Attesting Documents for Use Abroad

When you need to attest a UAE document for abroad

This comes up when someone needs a UAE-issued document accepted by an authority elsewhere, for example a marriage certificate issued in Dubai being used to register the marriage back home, a UAE company document for opening a foreign bank account, or a UAE police clearance certificate needed for a visa application in another country.

The reverse chain

Where a foreign document coming into the UAE typically ends with MOFAIC, a UAE document going abroad usually starts there:

1. 1MOFAIC attestation in the UAEThe document is first attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
2. 2Destination country's embassy in the UAEThe embassy of the country where the document will be used then legalises it.
3. 3Further steps on arrivalSome countries require an additional local step once the document arrives, for example notarisation or a further ministry stamp.

The exact requirements vary significantly by destination country. It's always worth confirming with us, or the receiving authority, before starting, some countries only need MOFAIC attestation, others require the full chain.

Documents you'll need

• The original UAE-issued document
• A copy of your passport
• The name of the destination country, so we can confirm the exact chain

Timeline and cost

The MOFAIC step in the UAE is usually same-day to three days, similar to inbound attestation. The destination-country embassy step in the UAE can add a few more days, and any further steps once the document arrives abroad are outside our direct control but we'll explain what to expect. DocuGulf's UAE-side service fee starts from AED 349 per document for the MOFAIC step, with government and embassy fees shown separately at cost.

For the inbound direction, bringing a foreign document into the UAE, see our complete attestation guide.

Key takeaways

Key takeaways: Attesting a UAE document for use abroad generally starts with MOFAIC, then the destination country's embassy in the UAE, then possibly a further step on arrival. Requirements vary a lot by destination country, so confirm the exact chain first. MOFAIC's own step is typically 0–3 days; DocuGulf's fee for it starts from AED 349 per document.

A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. All kinds of work is performed by licensed notaries, translators and approved typing centres. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.