Bayan AlkalemaDocument attestation in the UAE, the right steps in the right order.
Which offices stamp your document, in what order, and where certified legal translation fits. Covers documents issued abroad for use in the UAE and UAE documents for use abroad.
Where is the document going?
The steps and their order depend on where the document was issued and where it will be used. Find your case below.
Issued in the UAE, used abroad
For a UAE document that a foreign authority, employer or university has asked for.
- Issuing authority in the UAE issues the document.
- Issuing-body attestation, if required. For example, the Ministry of Education for educational certificates.
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attests the document.
- Embassy of the destination country, if that country requires it.
Issued abroad, used in the UAE
For a foreign document that a UAE authority, employer or court has asked for.
- Issuing body in the country of issue.
- Foreign ministry of the issuing country attests it.
- UAE embassy in that country attests it.
- UAE MOFA attests it after the document arrives in the UAE.
- Certified legal translation into Arabic if the document is in another language.
- Attestation of the translation, only if the receiving body requires it.
The route for a foreign document used in the UAE.
Example. An Egyptian university certificate used in the UAE goes from the university to the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education, then to the Egyptian foreign ministry, then to the UAE embassy in Cairo, then to UAE MOFA, and finally to certified legal translation if the receiving body needs it in Arabic.
The usual steps for each document type.
For every document issued abroad, the step in the country of issue ends at the foreign ministry and the UAE embassy before the document reaches UAE MOFA.
| Document | Issued by | In the country of issue | In the UAE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Civil status department | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then legal translation if needed |
| Marriage certificate | Court or personal status department | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then legal translation |
| Divorce certificate | Competent court | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then legal translation |
| Death certificate | Civil status authority | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then legal translation |
| University degree | University | Ministry of Education or Higher Education, then foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then legal translation where needed |
| Academic transcript | University | Ministry of Education or Higher Education, then foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA only |
| Police clearance certificate | Police or interior ministry | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA only |
| Company incorporation contract | Competent economic authority | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then legal translation |
| Commercial register | Companies registration department | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA only |
| Power of attorney | Notary public | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then legal translation |
| Court judgment | Competent court | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then certified legal translation for enforcement or court use |
| Employment contract | Ministry of Labour or competent authority | Foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA if the receiving body asks |
| Experience certificate | Employer | Chamber of commerce attestation if required, then foreign ministry, then UAE embassy | UAE MOFA, then legal translation where needed |
Why people need attestation.
Working in the UAE
A foreign university degree and transcripts, plus experience certificates, are attested so the employer and the authorities accept them.
Sponsoring a spouse or children
A marriage contract or birth certificates issued abroad are attested through the full chain, then translated into Arabic if they are in another language.
Opening a foreign company branch
The incorporation contract, commercial register, board resolution and power of attorney of the parent company are attested before the branch can be registered.
The translation step, done properly.
Attestation is done by the notary, ministries and embassies on the route. Our part is the certified legal translation, prepared and signed by a Ministry of Justice-accredited sworn translator and stamped for the receiving authority.
We can arrange notarisation on request, before the translation step, and we will tell you which steps your document needs and in what order. If a step is one you would arrange yourself with the ministry or embassy, we say so before you pay for anything. Tell us the document and where it is going, and we reply with the route and a quote. For what certification itself means, see certified and sworn translation, or urgent legal translation if your deadline is close.
Document attestation in the UAE: common questions.
What is the correct order for attesting a foreign document for use in the UAE?+
Issuing body, then the foreign ministry of the issuing country, then the UAE embassy in that country, then UAE MOFA, then certified legal translation into Arabic if the document is in another language. Notarisation and attestation of the original come before the translation.
Does an apostille replace the embassy and MOFA steps?+
No. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille on its own is not accepted for use in the UAE. Documents still go through the foreign ministry, the UAE embassy and UAE MOFA.
Do I translate the document before or after attestation?+
In the usual route the original is attested first and the certified translation is prepared afterwards. If the receiving body asks for a different order, follow its instruction and tell us.
Does the translation also need to be attested?+
Only if the receiving body requires it. Ask the authority that will receive the document, and tell us so we can plan the order.
What about UAE documents used abroad?+
The usual route is the issuing authority, then issuing-body attestation if required (such as the Ministry of Education for certificates), then UAE MOFA, then the embassy of the destination country if it requires one.
Can Bayan Alkalema translate attested documents?+
Yes. We provide certified legal translation between Arabic, English and French by Ministry of Justice-accredited sworn translators, and we can arrange notarisation on request, before the translation step. Send the document and where it is going, and we will advise.
Tell us about your document.
Send the document and your deadline. Most quotes go out within two hours.
Or reach us directly