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Attestation

Certified true copy attestation in Dubai

A certified true copy is a copy that a recognised office has compared with the original and stamped as identical, so you can hand it over and keep the original. We work out who can certify your document and whether the receiving office will accept a copy, then handle the steps, including UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation where the document needs it.

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Overview

What a certified true copy is

A certified true copy is a photocopy or printout that carries a statement, stamp and signature confirming it matches the original. The office certifying it must see the original, compare the two and take responsibility for the match. A plain photocopy, however clear, has none of that weight.

People in Dubai ask for true copies when the original must stay somewhere else, is needed by several offices at once, or is too valuable to post. A company may need its trade license or articles in front of several banks at the same time. A family may need copies of passports and certificates for a school file while keeping the originals safe at home.

The key question is not only how to get a copy certified, but whether the office receiving it will take a copy at all. We check that first, because a copy certified by the wrong body is simply a more expensive photocopy.

Who it's for

Who uses certified true copies

  • 01

    Companies dealing with several banks or authorities

    When a trade license, certificate of incorporation or articles must be shown in several places at once, certified copies avoid sending the original around.

  • 02

    Residents whose originals are held elsewhere

    If your original is lodged with an authority, an employer or a university abroad, a certified copy may be the practical option.

  • 03

    People sending documents overseas

    Some foreign bodies ask for copies certified in the UAE rather than originals, particularly for identity and educational documents.

  • 04

    Holders of fragile or irreplaceable originals

    Old certificates and documents that cannot be reissued are safer kept at home, with a certified copy doing the work.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • Checking whether the receiving office accepts a certified copy, and from whom
  • Identifying the right certifying body: the issuer of the document or a notary public
  • Preparing clean copies, application forms and any authorisation letters
  • Submitting requests to issuing bodies through their online services where a representative can apply
  • Arranging translation, and any further attestation the receiving office asks for
  • Checking the finished copy against the original before you hand it over

Not included

  • We don't certify copies ourselves; only the issuing body or a notary public can
  • We can't make an office accept a copy when its rules ask for the original
  • We won't process copies of documents that appear altered
  • We don't give legal advice on what a document means or how it should be used
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • The original document, in good condition and not laminated
  • Clear, complete copies of every page, including the back if it carries stamps
  • Your passport and Emirates ID, or the holder's if you apply for someone else
  • A signed authorisation letter if someone else is applying for the holder
  • For company documents: the trade license and proof of the signatory's authority
  • A translation, if the document is not in Arabic or English and the office needs one

Some offices ask for extra items, such as the reason for the request or the receiving body's letter, which we confirm before you go.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Certification fees are set by the issuing body or under the notary rules, and paid at cost. If the document also needs MOFA attestation, MOFA charges AED 150 for a personal document and AED 2,000 for a commercial document. We confirm every fee before you pay and list it separately from our service fee.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    Timing depends on the certifying office. Issuing bodies with online services can respond quickly, while notary appointments depend on availability. We give you a realistic picture once we know which route applies.

Process

How it works, step by step

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

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Tell us where the copy is going

    You

    Share a scan of the document and the request from the office that will receive the copy, so we know exactly what it will accept.

  2. Step 2: Choose the certifying route

    Global Sky PRO

    We confirm whether the issuer of the document or a notary public should certify it, and whether translation or further attestation will follow.

  3. Step 3: Prepare and book

    Global Sky PRO

    We prepare the copies and forms, submit online requests to the issuer, or help you book a notary appointment, in person or remote where that service is offered.

  4. Step 4: Present the original

    You

    You, or someone you nominate, present the original and identity documents so the certifying officer can compare them. Remote notary sessions include an identity check by video.

  5. Step 5: Certification

    Authority

    The issuing body or notary public compares the copy with the original and certifies it with a stamp, signature and date.

  6. Step 6: Check and complete

    Global Sky PRO

    We check the certified copy for errors, arrange translation or further attestation if the receiving office needs it, and return everything to you.

Good to know

Details that save time

Who can certify a true copy in Dubai

There are two main routes. The first is the body that issued the document. Many UAE authorities certify copies of their own records; the Dubai Development Authority, for example, offers attested true copies of documents it issued, such as commercial licenses and articles of association, through its online portal. This route is usually the strongest, because the issuer is vouching for its own document.

The second route is a notary public. Dubai's notaries include government notaries at the courts and private notaries registered on the official roll, and some of their services run remotely after a video identity check. In general, a notary confirms that the copy matches the original put in front of them, not that the original is genuine, which is why some offices still prefer the issuer's certification.

For documents issued abroad, a copy certified in the issuing country would have to pass through that country's own steps before the UAE embassy and MOFA. Whether that works, or whether the receiving office wants the attested original instead, depends on the document, and we confirm it before you start.

When a copy is accepted instead of the original

The receiving office decides, and rules vary from one office to the next. Copies are commonly accepted as supporting documents and for file records. Originals are usually required when the document itself is what the office is acting on.

  • Often fine with a certified copy: supporting documents for applications, record updates and foreign bodies asking for proof
  • Usually needs the original: MOFA attestation, which asks for the original or an official digital version
  • Sometimes either: licensing applications and employer checks, depending on the authority's current rules
  • Unclear: if the office gives no written guidance, we ask before you pay for certification

Why true copy requests get refused

Refusals are rarely about the copy itself. They usually come from the original or from a mismatch in the paperwork.

  • The original is laminated, damaged or has unreadable stamps
  • Pages, or the reverse side, were not copied
  • The name on the document differs from the passport presented
  • The person presenting it has no authorisation from the document holder
  • The original still needs attestation before any copy of it can be relied on
FAQs

True copy attestation: your questions

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

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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What is a certified true copy?

A certified true copy is a copy of a document that a recognised office has checked against the original and stamped, signed and dated to confirm it is identical. It lets you give an office a reliable copy while you keep the original. The certification only has value if it comes from a body the receiving office accepts, which is why we check that first.

Who can certify a true copy in Dubai?

Usually either the body that issued the document or a notary public. Many authorities certify copies of their own records, and Dubai has notaries both at the courts and in private practice on the official roll. Which one you need depends on what the receiving office accepts. We confirm that with you before booking anything, so you only pay for the certification that will be used.

When is a true copy accepted instead of the original?

When the receiving office's rules allow it, which is common for supporting documents and file records. Offices acting on the document itself, such as MOFA for attestation, normally want the original or an official digital version. If the office has not said which it wants, we ask on your behalf, so you don't pay for a certification it will turn down.

Can someone else get a true copy certified for me?

Often, yes, with your written authorisation and copies of your identity documents. For certified copies of records held by the issuing body, a representative can usually apply. Some notarial services need the document holder to take part in person or by video, particularly where a declaration is involved. We tell you in advance whether you need to attend.

Is a true copy the same as attestation?

No. A certified true copy confirms that a copy matches the original. Attestation confirms that a document, and the stamps and signatures on it, can be relied on by UAE authorities, through a chain that ends with MOFA. Some situations need both: the original attested for one office and a certified copy for another. We plan the two together when that applies.

Can Dubai Chambers certify a true copy of my company documents?

Yes, if your company is a Dubai Chamber of Commerce member. Its True Copy service runs through the Dubai Chambers online services portal. At the time of writing, Dubai Chambers lists a fee of AED 100, with AED 10 for each additional copy after the fifth in the same transaction, and a processing time of two hours when all requirements are met. It may ask for extra supporting documents. We prepare the request with you and check the certified copy you receive.

Source: Dubai Chambers: True Copy

How do I get an attested true copy of a DDA-issued license or AOA?

Apply to the Dubai Development Authority (DDA) through its AXS portal, which lists the company's general manager as the requester. DDA issues attested true copies of documents it issued, including commercial licenses, incorporation certificates, name-change certificates and articles of association. At the time of writing, DDA lists AED 100 per document, plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham per transaction, and a processing time of 2 working days. We can prepare the request with you.

Source: Dubai Development Authority: True Copy - Attestation

Can I get a certified true copy online without visiting an office?

Often, yes. Several certifying bodies in Dubai work online: Dubai Chambers and the Dubai Development Authority take true copy requests from their member or licensed companies through their portals, and the DIFC Courts notary service offers an automated true-copy service and notarisation by secure video. Whether the receiving office accepts a copy certified this way is its own decision, as DIFC Courts points out. We confirm acceptance before you pay and help you choose the route.

Source: DIFC Courts: notary 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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