UAE Document Attestation : How to Attest Certificates & Documents

If you’re living or working in the UAE, chances are you’ll need to get some documents attested sooner or later. Whether it’s for a visa, a job, sponsoring family members, or setting up a business, attestation is the official stamp that makes your paperwork valid in the eyes of UAE authorities.

Here’s a straightforward guide to what you need to know — and how to get it done without the headache.

What Is Attestation, and Why Do You Need It?

Attestation is simply the official process of verifying that a document is genuine. It confirms the signature, seal, or stamp on the document is real and that the document was issued by a legitimate authority.

In the UAE, attested documents are required for a wide range of official processes. Without proper attestation, foreign documents are generally not accepted by government departments, banks, or legal entities. Some documents — like passports or documents issued within the UAE that are being used locally — typically don’t need attestation. But if a document comes from outside the country and you need to submit it to a UAE authority, attestation is usually mandatory.

Which Documents Need to Be Attested?

Any foreign document intended for official use in the UAE will likely need attestation. Common examples include:

Educational certificates — degrees, diplomas, and transcripts
Personal certificates — birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates
Police clearance certificates
Legal documents — such as Power of Attorney
Business paperwork — trade licenses, corporate agreements, memorandums of association
Commercial documents — invoices and certificates of origin for customs and trade purposes

Some legal documents may also require an Arabic legal translation and additional Ministry of Justice attestation, depending on how they will be used.

The Attestation Chain for Foreign Documents

For documents issued outside the UAE, there is a specific chain of verification that must be followed. Skipping any step will cause delays or rejection:

Notarisation in the home country
Attestation by the home country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Attestation by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country
Final attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)

This chain ensures cross-border acceptance and gives UAE authorities confidence that the document is authentic and legally valid.

How MOFA Attestation Works

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles all final attestations. The process differs slightly depending on whether your document was issued inside or outside the UAE.

For Documents Issued in the UAE

If you need a UAE-issued document attested for use abroad, you have two possible routes:

Digital Attestation — This is an online service where you upload your document, pay the fee, and receive a digitally attested copy via email or through MOFA’s website. However, this is only available for eligible digital documents that include verification features like a QR code or barcode, and were issued by approved UAE government entities. You cannot choose this option manually — the system decides whether your document qualifies.

Courier-Based Attestation — If your document doesn’t qualify for digital attestation, you’ll need to use an approved courier service. You submit the original physical document, MOFA attests it, and the courier returns it to you.

For Documents Issued Outside the UAE

Foreign documents can only be attested through the courier-based method. You submit the original document to an approved courier, who delivers it to MOFA for attestation and then returns it to your address.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply

Attesting a UAE-Issued Document

Go to mofa.gov.ae and sign in with your UAE PASS
Select Services, then click Attestation Services in the UAE
Confirm that the document was issued in the UAE
Select the issuing authority and document type
The system will assign either digital or courier-based attestation:
- If digital: Choose the destination country, upload your document, confirm the declaration, and pay
- If courier: Enter your contact and delivery details, choose an approved courier and schedule, pay, and submit
For courier submissions, the courier will contact you to collect the document and return it once attested

Attesting a Foreign-Issued Document

Visit mofa.gov.ae and sign in with your UAE PASS
Select Services, then choose Attestation through UAE Missions Abroad
Fill in your personal details and delivery address
Select your preferred courier and delivery type (regular or express)
Choose a collection date and time
Pay the applicable fees
Hand over your original document to the courier on the scheduled date
The courier delivers it to MOFA for attestation and returns it to you

You will receive SMS notifications to track your document throughout the process.

Costs and Processing Time

Attestation through MOFA typically takes up to three working days.

The standard attestation fee for individual documents is Dh150. Courier delivery costs range from Dh31 to Dh105, depending on whether you choose regular or express service.

If you need to check your application status or have questions, you can contact MOFA customer support at 800 44444.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Your document must already be attested by the relevant authorities in the issuing country and the UAE embassy there before MOFA will accept it
Documents must be in Arabic or English, or come with a legally certified translation
Do not laminate your documents, as this can cause issues during processing
Always check the specific requirements of the UAE authority you’re submitting to, as some may ask for additional steps like Arabic legal translation or Ministry of Justice attestation