Notary Public
Synonyms: Notary، Notarization Officer، Public Notary، Electronic Notary
Last updated: 2026-05-07
Short Definition
Public official authorized to authenticate contracts and real estate transactions, issuing title deeds and authenticating sales, mortgages, powers of attorney.
Overview
Legal Basis
The notary public is based on the Notary Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/4) of 1409 AH and its executive regulations, and the Notarization Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/11) of 1436 AH, which expanded the scope of notarization to include the private sector. Notarized transactions are executory titles under Article (9) of the Enforcement Law, meaning they can be executed directly via Najiz without needing to file a traditional lawsuit. Certified notaries are also subject to Ministry of Justice oversight and their certifications may be revoked upon violations.
Practical Example
Mohammed, a Saudi owner in Makkah, wants to give a sale power of attorney to his brother Abdullah to handle selling a land in Taif worth SAR 600,000 while Mohammed travels for work abroad. Mohammed logs into Najiz, selects «Issue Sharia Power of Attorney», specifies the type (sale of specific property), the agent name Abdullah and his ID number, and precise authorities (sale, signing the deed, receiving payment). Mohammed confirms via Nafath, and the electronic power of attorney is issued within minutes with the electronic notary seal. Later, Abdullah uses the power of attorney number for any real estate transaction, verified instantly via Najiz. When the power of attorney is no longer needed, Mohammed can revoke it the same electronic way in seconds.
Common Mistakes
- ✗Assuming any notary signature carries identical authority — electronic, government, and certified notaries have different scopes of authority.
- ✗Issuing a general (absolute) power of attorney instead of one with specified powers — opens the door to broad misuse.
- ✗Forgetting to revoke the power of attorney after the purpose ends — it remains valid and may be used without the principal knowledge.
- ✗Trying to notarize transactions requiring personal attendance (endowments, major wills) via Najiz — may not be accepted and requires visiting a branch.
- ✗Overlooking the request for a notarized copy with the electronic seal — some entities (especially outside the Kingdom) require visual verification.
International Differences
Notarization systems differ between countries. In Turkey, Noter is a strong and independent entity with widely distributed private offices, and many transactions require attendance at the Noter. In the UAE, the notary is under the Ministry of Justice and provided through customer service centers and electronic applications. In Egypt, the Real Estate Registry plays the role of documenting real estate transactions. In the UK, there is no notary in the same concept; solicitors handle most notarizations or Notary Public is used only for international transactions. In the US, Notary Public is widespread but has limited authority (does not grant executory status). The Saudi advantage is combining the formality of the traditional notary with the speed of electronic transformation, reducing the need for personal visits in 90%+ of transactions.