Document Attestation UAE

What Is Document Attestation?

Document attestation is the process of authenticating a document's origin and validity so it is legally recognized in another country. In the UAE, attestation is required for:

• Visa applications — educational and personal documents for employment, investor, and family visas
• Trade license applications — MOA, partner documents, commercial certificates
• Professional licensing — degrees and qualifications for DHA, KHDA, Engineering bodies, and other authorities
• Court submissions — power of attorney, affidavits, and statutory declarations
• MOHRE filings — employment contracts, degree certificates for regulated roles
• Tax Residency Certificates — supporting documents for FTA TRC applications

Documents We Attest

Educational Certificates

• University degrees and diplomas
• Transcripts and academic records
• Professional qualifications (CA, CPA, ACCA, CFA, etc.)
• Secondary school certificates

Personal Documents

• Birth certificates
• Marriage and divorce certificates
• Death certificates
• Adoption certificates
• Single status certificates

Legal Documents

• Power of attorney (POA)
• Affidavits and statutory declarations
• Wills and testaments
• Court orders and judgments
• Notarial acts

Commercial Documents

• Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA)
• Board resolutions and shareholder agreements
• Commercial contracts
• Company registration certificates
• Bank reference letters
• Chamber of Commerce certificates
• Certificate of Incorporation / Good Standing

Medical Documents

• Medical certificates
• Fitness-for-employment reports
• Specialist reports and prescriptions (for import/export of medications)

Attestation Process

For UAE-Issued Documents (Going Abroad)

Documents issued in the UAE and needed for use in a foreign country require:

1. Notarization — by a licensed UAE Notary Public
2. MOFA Attestation — UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates the notary's signature
3. Embassy/Consulate Attestation — the destination country's embassy in UAE certifies the MOFA stamp

Timeline: 3–7 business days (standard) | 24–48 hours (express)

For Foreign-Issued Documents (For Use in UAE)

Documents issued abroad and needed for use in the UAE require:

1. Local Notarization — notarized in the country of issue
2. Home Country MOFA — Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the issuing country attests the notary
3. UAE Embassy Attestation — UAE Embassy in the issuing country certifies the home MOFA stamp
4. UAE MOFA Re-attestation — UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates the UAE Embassy stamp upon arrival in UAE

We manage steps 3 and 4 (the UAE side) and coordinate steps 1–2 through our international partner network.

Apostille Countries

If the document originates from a Hague Convention (Apostille) country, a simpler apostille stamp replaces the full multi-step chain for many purposes. The UAE joined the Hague Convention and began issuing apostilles in 2021. We advise on whether apostille is sufficient for your purpose.

Our Attestation Service Covers

Express Attestation

Need documents attested urgently? Our express 24–48 hour service is available for:

• UAE MOFA attestation (standard queue bypassed)
• Most embassy attestation queues (with priority appointment)

Additional express fees apply. Contact us with your urgency timeline and we'll confirm feasibility.

How to Get Started

1. Send us your document list — WhatsApp or email us a list of documents, their country of issue, and their intended purpose in the UAE
2. We advise on requirements — within 2 hours, we confirm the exact attestation chain, estimated timeline, and cost
3. Courier or drop off — send original documents to our Dubai office (courier or in-person). We accept certified copies for initial review.
4. We handle everything — notary, MOFA, embassy coordination, and UAE re-attestation
5. Delivery — attested documents returned by courier or in-person collection

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to submit original documents or can I send copies? Most authorities require original documents for attestation. However, we can attest certified true copies in some cases. We advise on this per document type.

My degree is from a country without a UAE Embassy — what do I do? In this case, the home country MOFA stamp plus an alternative diplomatic channel is used. Contact us — we have experience with virtually all countries.

How long does attestation take for Indian documents? Indian documents: notarization by State Notary → State Home Department → MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) India → UAE Embassy India → UAE MOFA. This takes 10–15 working days standard. Express options available at MEA and UAE Embassy levels.

Can you attest documents sent by post from outside the UAE? Yes — send originals by registered courier (DHL/FedEx). We process them and return by courier. We provide a secure courier receipt upon receiving your documents.

What is the difference between attestation and apostille? Apostille is a simplified single-step authentication recognized among Hague Convention member countries. Attestation is the more complex multi-step chain used when apostille is not accepted or the countries involved are not both Hague members. We advise which is applicable to your document and destination.

Office 225, Oud Metha Offices, Dubai Healthcare City +971 50 380 7565 | support@hashmibusinessconsultant.com