Online notary services launched

Dubai: The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has coincided its initial participation in the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (Gitex) with the launch of its new e-services.

These new online services are provided by its notary public section.

Through the online service, applicants can now log on to their website and fill out a template providing the required information for signature authentication. Once completed, the information is reviewed by the department. Once approved, applicants can then visit one of the 17 ADJD sites to finalise the document in the presence of a notary public and witnesses.

Online users can choose the service and the time and branch of the Notary Public to go to sign the document.

"We're trying to make the service easier," said Rashid Obaid Al Daheri, Director of the Information Technology Bureau.

"If there are any comments on it when it's online, they give you feedback to make the necessary changes," Al Daheri said. "These first stages can be done online, but for other types of services you need to be present in order to get the notarisation done."

Paper trail

The ADJD has also launched an online attestation service to serve people who live in areas that are far from the city.

"In some areas, you don't always have a judge and for attestation you need a judge to finalise your papers," Al Daheri said.

The department has resorted to video conferencing to continue the workflow even when the judge is not around.

"The judge will receive the documents online and if the judge wants to see the customers and his witnesses in the presence of his employee, he can switch on the video conference and then electronically sign the paperwork."

With the consumers' benefit in mind, online services are also a way to attract customers and people to come to Abu Dhabi, Al Daheri said.

"By seeing these services, the companies will be coming to Abu Dhabi and the customers will feel secure to come in and do business in it."