By Hanadi Al-Malki

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — There has been a 60% increase in the number of cases attended by women notaries after the Ministry of Justice started issuing notary licenses to them in July this year.

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, a number of women notaries said that they successfully carried out various notary services such as handling transactions involving real estates and transfer of ownership of deeds worth millions of riyals.

Najoud Adawi, a notary, said she used to receive several cases including those related to the issuance and cancellation of power-of-attorneys and providing opinions on queries on legal and judicial matters.

“I started handling cases of real estate deals, including purchase and sale of houses and villas and transfer of ownership of properties,” she said.

Adawi said the ministry’s decision to grant licenses to women notaries has benefitted a large number of women, especially employees, the elderly and the sick.

Samiyya Hindi, another notary, said that a large number of women started taking advantage of notary services after they entered the field.

These services included the issuance or cancelation of power of attorney for individuals and firms, document certification, the transfer of real estate rights, she said, adding that more women are expected to enter this field.

Last July, the Ministry of Justice issued licenses for 12 female lawyers allowing them to do some notary services.

These include five lawyers in Jeddah, four in Riyadh, two in Makkah and one in Unaizah.