Attestation
What Is Attestation? Meaning, Steps and Fees in the UAE
October 23, 20266 minute read
What is attestation? It is a chain of official checks on a document, so that an authority in another place accepts it as genuine. In the UAE the usual order is the notary first, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC), then the embassy of the country where the document will be used. We draft your document, handle the legal translation, and our in-house notary public notarises it at our Business Bay office, online or at a home visit.
WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766 and tell us which document you need attested.
- Attestation confirms that a signature, stamp or seal on a document is genuine.
- Each step checks the step before it, so the order matters.
- A document leaving the UAE is attested by MOFAIC, then by the destination country's embassy or consulate in the UAE.
- A foreign document coming into the UAE is attested in the issuing country, including the UAE embassy there, then by MOFAIC.
- The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the chain is longer than a single stamp.
Step by step
What Is Attestation Procedure: The Order of Steps
Most refused documents are refused because a step was skipped or done in the wrong order. For a document made in the UAE and used abroad, the order is:
1
The document is drafted correctly and, where needed, translated by a legal translator.
2
It is signed before a notary public, who checks your ID and applies the seal.
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 foreign document used in the UAE, the document is attested in the country that issued it, including the UAE embassy there. MOFAIC then attests it in the UAE.
Notarisation and Attestation Are Not the Same
Notarisation answers one question: did this person sign, and was their identity checked? Attestation answers another: is this notarial stamp genuine, so another authority can rely on it? Our page on the difference between notary and attestation goes through this in detail, and what notarised means explains the first step.
Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession. In Dubai, notaries public are also regulated by Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013.
What Is Attestation Documents Required
Bring the original document and these items:
- Your passport or Emirates ID.
- The names of everyone who will sign, written exactly as on their IDs.
- A note of the country where the document will be used.
- For a company document, the papers that show who may sign for the company.
- For a foreign document, the originals with the earlier attestation stamps.
In Dubai, a notarised instrument is in Arabic or comes with a certified Arabic translation. Translations for official use are done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice.
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.
Prices
What Is Attestation Fees: Government and Our Prices
Government fees and our service prices are separate lines. MOFAIC fees are AED 150 for personal documents, and commercial documents carry a higher fee that we confirm when you send the document. A general or commercial power of attorney is a commercial document on the MOFAIC list. Embassy fees depend on the embassy, so ask the embassy for its figure.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| MOFAIC fee, personal document | AED 150 |
| MOFAIC fee, commercial document | Higher, we confirm it for you |
| Our MOFA attestation handling, personal document | from AED 150 |
| Our MOFA attestation handling, commercial document | from AED 300 |
| Legal translation | from AED 50 per page |
| Notary fee for a power of attorney, federal schedule | AED 100 per party |
| Notary fee, private notary on the federal schedule (up to 30% more) | AED 130 per party |
| Our power of attorney, any type | from AED 1,500 |
| Courier pickup and delivery add-on | from AED 80 |
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.
The notary fees come from Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024.
What Is Attestation Processing Time
MOFAIC and the embassies set their own timings, and we do not state a figure for them. Ask the authority or ask us what to expect for your document. We tell you what each step needs when you send it.
Watch for
Mistakes That Get a Document Refused
- Skipping the notary step before MOFAIC.
- Attesting in the wrong order, for example the embassy before MOFAIC.
- Names that differ from the passport.
- A foreign document sent without its earlier attestation stamps.
- Wording too general for the act, which a notary cannot fix after signing.
How We Help
We have an in-house notary public at our Business Bay office, 707 Burj Khalifa Blvd, Marasi Drive, Business Bay. We offer in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit notary services across Dubai. Office appointments are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time). WhatsApp answered 24/7.
Home visits are quoted on request. See our services for the full list, or notary for foreign documents in Dubai if your document comes from abroad.
How much does attestation cost?
MOFAIC charges AED 150 for a personal document and a higher fee for a commercial one. Our handling starts from AED 150 for a personal document and from AED 300 for a commercial one, and embassy fees are separate. Notary fees and translation are also separate.
How long does attestation take?
Each authority sets its own timing, and we do not promise a time. Ask us when you send the document and we tell you what each step needs.
What documents are required for attestation?
You need the original document, your ID and the names of the signers. A company document needs proof of who may sign. A foreign document needs its earlier stamps. See notary for foreign documents.
Can attestation be done online?
The notary step can be done online through the official channels, the Ministry of Justice E-Notary system and Dubai Courts remote attendance. We are not those systems. Ask us whether your document can use that route.
What is the difference between attestation and notarisation?
Notarisation checks the signer and applies a notary seal. Attestation confirms that the notary seal is genuine for use with another authority. Read the full difference.
Guides
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Talk to us
Next Step
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. You can also message us on WhatsApp.
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