Business Setup

How to Start a Notary and Document Clearing Agency in Sharjah: Setup Guide

Published 26 Jul 2026 · 1 min read

Starting a document clearing (typing centre / PRO services) business in Sharjah involves a document-clearing activity licence through SEDD — this is distinct from becoming a notary public yourself, which is a separate government appointment rather than a private business activity.

Document clearing vs notary services

A document clearing company (sometimes called a typing centre) assists individuals and businesses with government paperwork — visa applications, trade licence renewals, Ejari registration and similar processes — operating as a private business under a standard trade licence. Notary public services, by contrast, are performed by government-appointed notaries or through officially recognised notary offices, not something a private company can simply set up and offer independently.

Licensing considerations

A document clearing business typically needs a PRO/document-clearing services activity licence through SEDD, and staff handling government portal submissions on behalf of clients may need specific authorisation or registration with relevant government systems (such as typing centre accreditation for certain immigration or licensing portals).

Costs and timeline

As a professional-services activity without special facility approvals, licensing costs are generally comparable to other consultancy businesses. Model your case with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator, and budget separately for any portal-access accreditation your specific government-liaison services require.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my document clearing business also notarise documents?

No — notary public services are performed by government-appointed notaries or officially recognised notary offices, not something a private document clearing business can offer on its own authority, even alongside other government-liaison services.

What government processes can a typing centre actually help with?

Typing centres commonly assist with visa applications, trade licence renewals, Ejari registration, labour contract processing and similar government paperwork — the specific scope depends on which government portals and processes your business is set up and authorised to handle.

Do staff need special training to submit government paperwork?

Staff handling submissions through specific government portals may need portal-specific training or accreditation, particularly for immigration or licensing systems that require registered typing-centre access rather than general public access.

Is this business cheaper to set up than a law firm?

Generally yes — document clearing does not require the individual lawyer registration and professional qualification layer that a law firm needs, making it a comparatively more accessible professional-services business to license.

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