Government attestation
MOJ, MEA, MOFA and Chambers of Commerce.
Attestation in Dubai
A regulated process, where the sequence is the whole job
Attestation is the chain of stamps that proves a document is genuine. A certified translation says the wording is accurate; attestation says the original is real. Most UAE authorities ask for both, and they ask for them in a particular order.
Incorrect sequencing, incomplete authentication or unsupported documentation all end the same way — the document comes back, and the clock starts again. We manage the chain with defined checks, verified submissions and the requirements of the specific jurisdiction the document is going to or coming from.
Attestation and translation in one place
The step most people get wrong is the last one. An attested document usually still needs an Arabic translation before a court, a ministry or a government department will take it, and that translation has to be done by a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice. Handling both here means the translation is produced from the fully stamped document, so nothing is missed and nothing is paid for twice.
What we handle
The full chain, or the part you are stuck on
Most documents need several of these. Tell us where the document was issued and where it is going, and we will tell you which apply.
Embassy and consulate
Missions across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the USA.
Notarisation
Remote and on-site, depending on what the receiving authority accepts.
Legal translation
MOJ certified Arabic translation, where it is required.
The right order
Attest first, translate last
A legal translation covers the whole page: the text, the seals, the signatures and every attestation stamp. Translate too early and the later stamps are simply missing from it.
A foreign document coming into the UAE
- Notary or issuing authority in the home country, where required
- The foreign ministry of the home country
- The UAE embassy or consulate in that country
- MOFA in the UAE
- Arabic legal translation, if the receiving authority asks for Arabic
If the document is in neither Arabic nor English, a translation may be needed earlier, before the UAE mission will attest it. Rules differ by country, so check the mission’s own page.
A UAE document going abroad
- MOFA attestation, naming the destination country on the application
- The embassy step — which embassy depends on the option chosen at MOFA
- Translation into the destination language, done where that country requires
Some countries accept a UAE legal translation. Others insist on their own sworn or court translator after the embassy seal. Tell us the destination and we will confirm which.
The reasoning behind the sequence, with worked examples for English, non-English and UAE-issued documents, is set out in our guide on attestation or translation first.
Timing
How long MOFA attestation takes
MOFA now attests some UAE-issued documents digitally. The document must be an original digital PDF with a QR code, barcode or reference number from the issuing authority — a scan or a photograph does not qualify. The digital route saves days, but it does not change the order: the attestation page is added to the end of the PDF, so the translation still comes afterwards.
These are MOFA’s own published times. The steps before MOFA — the home country and the embassy — take as long as that country takes, and we will tell you what to expect once we have seen the document.
| Route | Time |
|---|---|
| Digital attestation, UAE documents | Within 2 hours, in official working hours |
| Courier route, UAE documents | 1 to 3 business days |
| Courier route, documents outside the UAE | Up to 7 business days |
Send with your document
- Where the document was issued, and where it is going
- Which authority will receive it
- Any stamps it already carries
- Your passport spelling, for the translation
- Whether you need a stamped hard copy
- Your deadline, if the application has one
Everything you send is confidential and used only for your file.
Avoidable
What gets documents rejected
Six reasons a file comes back, all of them cheaper to prevent than to repeat.
Before attestation
- Laminated originals. MOFA does not accept them. Remove the lamination, or get a fresh copy from the issuing authority
- Photocopies. Attestation is carried out on the original
- A scanned PDF for the digital route. It needs the issuing authority’s own QR code, barcode or reference number
Before translation
- Translating too early. Any stamp added afterwards is missing from the translation, and the file is returned
- A name spelled differently from the passport. One letter is enough to stop an application. Send a passport copy
- A translator who is not MOJ licensed. UAE authorities accept legal translations only from translators licensed by the Ministry of Justice
Certified
Certified where it counts
FAQ
Attestation questions, answered
Should I attest or translate first?
Attest first, translate last. A legal translation covers the whole page, including every stamp. If the document is translated before the UAE embassy or MOFA stamps it, those stamps are missing from the translation and the authority receiving it can send it back. Read the full order in our guide on attestation or translation first.
Does the UAE accept an apostille instead of attestation?
No. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. A foreign document still needs the UAE embassy and MOFA attestation even if it already carries an apostille, and a UAE document cannot be apostilled inside the UAE. See which documents are and are not apostilled.
How long does MOFA attestation take?
From MOFA’s own service page: digital attestation of eligible UAE documents is completed within 2 hours during official working hours. The courier route takes 1 to 3 business days for documents inside the UAE, and up to 7 business days for documents outside it.
Which documents can use the digital route?
Only an original digital PDF issued by the authority itself, carrying a QR code, a barcode or a reference number. A scan or a photograph of a paper document does not qualify and has to go the courier route.
Does MOFA need my document in Arabic?
No. MOFA accepts originals in Arabic or English, or with a legally certified translation attached. The Arabic translation is usually needed later, by the authority you submit the document to, such as a court, a notary or a government department.
Is attestation the same as a certified translation?
No. A certified translation confirms that the wording is accurate. Attestation confirms that the original document is genuine. Many authorities ask for both, which is why we handle them together.
What stops a document being attested?
Lamination and photocopies are the two most common. MOFA does not accept laminated documents, and attestation is carried out on the original rather than a copy. Remove any lamination, or obtain a fresh original from the issuing authority, before you start.
Can you translate the document once it is attested?
Yes, and this is the usual order. Our legal translations are carried out by translators licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice, in more than 120 languages, and we translate every stamp on the attested document as well as the text.
Will the names match my passport?
They will if you send us the passport spellings. A name transliterated between Arabic and English has more than one valid form, and an official comparing the two documents will question a difference. Sending a passport copy with the document avoids the most common reason a file is returned.
Related
What usually comes next
Legal translationMOJ certified translation for courts, ministries and free zones.
Certified translationWhich form of certification your destination requires.
Attestation or translation first?The correct order, with worked examples.
Apostilled documentsWhich documents are and are not apostilled.
Marriage certificate translationFor family visas, name changes and legal use.
Birth certificate translationFor residency, school admission and passports.