Document Attestation

The UAE is not an Apostille Convention country, so an apostille alone will not do. We run the full consular chain, ending at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Start Your Attestation WhatsApp

Back to Services

The United Arab Emirates is not a party to the 1961 Apostille Convention, confirmed against the HCCH status table on 31 July 2026. An apostille on its own will not make a foreign document usable here, which is the single most common and most expensive mistake founders arriving from Europe and Asia make. The document needs the full consular chain instead, ending at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We run that chain for corporate documents, degree certificates, and personal status papers used in company formation, visa files, and bank onboarding.

Abstract geometric line drawing: four upright rectangles in a row, each slightly overlapping the next and joined by one clean horizontal path, the final rectangle in teal, gold hairlines on dark navy.

Key Features

Step 1, the notary or the issuing authority in the country of origin certifies the document, then that country's foreign ministry legalises it
Step 2, the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country attests it
Step 3, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives the final attestation inside the UAE, certifying the signatures and seals on the document
You supply the original physical document, in Arabic or English, or with a legally certified translation, which is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires
MoFA's published attestation fee at the time of writing is AED 150 per personal status document and AED 2,000 per commercial document, checked 31 July 2026, and MoFA warns that one commercial contract may count as more than one document

Benefits for Your Business

Documents that arrive in the form UAE authorities, free zones, and banks actually accept.
No wasted spend on an apostille route the UAE does not recognise.
One point of contact across the country of origin and the UAE, instead of four separate desks.
Commercial documents costed before you commit, since the fee turns on how the content is counted.

General information, not legal advice. The attestation chain and the fees above were checked against the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the HCCH Apostille Convention status table on 31 July 2026. Requirements and final cost vary by document type and country of origin, and typing centre or service charges can apply on top.

Degree attestation in the UAE

A degree certificate from abroad goes through the same chain as any other document:

The university and the education authority of the issuing country verify it.
That country's foreign ministry legalises it.
The UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country attests it.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives the final attestation, now issued digitally with a QR code.

The MoFA fee for a degree is AED 150. For government jobs, licensed professions and some golden visa categories, you may also need an equivalency certificate from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which is issued on top of the attested degree.

Which documents need attestation, and why

Document	Usually needed for
Degree certificate	Work visa, golden visa (professional route), professional licenses
Marriage certificate	Family visa for a spouse
Birth certificate	Family visa for children
Company documents (certificate of incorporation, board resolution, power of attorney)	Setting up a UAE company or branch with a corporate shareholder

Commercial documents cost AED 2,000 each at MoFA, and one contract can count as more than one document, so we cost them before starting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I attest my degree certificate for the UAE?

The university and education authority in the issuing country verify it, that country's foreign ministry legalises it, the UAE Embassy there attests it, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives the final attestation.

How much does MoFA attestation cost in the UAE?

AED 150 for a personal document such as a degree, marriage or birth certificate, and AED 2,000 for a commercial document.

Is an apostille accepted in the UAE?

No. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents need the full attestation chain ending at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Do I need degree equivalency as well as attestation?

Only in some cases, such as government jobs, licensed professions and some golden visa categories. Equivalency is issued on top of an attested degree, not instead of it.

Which documents need attestation for a family visa?

The marriage certificate for a spouse and the birth certificates for children, if they were issued outside the UAE.