A passport with travel stamps
Attestation

Certificate attestation in Dubai

Attestation is the chain of official stamps that lets UAE authorities, employers and schools accept a document issued somewhere else. We prepare your documents, submit them at each stage and collect them, while the issuing authorities, the relevant embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) carry out the attestation itself.

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Overview

What certificate attestation means in the UAE

A certificate printed in another country carries no weight in the UAE on its own. Before a visa office, employer, school or court relies on it, the document has to pass through a series of checks confirming that the stamp and signature at each level are genuine. That series is attestation, and in the UAE it always ends with MOFA.

For a document issued abroad, the usual order is the foreign ministry of the issuing country, then the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, then MOFA. Many countries add an earlier stage, such as a notary or the body that issued the certificate, and these home-country steps differ from place to place. We confirm the exact route for your country before anything is sent.

Documents issued inside the UAE take a shorter path: the issuing body attests first, then MOFA. Some UAE-issued birth, death and school certificates now carry a digital MOFA attestation from the start, so it is worth checking before you pay for a second one.

The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. In some countries an apostille forms part of the home-country stage, but it never replaces the UAE embassy and MOFA stages, so plan for the full chain even if your document already carries one.

Services

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Each page explains who it's for, the documents, the official fees and every step.

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Side by side

Rules depend on your activity, so we confirm the details for your case before you commit.

Foreign-issued and UAE-issued documents compared
At a glanceIssued abroadIssued in the UAE
First stageAuthorities in the issuing countryThe UAE body that issued it
Home-country foreign ministryRequiredNot part of the route
UAE embassy abroadRequiredNot needed for use in the UAE
Final stageMOFAMOFA
Digital attestationNot applicableSome birth, death and school certificates
MOFA feeAED 150 personal, AED 2,000 commercialAED 150 personal, AED 2,000 commercial
ApostilleDoes not replace the UAE stagesNot applicable
Process

How it works

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Send us clear photos

    You

    Share a photo or scan of both sides of each document on WhatsApp, with the country that issued it and where you plan to use it in the UAE.

  2. Step 2: Map your route

    Global Sky PRO

    We work out the attestation chain for your document and country, list anything else we need and quote our service fee in writing, with government fees shown separately.

  3. Step 3: Prepare and submit

    Global Sky PRO

    We check names, dates and existing stamps, then submit the document at each stage and arrange courier of the original where the process needs it.

  4. Step 4: Home-country and embassy stamps

    Authority

    The authorities in the issuing country, and then the UAE embassy there, attest the document under their own requirements and schedules.

  5. Step 5: MOFA attestation

    Authority

    MOFA completes the final UAE attestation through its online channels once every earlier stamp is in place.

  6. Step 6: Return and next steps

    Global Sky PRO

    We return the attested original and tell you whether the receiving authority also wants a legal translation.

Why attestations get delayed or sent back

Most problems we see come from small details rather than the process itself. Catching them before submission saves you a second round of fees and waiting.

  • A name on the certificate that doesn't match the passport, including spelling and the order of names
  • A laminated original, which MOFA won't accept
  • A missing earlier stamp, so the next authority has nothing to verify
  • A document in a language other than English or Arabic sent without an official translation
  • Damaged, faded or altered originals, or a copy sent where the original is required
  • A qualification from an institution the issuing country's authorities cannot confirm

Where translation fits in

MOFA asks for the original in English or Arabic, or accompanied by an official translation. Separately, many UAE authorities, including the courts, want an Arabic legal translation of the attested document before they act on it. Documents for official use are translated by legal translators registered with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

We tell you at the start whether your receiving authority needs a translation, so it doesn't catch you out at the last stage. Where one is needed, we can arrange it once the attestation stamps are in place.

Check what's already on your document

Before you start, look at the back of the document. A foreign ministry stamp may mean part of the chain is already done, and a UAE-issued certificate showing a digital MOFA attestation may need nothing further. Send us a photo of both sides and we'll tell you which stages remain, so you only pay for what is still missing.

FAQs

Attestation: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

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What is certificate attestation?

Certificate attestation is a sequence of official stamps confirming that a document and the signatures on it are genuine, so it can be used in the UAE. For a foreign document, that normally means the issuing country's foreign ministry, the UAE embassy there and finally MOFA. UAE-issued documents go to their issuing body and then to MOFA.

What is MOFA attestation?

MOFA attestation is the final stage, carried out by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that makes a document usable with UAE authorities. MOFA only attests documents that already carry the earlier stamps it needs. Individuals apply online or through the UAE MOFA app using UAE PASS, and the fee is AED 150 for a personal document and AED 2,000 for a commercial one.

Does the UAE accept apostilled documents?

Not on their own. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille does not replace UAE embassy and MOFA attestation. In some countries the apostille is part of the home-country stage, but the document still needs the UAE steps after it. We confirm what applies to your country before you send anything.

How long does attestation take?

It depends mainly on the country that issued the document. Home-country authorities and UAE embassies each work to their own schedules, and some need the original posted or presented in person. Once we know your document and country, we give you a realistic estimate and update you at every stage rather than quoting a fixed number up front.

How much does attestation cost?

MOFA charges AED 150 to attest a personal document and AED 2,000 for a commercial document. Home-country and embassy fees vary by country and are paid at cost. Our service fee is separate and quoted in writing before we start, so you can see exactly what goes to each authority and what comes to us.

Can someone submit documents for attestation on my behalf?

Yes. MOFA allows another person to submit an attestation for you, which is how we handle the UAE stage. Home-country steps may have their own rules on who can apply, especially for educational records, and we tell you early if you need to sign an authorisation letter or attend in person.

Which documents can you help attest?

We help with personal documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates, educational records including degrees, diplomas and school certificates, and commercial documents such as company papers, invoices and agreements. We also handle true copy attestation, document verification, signature verification and lawyer attestation. If your document isn't listed, send us a photo and we'll check.

How long does MOFA attestation take once my document is in the UAE?

At the time of writing, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) gives 1 to 3 business days for courier-based attestation inside the UAE, depending on the courier you choose, and within 2 hours during official working hours for eligible UAE-issued digital documents. Those times cover the MOFA stage only. Stamps in the issuing country and at the UAE embassy there follow each authority's own schedule, so plan for them separately.

Source: MOFA: documents attestation service

Why would MOFA reject an attestation application?

MOFA lists incorrect information, details that don't match the document, altered documents and choosing the wrong issuing authority or document type as common reasons for rejection, and it won't accept a laminated original. A submitted application can't be edited and a rejected one can't be reopened, so a new application is needed once the problem is fixed. MOFA says refunds for rejected applications are credited automatically. We check these points before anything is submitted.

Source: MOFA: documents attestation service

Can I attest a UAE-issued document for use in another country?

Yes. MOFA attests UAE-issued documents for use abroad and, depending on the destination country and the completion option you choose, the UAE embassy or consulate there can add its attestation too. Eligible digital documents, meaning an original PDF from a supported UAE authority with a QR code or similar verification feature, are attested online; scans and photos are not accepted. The destination country can't be changed after you submit, so confirm it with the receiving organisation first.

Source: MOFA: documents attestation service

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Attestation is performed by the issuing authorities, the relevant embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We handle preparation, submission and collection. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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