists no government service fee for this electronic private-notary service. However, users should distinguish the government’s listed service fee from any applicable professional charges or transaction-related costs.
For official support, the Ministry of Justice’s unified number is 1950.
What Do You Need for Notarization?
There is no single document checklist that applies to every notarization in Saudi Arabia.
Requirements depend on the service.
For example, the Ministry’s private-notary service currently lists no required documents at the general service level, while the Virtual Notary Public service states that supporting documents may need to be uploaded when required by the online service form. It also requires accurate application information and, where applicable, a valid Power of Attorney for someone acting as an agent.
For this reason, users should check the requirements for the exact transaction before starting the process.
Do Foreigners and Expats Need a Notary Public in Saudi Arabia?
Foreigners and non-Saudi residents may need notarization when dealing with transactions or legal documents that fall within Saudi Arabia’s notarial system.
However, the requirements can differ depending on the person’s residency status, identification documents, the type of transaction, and the purpose of the document.
Foreign documents also require special attention. Notarization, authentication, attestation, legalization, and apostille are not automatically the same process. A document notarized in one country may still require additional procedures before it can be accepted for a particular purpose in another country.
Therefore, foreigners should check the requirements of the Saudi authority or institution that will receive the document before assuming that notarization alone is sufficient.
Since 7 December 2022, Saudi Arabia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so public documents from other member countries usually need an Apostille instead of Saudi Embassy legalization.
Notary Public vs. Lawyer: Are They the Same?
No. A notary public and a lawyer perform different functions.
A notary public performs authorized notarization functions, such as formally documenting or authenticating matters within the notarial system.
A lawyer, on the other hand, may provide legal advice, draft or review legal documents, represent clients, and perform other legal services within the scope of their professional license.
In some situations, a person may need both services. For example, a lawyer may review a contract or Power of Attorney before it is submitted for notarization.
Read the full comparison: notary vs. lawyer in Saudi Arabia.
How Can You Find a Private Notary in Saudi Arabia?
The Ministry of Justice’s private-notary service allows users to select the type of service and search for private notaries through the Mwathiq platform.
When choosing a notary, it is sensible to confirm that the professional is operating within the Ministry’s regulated notarial system and that the service they offer matches your transaction.
If you are in Khobar, you may also look for a notary service that understands the requirements of your particular document and can explain what information or supporting documents may be needed.
Important Things to Know Before Notarization
Before starting a notarization process in Saudi Arabia:
- Identify the exact document or transaction that needs notarization.
- Check the current requirements for that specific service.
- Confirm whether the service can be completed electronically.
- Make sure the parties’ identification information is accurate.
- If someone is acting on behalf of another person, check whether a valid Power of Attorney is required.
- If the document originates outside Saudi Arabia, check whether additional authentication or legalization is required.
- Do not assume that every document follows the same notarization procedure.
The Ministry of Justice also supervises private-notary activities and provides a mechanism for complaints regarding violations of the Notarization Law and its Implementing Regulations. what is a power of attorney in saudi Arabia? Read this guide
FAQs
1. What is a Notary Public in Saudi Arabia?
A Notary Public is an authorized professional who performs notarization functions under Saudi Arabia’s legal and regulatory framework.
2. What services does a notary public provide in Saudi Arabia?
Depending on the applicable authority and service, notarization can include powers of attorney, financial declarations, corporate documents, real estate transactions, and other contracts or declarations.
3. Can I use an online notary service in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. The Ministry of Justice provides electronic notarial services, including the Virtual Notary Public service through Najiz, for eligible transactions.
4. Do foreigners need a notary public in Saudi Arabia?
Foreigners may need notarization for certain legal transactions and documents in Saudi Arabia. The exact requirements depend on the person’s situation and the type and purpose of the document.
5. Is a notary public the same as a lawyer in Saudi Arabia?
No. A notary performs authorized notarization functions, while a lawyer provides legal services such as legal advice, document review, drafting, and representation within the scope of their professional authorization.
Conclusion
A Notary Public in Saudi Arabia plays an important role in formally documenting and notarizing legal transactions and declarations. Saudi Arabia’s notarial system includes Ministry of Justice notarial offices, regulated private notaries, and electronic services such as the Virtual Notary Public.
Because requirements depend on the type of transaction, users should check the current official requirements before submitting a document for notarization. This is particularly important for foreigners, business documents, and documents originating outside Saudi Arabia.
Before you book, read how to choose a reliable notary public in Khobar.
Need Notary Assistance in Khobar?
If you need help with notarization in Khobar, Khobar Notary can assist you in understanding the appropriate notary service for your document or transaction. Whether you need help with a Power of Attorney, declaration, contract, or another notarization matter, you can contact Khobar Notary to discuss your requirements and the applicable process. WhatsApp: 0511952650