MOFA Attestation: What It Is & How to Get It

MOFA vs MOFAIC, same body, updated name

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was rebranded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, hence "MOFAIC", but most people, and plenty of typing centres, still say "MOFA attestation" out of habit. Functionally it's the same government body and the same step in the process.

What MOFAIC attestation covers

MOFAIC attestation is typically the last stamp in the chain, applied once your document is physically in the UAE and has already passed through:

• Attestation in the country where the document was issued
• Legalisation by the UAE embassy or consulate in that country

Once MOFAIC applies its stamp, the document is generally accepted across UAE government departments, courts, universities and employers. It's worth noting that MOFAIC attestation on its own doesn't fix a document that skipped the earlier steps, if those weren't done, the application will be rejected regardless.

How to get MOFAIC attestation done

1. 1Confirm the document has completed earlier stepsHome-country and UAE embassy legalisation, if required for that document type.
2. 2Provide the originalYou send us the physical original document, in the UAE.
3. 3We submit to MOFAICOur team handles submission, the fee, and follow-up.
4. 4DeliveryThe attested document is returned to your vault, ready to use.

Cost and turnaround

DocuGulf's all-in service fee for MOFAIC attestation is AED 349 per document, with the government fee shown separately at cost. Turnaround is typically 0 to 3 days once we have the original in hand and any earlier steps are complete. If several documents need attesting, tell us and we'll quote the whole batch together.

For the full chain from your home country through to MOFAIC, see our complete attestation guide, or read about specific document types like degree certificates.

Key takeaways

Key takeaways: MOFA and MOFAIC are the same UAE government body. MOFAIC attestation is usually the final step in a chain, not a stand-alone fix for a document that skipped earlier steps. It's typically 0–3 days once the original is in the UAE. DocuGulf's fee is AED 349 per document, with the government fee shown separately at cost.

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.