Key takeaways
- MOFA charges AED 2,000 per commercial document.
- Import invoices of AED 10,000 or more need MOFA e-attestation, in force since 1 February 2023.
- UAE companies can submit through a company account on the MOFA website.
- MOFA says attested documents don't expire, but banks and authorities may want recent ones.
- A company not yet in the UAE can still have documents attested: someone in the UAE submits on its behalf, for example with UAE PASS.
Which documents and why
| Document | Common reason |
|---|---|
| Certificate of incorporation | Setting up a UAE branch, subsidiary or corporate shareholding |
| Articles or memorandum | Licensing authority review of the parent company |
| Board resolution | Authorising the UAE setup or a signatory |
| Power of attorney | Naming the person who acts for the company in the UAE |
| Certificate of good standing | Proving the company's current status |
| Contracts and invoices | Banks, customs, courts and trading partners |
The process
- 1. Read the request from the UAE body, so you attest the right documents in the right form.
- 2. Check names and pages: the company name must match the trade register exactly, and every page should be present and sealed.
- 3. Local certification in the issuing country, if its foreign ministry requires it.
- 4. Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy in that country.
- 5. MOFA in the UAE, at AED 2,000 per document, through a company account or by a representative using UAE PASS.
- 6. Legal translation into Arabic, if the receiving body needs it.
Companies send originals by courier after filing. MOFA lists a normal option of 3 working days for up to 25 documents and an express option of 1 working day for up to 10.
Invoices: the electronic route
Commercial invoices for goods imported into the UAE worth AED 10,000 or more need MOFA electronic attestation, in force since 1 February 2023. MOFA's exceptions include invoices already carrying a clear MOFA stamp, national purchases between onshore areas and third-country transit shipments. See commercial agreements in the UAE.
Common reasons for delay
- A company name that differs from the UAE application, even in punctuation.
- Plain photocopies where certified copies were needed.
- A good standing certificate too old for the receiving body.
- A missing earlier stamp, so MOFA sends it back.
- An apostille treated as the last step; the UAE isn't party to the Apostille Convention.
We read the request with you, check every page and file the MOFA stage. See commercial attestation and articles of association attestation.
Sources
- MOFA: attestation FAQs
- MOFA: attestation service
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
- UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 on the translation profession
Official sources checked on 7 November 2026. This guide explains published rules in plain English and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we check the current position for your case before you act.