MOFA Attestation in United Arab Emirates
MOFA attestation in the UAE is fast and online - the slow part is getting the document properly attested in your home country first.
Last verified: 2026-06
Overview
Document attestation in the UAE is a two-stage process: first, the document is attested in the issuing country (notary, home MOFA, and the UAE embassy there), then it's re-attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be recognised by UAE authorities.
The UAE side is now almost entirely online via mofa.gov.ae or the MOFA app, with same-day issuance for most categories at AED 150 per document. The home-country side is what usually takes weeks - especially for non-Hague-Apostille countries.
Documents required
- Original document (degree, marriage, birth, police clearance, etc.)
- Home country MOFA stamp/seal
- UAE embassy attestation in the issuing country
- Translation into Arabic by a UAE-licensed legal translator (some documents)
- Applicant's passport copy and Emirates ID
Eligibility
- Document already attested by the home country MOFA and UAE embassy abroad
- Document is in a category UAE MOFA accepts (educational, personal status, commercial, etc.)
- Translation matches the original exactly
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MOFA attestation (per document) | 150 AED | Online via mofa.gov.ae or the app. |
| Legal translation (English-Arabic) | 80-150 AED | Per page, from a UAE-licensed legal translator. |
| Commercial document attestation | 2,000 AED | Per document for commercial papers like CRs and powers of attorney. |
| Educational certificate attestation (home country) | Varies AED | Includes UAE embassy fee abroad - typically AED 400-1,200 equivalent. Confirm current amount on the relevant UAE embassy site. |
Step by step
- 1
Notarise in home country
Original document is notarised and then attested by the relevant ministry (education, civil affairs, etc.) and the home country's MOFA.
1-4 weeks · center
- 2
UAE embassy attestation abroad
Submit to the UAE embassy/consulate in the issuing country. Some accept couriers, others require in-person.
3-10 working days · center
- 3
Translate to Arabic (if needed)
Use a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translator. Required for most personal status and educational documents.
1-2 days · center
- 4
UAE MOFA attestation
Apply online at mofa.gov.ae or via the MOFA app. Upload the scanned attested document, pay AED 150, and the digital attestation is issued same day.
Same day · online
Processing time: 1-2 days in the UAE; 2-8 weeks for the full chain when home-country steps are included.
Where to do it online
- ICP
Linked when MOFA attestations feed into visa applications
Tasheel and Amer centres can submit MOFA attestations for AED 50-100 service fee on top, useful when you also need translation in the same trip.
Renewal
Attestations don't expire as such, but some authorities ask for attestations less than 6 months old. Keep the original document; the MOFA stamp/digital record lasts.
Fines & penalties
- Submitting an unattested document is rejected, not fined - but you lose the application fee
- Forged attestations carry criminal penalties under UAE law
Common pitfalls
- Skipping the home-country embassy step - UAE MOFA cannot attest without it
- Translation done outside the UAE - usually not accepted; must be UAE-licensed
- Original lost - some categories require the original, not a copy
- Wrong document name - the translated name must exactly match the original spelling
FAQs
AED 150 per document for the standard UAE MOFA step, paid online. Translation adds AED 80-150 per page if required. The home-country attestation chain has its own costs.
Yes - via mofa.gov.ae or the MOFA app for documents that have already cleared the home-country and UAE embassy abroad steps. Same-day digital attestation.
Usually yes, into Arabic by a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translator. The translation is attached to the attested original.
No formal expiry. Some authorities (e.g. employers, courts) ask for attestations issued within 6 months, so check before submitting.
Most commonly: degree certificates (for skilled work permits), marriage certificates (family visa), birth certificates (children's visas), police clearance (some sectors), and commercial documents like powers of attorney.
Skip the hassle
A vetted typing centre can handle the paperwork end-to-end.
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