Affidavits and declarations
Name Change Affidavit Format for the UAE, with a Sample to Adapt
This name change affidavit format is for UAE residents who now use a different name from the one on their older papers: a wife who took her husband's surname, a woman returning to her maiden name after a divorce, or someone who added a family name so their passport reads correctly abroad. The affidavit is your sworn statement of the old name, the new name and the reason. A passport office, embassy or bank then uses it to update its record.
Below is a sample to copy, three versions for the most common reasons, the papers to attach, and how the signing works in Dubai.
At a glance
- Who signs: the person whose name changed. A parent signs for a child under 18, with the child's details in the text.
- What it states: the old name, the new name, the date or event of the change, and a promise that the change is not made to avoid a debt or a legal case.
- Where it is signed: before a notary, who checks your original ID and records that you swore the statement freely (Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, Article 7).
- Government fee: executing and notarising an affidavit is AED 300 under the federal schedule (Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024, item 12).
- What it does not do: the affidavit does not change your name by itself. The office that issued the record decides whether to update it.
When people in the UAE need an affidavit for a name change
The request usually comes from an office outside the UAE, because your passport and birth records belong to your home country. Common cases:
- Renewing a passport after marriage at your consulate in Dubai, when you want the passport to carry your married surname.
- Going back to your earlier name after a divorce, so the passport, bank account and school records of your children match again.
- Adding a surname or splitting a single name into a given name and a family name, which some countries' visa forms need.
- Correcting the spelling you use, for example moving from "Mohd" to "Mohammed" on every record.
- A pension, insurance or property file at home that is still in your old name.
If the two names are simply spelled differently on two papers and you have not changed your name, you need a declaration that both names belong to one person. Our declaration letter templates include that version.
Sample wording
Name change affidavit format for passport renewal
Most consulates want the same four facts in the same order: who you are now, who you were, why the name changed, and your promise that the statement is true. Copy the sample below, fill each square bracket with your details, strike the lines that are not your case, and read the consulate's checklist before you start. If it gives a set wording or its own form, use that instead.
AFFIDAVIT FOR CHANGE OF NAME
I, [new full name], [nationality], born on [date of birth] at [place of birth], holder of passport number [number] and UAE Emirates ID number [number], residing at [address in the UAE], state on oath as follows:
1. I was previously known as [old full name], which is the name shown on my [birth certificate / earlier passport number (number) / school certificate].
2. With effect from [date], I have changed my name to [new full name], by reason of [my marriage to (spouse's full name) on (date) / my divorce from (former spouse's full name) on (date) / my own choice].
3. From that date I use only the name [new full name] for all purposes, and I request that all records be updated to show it.
4. The names [old full name] and [new full name] both belong to me.
5. I have not changed my name to avoid any debt, obligation or legal proceeding.
6. I make this affidavit for submission to [office, for example the Consulate General of (country) in Dubai] and for any other lawful purpose.
The statements above are true to my knowledge and belief.
Signature: ______________
Name: [new full name]
[Notary's certificate and seal]
Three versions to adapt
Change paragraph 2 only. Everything else stays.
After marriage
"By reason of my marriage to [husband's full name] on [date] at [place], I have taken the surname [surname] and am now known as [new full name]." Attach the marriage certificate, attested if it was issued outside your home country.
After a divorce
"Following my divorce from [former husband's full name], finalised on [date] by [court or authority], I have resumed my earlier name [name]." Attach the divorce decree or certificate.
Adding or splitting a surname
"My passport shows my name as a single name, [name]. I wish my given name to be recorded as [given name] and my surname as [surname], which is my family name as used by my father, [father's full name]." Attach your father's passport copy if the family name comes from it.
Checklist
What to bring to the signing
What to have ready
- Your current passport and Emirates ID, originals.
- A copy of each record that shows the old name.
- The document that explains the change: marriage certificate, divorce decree, or nothing if it is your own choice.
- For a child: the child's passport and birth certificate, and the passport and Emirates ID of the parent signing.
- The consulate's or bank's checklist, so the wording matches what they asked for.
Step by step
Notarized name change affidavit format: the signing and after
Send us the checklist and passport pages
We complete the affidavit with your details and email a draft for you to approve.
Arabic translation
A Dubai notary needs an Arabic version made by a certified translator alongside your English affidavit (Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013, Article 27). We have it ready before the signing.
Sign before the notary
You can go to the notary, or the notary can come to your flat with a mobile notary visit. Leave the signature line empty until then.
Attestation, if the paper leaves the UAE
An office abroad may want the notarised affidavit attested by MOFAIC (AED 150 for a personal document) and then by its embassy. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the route is attestation, not an apostille. Our Sharjah attestation page explains the two stamps.
Some offices also ask for a newspaper notice of the change or an entry in a government gazette at home. That is a separate step in your home country.
Mistakes to avoid
Mistakes that get the affidavit sent back
- The new name spelled two ways in the same affidavit. Pick one spelling and use it on every line.
- No reason given "I changed my name" without the marriage, divorce or choice behind it invites questions.
- Old records not listed Name the certificate or passport that carries the old name, with its number.
- Signed the night before An affidavit you signed alone at home cannot be sworn; print a clean copy.
- A format copied from another country that swears under that country's law. Keep the statement plain and let the notary's certificate show where it was made.
Prices
Price
| Service | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit (general, name, same name) | From AED 600 | AED 300 per affidavit (federal item 12); a private notary on the federal schedule adds up to 30 percent |
| Drafting or typing (add-on) | From AED 200 | None |
| Translation coordination (add-on) | From AED 350 | AED 50 per page where the translation is notarised with the instrument (federal item 11) |
| MOFAIC attestation, personal document | From AED 150 | AED 150 per personal document |
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is there a name change affidavit PDF I can print?
Yes. The PDF and Word buttons are under the introduction. Use the Word file to type your details, then print it unsigned.
Can I use an affidavit Dubai name change sample from my home country?
You can use its structure, but take out any line that swears under a foreign law or names a foreign court. The affidavit is sworn in the UAE, before a notary here.
Does my Emirates ID change when my passport changes?
Not by itself. Updating the name on your Emirates ID and residence visa is a separate step after the new passport is issued.
Can my husband sign the affidavit for me?
No. The statement is yours, so you sign it in person before the notary. He may be asked for a copy of his passport.
How long is the affidavit accepted?
That is set by the office that receives it, not by the affidavit. Many want one signed in the last few months, so ask before you sign.
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Contact
Get your affidavit prepared
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: support@privatenotarydubai.com
- Address: Jebel Ali, Main Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time)
Other family statements, NOCs and consent letters are in our free document templates.
- Phone+971 52 947 5935
- WhatsApp+971 52 947 5935
- Emailsupport@privatenotarydubai.com
- AddressJebel Ali, Main Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Sources for this page
- Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession, Article 7: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563
- Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai, Article 27: https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2013/Law%20No.%20(4)%20of%202013%20Concerning%20Notaries%20Public%20in%20the%20Emirate%20of%20Dubai.html
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024, federal notary fees, items 11 and 12: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491
- MOFAIC attestation fees: https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs
- Hague Apostille Convention status table: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41