Attestation
What Is Legalisation? Meaning and Use in the UAE
October 24, 20266 minute read
What is legalisation? It is the process that makes a document from one country accepted in another, by adding official stamps in a fixed order. We help you prepare it: our in-house notary public at our Business Bay office notarises your document, in person, online or at a home visit.
Call or WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766 to start.
The catch most people miss is the order. A stamp from the wrong office, or in the wrong sequence, means the next office turns the document away.
Step by step
What Is Legalisation Requirements: How the Chain Works
The UAE is not a party to the Hague convention that allows one single stamp, so one stamp is not enough. You can check the status of the UAE on the Hague Conference page. Instead, a document goes through several steps.
For a UAE document going abroad, the chain normally runs like this:
1
The document is signed or notarised in the UAE.
2
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC) attests it.
3
The embassy or consulate of the destination country in the UAE attests it.
For a foreign document coming into the UAE, it is attested in the issuing country first, including by the UAE embassy there. Then MOFAIC attests it in the UAE. You can read the process on the MOFAIC attestation page.
If you only want the meaning of attestation, see what is attestation.
What Is Legalisation Documents Required
The exact list depends on the document and the country. Most files need these items:
- The original document, or a copy certified for use.
- A passport or Emirates ID of the person who signs.
- A legal translation, if the receiving country needs another language. Translations for official use are done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice.
- Proof of authority, if you sign for a company or for another person.
Blank fields, signing before the appointment and a missing step in the chain are the most common reasons a file is returned. To see which papers a notary can handle, read what documents are notarised in the UAE.
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.
Step by step
What Is Legalisation Procedure Step by Step
Follow these steps in order.
- Tell us the document, the destination country and how many people will sign.
- We draft your document and handle the legal translation if it is needed.
- Our in-house notary public notarises it. An Arab notary public sits at our Business Bay office. You can also sign online through the official channels, or at a home visit. We tell you whether your document suits each route.
- MOFAIC attests the notarised document.
- The embassy or consulate of the destination country in the UAE attests it last.
To understand the first step better, read what notarised means.
Prices
What Is Legalisation Fees: What You Pay
There are two kinds of cost, and they stay separate.
Government fees. MOFAIC charges AED 150 for personal documents. Ask us for the current figure for commercial documents. Translation, embassy and consulate fees are separate. Federal notary fees are set by Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024. For example, notarising a power of attorney is AED 100 per party.
Our prices.
- Legal translation from AED 50 per page.
- MOFA attestation handling from AED 150 for a personal document and from AED 300 for a commercial document.
- Drafting or typing add-on from AED 200.
- 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.
Watch for
Time and Common Mistakes
We do not promise a fixed time, because each office sets its own pace and the embassy of your destination country has its own rules. Ask us for the next steps once you know your destination.
Avoid these mistakes:
- Sending the file to the embassy before MOFAIC has attested it.
- Signing before the notary appointment.
- Leaving fields blank.
- Forgetting the translation the receiving country asks for.
How We Help
We draft your document, handle the legal translation, and our in-house notary public notarises it, in person at our Business Bay office, online or at a home visit. Online notary public services run through the official channels, the Ministry of Justice E-Notary system and Dubai Courts remote attendance. We tell you whether your document can go that way.
For foreign papers coming into the UAE, see notary for foreign documents in Dubai.
How much does legalisation cost?
MOFAIC charges AED 150 for personal documents. Ask us for the commercial figure. Our handling starts from AED 150 for a personal document, plus the embassy and translation fees. Ask us for your total before you start.
How long does legalisation take?
We do not set a fixed time, because each office and each embassy works to its own schedule. Tell us the document and the destination country and we explain the steps and the order. The UAE government weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with Friday a half day.
What documents are required for legalisation?
You need the original document, your passport or Emirates ID, and a legal translation if the receiving country asks for one. A company document also needs proof of who may sign. We check the list for your case when you send the document.
Can legalisation be done online?
The notary step can sometimes be done online through the Ministry of Justice E-Notary system or Dubai Courts remote attendance. We tell you whether your document suits that route. The MOFAIC and embassy steps follow their own rules.
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Talk to us
Start Your Legalisation
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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