UAE Notarisation and Attestation of Documents — Complete Guide 2026
UAE frequently requires foreign documents to be apostilled, notarised, or attested before they can be used in UAE. Understanding the UAE document attestation chain saves time and money. This guide covers UAE document notarisation and attestation for 2026.
In this guide:
UAE Document Attestation Chain
- Step 1 — Home country notarisation: document must be notarised by a qualified notary in the country of issue; e.g. marriage certificate notarised by a notary public in the UK, India, etc.
- Step 2 — Home country government authentication: the notarisation is authenticated by the relevant home country authority (e.g. UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation; Ministry of External Affairs in India)
- Step 3 — UAE Embassy/Consulate in home country: the document is then authenticated by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in the country of issue
- Step 4 — UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): final authentication in UAE; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) attestation; done online via MOFAIC app or service centre
- Apostille convention: if the country is a Hague Apostille Convention member (UK, India post-2023, most of Europe, USA, Australia), Steps 2 and 3 can be replaced by a single apostille; the UAE then authenticates the apostille at MOFA (Step 4)
Common Documents Requiring UAE Attestation
- Marriage certificate: for UAE spouse visa sponsorship; attested marriage certificate required
- Birth certificate: for UAE child visa; educational qualification verification
- Educational degrees: for UAE employment visa in professional categories; many UAE employers and licensing authorities require attested degrees
- Power of Attorney: if someone is acting on your behalf in UAE legal or commercial matters
- Company documents: Memorandum of Association, board resolutions used in UAE commercial contexts
UAE Document Attestation Costs and Timeline
- UAE MOFA attestation: AED 150 per document (standard); AED 30-50 typing centre service charge
- UAE Embassy attestation in home country: varies by country; USD 30-100 per document typically
- Home country apostille: AED 50-200 equivalent depending on country; UK FCDO apostille AED 150 equivalent
- Timeline: allow 2-4 weeks for full attestation chain from home country to final UAE MOFA stamp
- Urgent: some UAE embassies and MOFA service centres offer expedited processing (AED 100-300 surcharge)
UAE Notarisation Within UAE
- UAE Notary Public: for documents executed in UAE; MOA, Power of Attorney, declarations; UAE notary public (notary office in Dubai, Abu Dhabi) provides notarisation for UAE-created documents
- DIFC and ADGM notary: for DIFC/ADGM-governed legal documents; DIFC Courts and ADGM Courts have their own notarial services
- Cost: AED 200-500 per document for UAE notarisation; depends on document type and notary office