When is a Dubai DED board resolution notarised?
A board resolution for a Dubai mainland licence amendment is not automatically notarised in every case. Whether notarisation is needed depends on the transaction and the instructions for that specific application. Before arranging a notary appointment, confirm with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) whether your amendment requires a notarised resolution, who must sign it and which supporting documents to submit.
This distinction matters for changes to licence details, branch records or authorised signatories: these are useful situations to ask about, not a blanket list of cases where notarisation is always mandatory. Dubai Resolution No. 36 of 2014 regulates the practice of private notaries public and government-entity employees commissioned as notaries; check the relevant DET application requirements separately for your amendment.
Situations to check with DET
Licence amendments
If you are changing company or licence details, ask whether the proposed amendment needs a board or shareholder resolution and whether it must be notarised. Do not assume that every change to a licence has the same document requirements.
Branch changes
For a new branch or a change to an existing branch record, describe the exact change when you check the application requirements. Confirm whether a resolution is requested, and whether notarisation applies to your company and the particular submission.
Authorised signatory updates
If you are adding, removing or changing an authorised signatory, ask DET what resolution or other evidence it needs to process the update. Check the company’s own governing documents as well, so the proposed decision and signatories are consistent with them.
Information to have ready when you ask
Use this as a preparation list for your enquiry, not as an official or complete DET checklist. The documents requested can differ by transaction and company.
- The current trade licence and the company’s exact legal name.
- A short description of the requested change—for example, a licence amendment, branch update or signatory change.
- The relevant memorandum or other company governing document, if available, and information about who is authorised to approve and sign the resolution.
- Any draft resolution or meeting record you already have, so the authority can clarify whether it is suitable for the application.
A practical way to handle the notarisation question
- Identify the exact amendment and whether it concerns the licence, a branch or an authorised signatory.
- Ask DET which resolution, signatures and supporting documents are required for that application, and whether the resolution must be notarised.
- Prepare the resolution to match the stated change and the company’s governing documents. Resolve any uncertainty about who signs before arranging notarisation.
- Follow the submission instructions for the application and keep a copy of the resolution and submission records.
Avoidable problems to check before submission
- The resolution describes a different change from the one in the application.
- The proposed signatories or approval do not match the company’s governing documents.
- You rely on a generic document list instead of confirming what is requested for this application.
- You arrange notarisation before confirming whether it is needed and which version of the resolution the authority will accept.
The safest starting point is the exact amendment, not a general rule about notarised board resolutions. Confirm the current requirement with DET for your company and application, then prepare the resolution and supporting papers to match those instructions.
