MOFAIC Attestation in UAE: Complete Guide in 2025

MOFAIC Attestation in UAE: If you need your documents to be legally accepted in another country or here in the UAE, getting them attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) is usually a must. Whether your document was issued in the UAE and you’re planning to use it abroad, or it came from another country and you need it recognized here, MOFAIC attestation helps prove it’s genuine and legally valid.

This guide outlines the correct procedures, requirements, and special considerations for document attestation in the UAE.

What Is MOFAIC Attestation?

MOFAIC attestation is the final verification step in the document legalization process. It involves stamping or validating a document by MOFAIC, confirming that all prior attestations and the document itself are legitimate.

This step is essential for most documents submitted to government departments, educational institutions, embassies, or legal authorities, both inside and outside the UAE.

Scenario 1: UAE-Issued Documents for Use Abroad

When a document is issued in the UAE and needs to be used internationally, the following process should be followed.

Required Steps:

1. Initial Attestation by Relevant UAE Authority

Before your documents can be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC), they usually need to go through the right UAE government department first—depending on what kind of document you’re dealing with.

• Legal or court documents need to be certified by the Ministry of Justice.
• School or university certificates need to be attested by the Ministry of Education.
• Medical reports should go through the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
• Personal documents like birth, marriage, or death certificates that were issued in the UAE? Good news—you can usually submit these directly to MOFAIC without any extra steps.

For business-related paperwork, it depends:

• If the document comes from a UAE Free Zone or a government body like the Department of Economic Development (DED), it’s already considered official and can go straight to MOFAIC.
• On the other hand, documents like invoices or certificates of origin often need a stamp from the Chamber of Commerce before MOFAIC will accept them.
  
  2. MOFAIC Attestation
  
  Once the relevant UAE authority has completed its part, the document should be submitted to MOFAIC for final authentication.3. Embassy or Consulate Legalization
  
  After MOFAIC, the document may need to be legalized by the embassy or consulate of the destination country. Some embassies may also require a certified translation.

Important Clarification: Civil documents like marriage certificates should not be notarized. These are government-issued and can proceed directly to MOFAIC and then to the relevant foreign embassy.

Scenario 2: Foreign-Issued Documents for Use in the UAE

Documents issued outside the UAE must be legalized in their country of origin before they are recognized in the UAE.

Process to Be Followed:

1. Legalization in the Country of Origin
   • The document must be notarized (if required)
   • Then attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country
   • Finally, legalized by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country
2. Final Attestation in the UAE (MOFAIC)Once brought to the UAE, the document should be submitted to MOFAIC for the final attestation stamp.

Special Note: Documents attested by the UAE Embassy in the UK or Iceland via their electronic system are already accepted in the UAE without additional MOFA stamping.

Special Case: Russian Documents Attested Entirely Within the UAE

An exception exists for Russian-issued documents. If the original document is available in the UAE, it is not necessary to send it back to Russia for legalization. The entire process can be completed within the UAE through:

• Consulate Attestation at the Russian Consulate in Dubai
• Followed by MOFAIC attestation in the UAE

This process is fully valid and recognized by the UAE authorities.

Timeframes:

• Standard process: 1.5 to 2 weeks
• Express option: 3 to 4 working days

This service is available through POA.ae, including complete handling of consulate appointments, document processing, and MOFAIC submission.

Types of Documents Commonly Attested

1. Personal Documents

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce certificates
• Police clearance certificates
• Medical reports

2. Educational & Legal Documents

• Degrees and diplomas
• Academic transcripts
• Power of Attorney
• Court judgments

3. Commercial Documents

• Invoices
• Contracts and agreements
• Certificates of origin
• Business licenses
• Other corporate/legal documents

What Is Required for MOFAIC Attestation?

To complete attestation through MOFAIC, the following items are typically required:

• Original document
• Copy of the Emirates ID or passport

Processing Time

• Standard: 3-4 working days
• Express: 1 working day

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute as legal advice nor should it be used as a basis for any specific action or decision. Nothing on this page or website is to be considered as rendering of legal advice or legal services for any specific matter. Users of this website are advised to seek specific legal advice by contacting a lawyer regarding any specific legal issues.