UAE Certificate Attestation From Your Country to MOFA in UAE

What does ‘attestation for UAE’ mean?

Attestation for UAE is the official process of verifying the authenticity of a foreign-issued document through a chain of authorities starting in your home country, through the UAE Embassy, and ending with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC). Once attested, the document is legally recognised across all seven UAE emirates.

Is UAE part of the Hague Apostille Convention?

No. The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. This means an apostille stamp alone is not sufficient for UAE legal use. Full UAE Embassy attestation and MOFAIC attestation are mandatory even for documents issued in Hague member countries like Germany, the UK, or France.

How much does attestation cost for UAE in 2026?

MOFAIC fees for personal and educational documents (degree, birth, marriage, PCC) are approximately AED 150–160 per document. Commercial documents such as MOAs or board resolutions cost AED 2,000–2,300. Additional charges apply for home-country notarisation, embassy fees, and courier services. GloboPrime provides transparent all-inclusive quotes with no hidden fees.

How long does UAE attestation take?

MOFAIC attestation in the UAE takes 2–3 working days from the point of UAE submission. However, the full process including home-country notarisation, HRD/MEA/FCDO verification, and UAE Embassy attestation typically takes 7–20 working days. GloboPrime offers express services that can significantly reduce this timeline.

Does an attested UAE certificate expire?

No. MOFAIC-attested documents do not carry an expiry date. Once attested, the document remains valid indefinitely. However, some UAE authorities (such as MOE for equivalency applications) may require documents to be of recent origin or request fresh attestation if significant time has passed.

What is MOFAIC attestation 2.0?

MOFAIC Attestation 2.0 refers to the UAE’s upgraded digital attestation system, which allows applicants to apply online via the MOFAIC portal or mobile app, track document status digitally, and receive digitally attested PDF documents for certain categories. Physical original submission is still required in most cases.

Do I need attestation for a UAE work visa if my country is in the Hague Convention?

Yes. Regardless of your country’s membership in the Hague Convention, the UAE requires full Embassy + MOFAIC attestation for work visa purposes. An apostille is not a substitute. This applies to documents from the UK, US, France, Germany, and all other Hague member states.

What is the difference between UAE attestation and UAE Embassy attestation?

UAE Embassy attestation refers to the stamp your home country’s document receives at the UAE Embassy in your origin country. This is step 3 of the process. UAE attestation (or MOFAIC attestation) refers to the final stamp applied inside the UAE by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both are required for a document to be legally recognised in the UAE.

Can I use a professional attestation service instead of doing it myself?

Yes. You can use an authorised attestation agency like GloboPrime to manage the entire process on your behalf from home-country coordination and embassy submission to MOFAIC finalisation and delivery. This is especially recommended for complex cases involving multiple documents, overseas certificates, or tight visa deadlines.

What documents are required for MOFAIC attestation in the UAE?

You typically need: the original certificate (not laminated), a passport copy of the document holder, a visa copy (if already in UAE), an authorisation letter if using an agent, and proof of prior Embassy attestation. Non-English/non-Arabic documents must first be translated by a UAE Ministry of Justice-approved translator.