Attestation
What Is Apostille? Meaning and What the UAE Uses Instead
October 25, 20266 minute read
What is apostille? It is a single certificate that proves a public document is genuine, so another member country of the Hague Apostille Convention will accept it. The UAE is not a party to that convention. A document going abroad from Dubai is notarised first, then attested, rather than apostilled. We draft your document and our in-house notary public notarises it at our Business Bay office, online or at a home visit.
Message us on WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766 and tell us which document you have and where it is going.
- An apostille replaces a long chain of stamps with one certificate, but only between countries that joined the convention.
- The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
- A UAE document for use abroad is notarised, attested by MOFAIC, then attested by the embassy or consulate of the destination country in the UAE.
- A foreign document for use in the UAE is attested in the issuing country, including the UAE embassy there, then by MOFAIC.
What Is Apostille Used For?
An apostille is issued by the authority of the country that made the document. It confirms the signature, the capacity of the signer and the seal on a public document. The receiving country then accepts the document without asking for more stamps.
The catch most people miss is that the stamp only works between member countries. If the UAE is on one end of the route, the apostille route does not apply. You need the attestation chain below.
Step by step
What Is Apostille Procedure in the UAE?
Because the UAE does not issue apostilles, the procedure is different. For a document leaving the UAE, it usually runs like this:
1
We draft your document and handle the legal translation if the destination needs one. Translations for official use are done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice.
2
Our in-house notary public checks your ID, watches you sign and applies the seal. This is in person at our Business Bay office, online through the official channels, or at a home visit.
3
MOFAIC attests the document in the UAE.
4
The embassy or consulate of the destination country in the UAE attests it last.
For a document coming into the UAE, the order is reversed: attestation in the issuing country, including the UAE embassy there, then MOFAIC here.
Ask about your document
Tell us the document and how many people will sign, and we will give you the government fee and our starting price in one message.
Checklist
What Is Apostille Documents Required: What to Bring
Bring the original document and a valid ID for each person who signs. If the document is in a language other than Arabic or English, tell us, because it may need a legal translation.
Before you go
- Original passport or Emirates ID for each signer.
- The original document, or the details we need to draft it.
- The name of the destination country and the office that will receive the document.
- Any earlier attestation stamps, if the document was issued abroad.
Files are turned away most often for blank fields, signing before the notary appointment, missing proof of authority, or a foreign document without its attestation chain. Tell us the document and we confirm what else is needed.
Prices
What Is Apostille Fees: What You Pay
The cost has three parts that you should keep apart: our service, the notary fee, and the attestation fees.
- MOFAIC fees are AED 150 for personal documents. Commercial documents cost more, so ask us for the current figure.
- Federal notary fees are set by Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024. For example, authenticating signatures on an instrument of unspecified value is AED 200 per party, and notarising a translation in the instrument is AED 50 per page.
- Our own prices start from AED 150 for MOFA attestation handling of a personal document and from AED 300 for a commercial document. Legal translation starts from AED 50 per page.
- Embassy and consulate fees are separate, and each country sets its own.
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
What Is Apostille Processing Time?
There is no single processing time, because the document passes through several offices. Each office sets its own pace, and the embassy or consulate of the destination country sets the last step. We do not promise a turnaround. Send us the document and the destination, and we tell you the steps and what each involves.
The UAE government weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with Friday a half day. Plan your dates around that.
How much does what is apostille cost?
The UAE does not issue apostilles, so there is no apostille fee here. You pay for the notary, MOFAIC attestation (AED 150 for a personal document) and the embassy step. Ask us for the figure for your document.
How long does what is apostille take?
We cannot give one time, because several offices are involved and each sets its own pace. Tell us the document and the destination country, and we explain the steps in order.
What documents are required for what is apostille?
You need the original document and a valid ID for each signer. A foreign document also needs its attestation stamps from the issuing country. Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we tell you what is missing.
Can what is apostille be done online?
The UAE has no apostille to apply for, online or otherwise. The notary step can sometimes be done online through the official channels, the Ministry of Justice E-Notary system and Dubai Courts remote attendance. We tell you whether your document qualifies. See the MOJ E-Notary page.
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Talk to us
Start your document today
Call or WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766, or email help@notaryservicesindubai.com. Tell us the document and how many people will sign, and we will give you the government fee and our starting price in one message.
Our office is at 707 Burj Khalifa Blvd, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. Office appointments are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time). WhatsApp answered 24/7.
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