UAE Company Document Attestation: Steps, Fees & Who Does What

Key takeaways

• A UAE company document is attested through a chain of authorities: a notary or the issuing authority certifies it first, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) attests it next, and the embassy of the destination country usually follows when the document is used abroad.
• MoFA lists a fee of AED 2,000 per commercial document (contracts, trade licences, powers of attorney) and AED 150 per personal document on its FAQ page, checked on 15 October 2026; a single contract can count as more than one document.
• MoFA says eligible digital documents issued by UAE authorities are attested within 2 hours in working hours, courier submissions take 1 to 3 business days, and attestation through a UAE mission abroad takes up to 7 business days.
• A document issued abroad for a UAE company runs the chain in the opposite direction: the foreign ministry of the issuing country, then the UAE embassy there, then MoFA in the UAE.
• The Hague Conference's apostille status table did not list the UAE when checked on 15 October 2026, so a UAE company should plan on the embassy chain, not an apostille, unless the receiving authority confirms otherwise in writing.
• MoFA rejects laminated originals and doesn't let you change the destination country after submission, so a wrong choice means a new application.

Which UAE company documents need attestation?

A company document needs attestation when someone outside the office that issued or witnessed it has to rely on it: typical examples are powers of attorney, shareholder and board resolutions, memoranda of association, trade licences and commercial contracts. The receiving authority, bank or foreign counterparty decides whether it wants a certified copy, a notary stamp or full attestation, so ask for its written checklist before anyone signs.

The main split is direction. A document made in the UAE for use abroad goes through UAE authorities and then the foreign embassy. A document made abroad for use by your UAE company goes through the foreign ministry, the UAE embassy in that country and then MoFA. Documents used only inside the UAE, such as a resolution filed with your own free zone, often need a notary stamp at most; your licensing authority's service page says which.

What are the steps for a document issued in the UAE?

For a UAE-issued company document, you certify it with the competent authority first, then apply to MoFA online, then add the embassy step if the destination country asks for it. MoFA's service page says the original "must be certified or attested by the relevant competent authorities, where applicable", so the order matters.

1. Prepare the original in Arabic or English, or with a legally certified translation; don't laminate it.
2. Have the signature or document certified by the right authority: a notary public for signed documents such as a power of attorney or resolution, or the issuing authority for licences and certificates.
3. Sign in to the MoFA website or the UAE MOFA smart app with UAE PASS.
4. Choose the issuing authority and document type, then the destination country, which cannot be changed after you submit.
5. For a UAE-issued digital PDF with a QR code, barcode or reference number, upload it and the system assigns the route; for a paper original, pick a courier provider and a delivery slot.
6. Pay online; MoFA shows the total before you confirm.
7. Collect the attested document, then send it to the destination country's embassy if that country requires it.
8. Check the result on MoFA's verification portal at verify.mofa.gov.ae.

How much does MoFA attestation cost, and how long does it take?

MoFA charges AED 2,000 per commercial document and AED 150 per personal document, and eligible digital documents are done in about 2 hours. These are the figures MoFA lists, checked on 15 October 2026; the service page says final totals depend on the number of documents and options chosen, and the total appears before you pay.

Source: MoFA FAQ, checked 15 October 2026.

AED 2,000: MoFA's listed fee per commercial document, including contracts, trade licences and powers of attorney. Source: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs FAQ, checked 15 October 2026.

How do you attest a document issued abroad for your UAE company?

A foreign-issued document is attested in the issuing country first and in the UAE last: the foreign ministry attests it, the UAE embassy or consulate there attests it, and MoFA completes it in the UAE. MoFA's FAQ describes this order, and says the issuing country's foreign ministry attests the original before the UAE mission does.

1. Get the document notarised or certified locally if the issuing country requires it.
2. Have the issuing country's foreign ministry attest the original.
3. Apply for the UAE embassy or consulate attestation through MoFA's online channels and pay there.
4. Send the original to the mission under its own rules, because couriers cover the UAE only.
5. Complete attestation in the UAE through the MoFA website or app.
6. If the country has no UAE mission, call MoFA on 80044444 or +971 800 44444.

Say a Dubai trading company's overseas shareholder signs a power of attorney in London (a hypothetical example). The UAE Embassy in London's page says UK documents must be attested by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, that powers of attorney must be signed before a UK notary, and that postal processing takes up to 5 working days. Other missions run their own procedures, so check the page of the mission you're using.

Can an apostille replace embassy attestation?

For now, plan on the embassy chain: the UAE was not listed in the Hague Conference's apostille status table when checked on 15 October 2026, and MoFA's attestation pages don't mention apostilles. Several Gulf neighbours are listed, which is why agents sometimes assume the UAE is too.

Source: HCCH status table for the Apostille Convention, checked 15 October 2026. If anyone tells you an apostille will be accepted for a UAE company document, ask for the receiving authority's requirement in writing; third-party pages that claim UAE accession weren't confirmed by an official source.

What most guides don't tell you

• MoFA attests what an authority already certified. Because MoFA expects prior certification "where applicable", an unnotarised power of attorney sent straight to MoFA is a likely rejection. Rejected applications must be resubmitted as new applications, so fix the notary step first.
• Bundles can multiply the fee. MoFA's FAQ says a commercial contract may count as several documents, each at AED 2,000. Before you pay, ask the call centre on 80044444 how your pack will be counted, and check the total on the payment screen.
• Small preparation errors cost days. MoFA doesn't accept laminated originals and fixes the destination country at submission. A wrong country means starting again, and the embassy leg abroad can add up to 7 business days.
• Attestation lead time collides with deadlines. A power of attorney needed for a licence renewal, a bank mandate or a share transfer has to clear every step before the deadline, not on it. If you'd rather not track these dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar is a calendar of your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.

Which deadlines apply to your company?

Attestation usually sits behind a renewal, a shareholder change or a bank request, and each has its own date. The free UAE compliance calendar lists them for your company.

Frequently asked questions

What is a board resolution and when do I need one in the UAE? A board resolution is a written record that the company's directors, managers or shareholders approved a decision. Whether it needs a notary stamp depends on the authority receiving it, and it needs MoFA attestation only if it will be used outside the UAE.

How do I update my company address with the free zone? Your free zone sets the document list for an address change, so start with its service page. Documents signed abroad for that filing, such as a landlord's or shareholder's signature, follow the attestation chain above if the free zone asks for it.

How do I close a company in the UAE properly? Closure runs through the authority that issued your licence, and the steps differ between mainland and free zone companies. If a shareholder signs closure papers abroad, ask the authority whether it wants them attested before they're signed.

What is the difference between deregistration and liquidation in the UAE? Deregistration removes the company from the registers of the authorities it was registered with, while liquidation is the legal winding up of its affairs, including settling debts. Which route applies depends on the company's legal form and licensing authority, and foreign-signed documents for either follow the attestation chain.

About Qawi · Qawi is a corporate services firm licensed in the Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) free zone, handling company formation, visas and PRO, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax for UAE businesses. Guides are researched from FTA, Ministry of Finance and free zone sources. Qawi on LinkedIn

Sources

• UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Attestation of Official Documents and Certificates
• UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: FAQ
• UAE Embassy in London: Attestation
• Hague Conference on Private International Law: Apostille Convention status table

Last checked: 15 October 2026

This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.

Schema