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MOFA Attestation in Dubai

MOFA Attestation in Dubai

The final UAE stamp that completes an overseas document.

Mir Ali Licensed PRO consultant · Amer & Tasheel partner

Updated 27 Aug 2026 Get a fixed quote

The short version

MOFA attestation is the final UAE step. It confirms the UAE Embassy stamp applied in your document's home country.
The fee is AED 150 – 250 per document — small compared with the home-country stages.
MOFA cannot be done first. Without the preceding stamps the document is refused.
Turnaround is usually 1 to 3 working days once the document is in the UAE.

MOFA is the last link in a chain that began in the country that issued your certificate. People arrive expecting it to be the whole process and discover it is the final five per cent — the part that takes days rather than the part that takes weeks.

Where MOFA sits in the chain

1. Home country — issuing authority

Notary, university or registrar confirms the document is genuine.

2. Home country — state or regional

Required in some countries. For Indian documents this is the HRD or SDM step — see Indian degree attestation.

3. Home country — foreign ministry

Apostille or attestation stamp from that country's ministry.

4. UAE Embassy in that country

On the legalisation route. Skipped where an apostille is accepted.

5. UAE MOFA — this step

Confirms the embassy stamp and completes the document for use in the UAE.

Order is not negotiable

MOFA verifies the stamp that came before it. Present a document without that stamp and it is refused — not delayed, refused. Every stage must run in sequence, and a document taken out of order has to start again from the stage it skipped.

The full sequence is set out in the attestation order explained.

What it costs

Component	Typical range	Notes
MOFA attestation, per document	AED 150 – 250	Government fee
Legal translation	AED 250 – 400	If not in Arabic or English
Typing and submission	AED 50 – 150	Per document
Courier	AED 30 – 100	Optional

Against a full chain of AED 400 to 1,200 per document, MOFA is the cheap part. The costs that matter are incurred abroad — broken down in our attestation cost guide.

Which documents need it

Degree and diploma certificates — for employment and MOHRE equivalency
Marriage certificates — for spouse sponsorship
Birth certificates — for child sponsorship and school admission
Police clearance certificates — where an employer or authority requires one
Commercial documents — powers of attorney, board resolutions, incorporation papers
Medical and death certificates — for specific legal purposes

Why MOFA refuses documents

Missing the preceding stamp. The most common refusal by a wide margin.
Laminated originals. Lamination prevents stamping and is treated as tampering.
Damaged or illegible earlier stamps.
Name inconsistency between the document and the passport.
Missing translation where the document is in neither Arabic nor English.
Photocopies. Attestation is applied to originals.

What we do

We check the document before it is lodged — confirming the earlier stamps are present, legible and in the right order, that the name matches the passport, and that translation is in place where needed. Then we submit to MOFA and return the completed document. Where the chain is incomplete we will tell you which stage is missing rather than lodging a submission that will be refused.

Not sure your document is ready for MOFA?

Send a photo of the document showing the stamps. We will tell you whether it is complete, what is missing if not, and what MOFA will cost.

Check your document

MOFA attestation questions

What is MOFA attestation?

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming that the UAE Embassy stamp on a foreign document is genuine. It is the final step that makes an overseas document usable with UAE authorities.

How much does it cost?

AED 150 to 250 per document as a government fee, plus any translation and submission charges. It is the least expensive stage of the chain.

How long does it take?

Usually one to three working days once the document is in the UAE with all preceding stamps in place. The weeks are spent abroad, not here.

Can I skip the embassy step and go straight to MOFA?

No on the legalisation route — MOFA verifies the embassy stamp, so without it there is nothing to verify. Where an apostille is accepted the embassy step is replaced, but whether MOFA is still required depends on the receiving authority.

Do apostilled documents still need MOFA?

It depends on the UAE authority receiving the document. Acceptance of apostilles is not uniform across every department and purpose. Confirm the requirement before assuming — see apostille versus attestation.

Is attestation enough to work in my profession?

Not for regulated professions. Attestation proves the document is genuine; MOHRE equivalency establishes that the qualification is recognised. Healthcare roles need further licensing through DHA, MOH or DOH.

Official sources

Please note. Fees and requirements were verified in August 2026 and change periodically. Requirements also vary by document type and issuing country. Confirm before committing funds. General information, not legal advice.

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