Attestation of Documents in UAE

UAE has modernized its business dynamics by introducing technology in the corporate sector. Expats have loved living in the UAE as they have found lucrative employment and business prospects in UAE. Knowing that the UAE is an economic hub, foreign investors are interested in making big investments in UAE. However, beginning those investments requires a lot of paperwork. As an expat in the UAE, it is important to get your documents attested by UAE government.

The local government attests to the documents to ensure that the expat is legally working in the country. These documents are attested for official use. This includes the attestation of different certificates related to education, marriage, birth, and business. The attestation of documents in Dubai ensures the compliance with the UAE laws. You can further contact with our lawyers in Dubai for getting support and other legal services.

Document attestation is crucial in the UAE for authenticity, facilitation of the legal process, and assurance of the authorities’ credibility. An official attested document prevents forgery and fraudulent cases. Moreover, when it comes to employment disputes and visa applications, attested documents are considered legal processes for credibility purposes.

The unattested documents do not hold any significance for their legal use. Importantly, if required in the UAE, those documents should be either in Arabic or English. These documents include power of attorney, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates.

The documents that need to be attested in the UAE have to go through a long process that involves authorities at each stage:

• Notary in the Country

Documents shall be notarized from the issuance country so they can be attested in Dubai. The issuance body and relevant issuance authority should verify the academic documents.

• Official Verification by the Relevant Ministry in the Issuance Country

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) should attest the documents in the home country so they can be notarised in Dubai. The notary services ensure the validity of documents for the expat in both countries.

Once the MOFA has completed the attestation, the document will be validated by the UAE embassy working in the individual’s home country, ensuring that the individual has met the legal requirements. For the latest updates, kindly check with our lawyers in Dubai. The provided information can be outdated as well.

• Attestation on Arrival in Dubai

After attestation in the home country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) must conduct the attestation in Dubai. After this step, document validation is no longer required in the UAE.

• Relevant Authorities for Attestation

Different authorities attest documents. The notary public authority ensures the credibility of the document at the local level in the home country. However, MOFA validates the authenticity of the notarised documents. The UAE Embassy in the home country is the final step for attestation. As soon as you arrive at MOFAIC in the UAE, the final attestation is conducted, and you will be legal in the UAE.

There are several reasons for which you will need the attested documents in the UAE:

• Employment in the UAE

If you are moving to the UAE in search of an employment opportunity or you already have a job offer, the employer would need to see your educational certificates attested.

• Education in the UAE

Students who want to enrol in UAE universities will need to attest their academic transcripts from their home country. This validates the originality of the academic qualifications.

• Entrepreneurship

Establishing a business in the UAE is profitable. Expats can start a business with the help of a business lawyer. However, commercial contracts and documents must be attested in Dubai. The Memorandums of Association (MOA) and Articles of Incorporation are attested to establish a business in the UAE.

• Visa Process

Documents such as marriage certificates and birth certificates are attested when expats apply for a family visa.

The attestation process is time-consuming and sometimes difficult for individuals. A few things can smoothen the attestation process for you:

• Early Application

Beginning with an early attestation process will benefit you because attestation involves many stages and relevant authorities.  

• Hire a Professional

You can hire a legal consultant who can help you with attestation and notary services. It will be difficult for you to complete the attestation process without assistance from the relevant professionals.

• Check Requirements

You must go through the requirement list at least twice to ensure the guidelines are followed to avoid delays.

• Keep Original Documents with You

You should keep the original documents with you during the attestation process if they need to reconfirm any details on your documents.

• Track Progress

You can use the MOFAIC online portal to track the progress of your attestation. The progress mentioned above will be helpful if you already know a little about document validation. You can hire professional services to work for you, as they already have the expertise and knowledge to attest the documents.

The attestation cost depends on the type of document that has to be attested and the authorities involved. The process could take long because every country works differently with authorities. Therefore, the individual must prepare documents on time to ensure there are no delays. But overall, it is not expensive.

Recently, the UAE has adopted technology in different sectors and made technological advancements in the attestation process. With the online portal of MOFAIC, individuals can now schedule appointments, submit documents, and make payments for attestation. Individuals can now make digital verification for their attested documents, which is secure on the internet. However, they can also contact UAE embassies, who provide remote services to expats if needed.

The new steps in the attestation process have smoothed the process for many people and secured it with a track-progress system.

You will need to get your documents attested for official use, usually when you are employed by a UAE company or enrolled in a UAE educational institution.

If you have a tenancy agreement or any commercial license, it must be attested through MOFAIC and then only used globally.

If your document has been rejected for attestation, the issuance authority will revise it and then submit it again for the attestation process.

You will need an attestation for the hard copies only unless you have the original document online.

Relevant authorities validate the attestation process. They ensure compliance with UAE laws at every stage.

You can save your time and money if you hire a professional for attestation. They will ensure that your documents are validated through relevant authorities without any problem. When you are unfamiliar with the country’s laws and shifting there, it is better to hire a lawyer who can ensure your smooth entry into the country.

With online attestation services, it may be easier unless the process begins. Whether you have online access for attestation or not, it is recommended that you hire a professional to notarize your documents.

Provided information can be outdated, not updated or OLD. Therefore no liability is owned or taken. We suggest to consult our lawyers in Dubai and UAE, to grab the latest advice and legal services. We are top Dubai Law Firm with top and leading, team of lawyers and legal consultants.