Flag of the United Arab EmiratesEvery UK-origin document destined for the UAE must pass three stages:

  • 1

    Certification by a UK FCDO-registered solicitor or notary (for non UK public documents)

  • 2
    A UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) apostille.
  • 3
    Digital attestation is completed as a single VFS-run process that covers both the UAE Embassy/consular attestation and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Abu Dhabi.

After the process is completed, you receive a PDF “digitally attested copy” issued by MoFA; officials in the Emirates verify it at http://verify.mofa.gov.ae . The UAE embassy no longer issues physical stamps on documents.

Full UAE embassy attestation, handled for you

We handle all aspects of UAE embassy attestation for various documents, including personal, educational, police clearance, export, and business papers. Our most popular services are:

  • Apostille & UAE Embassy Attestation
  • Certification, Apostille, & UAE Embassy Attestation
  • We also offer standalone UAE attestation for documents already carrying an apostille certificate.

How it works:

  • Submission: Deliver your documents by post, email, or in person to our office
  • Certification: If required, we will certify or notarise your documents.
  • Apostille: We secure the apostille certificate for your documents.
  • Embassy Submission: Your documents are then submitted to the UAE Embassy.
  • Digital Attestation: Upon completion, you receive the original document and a digitally attested copy, which can be verified online at http://verify.mofa.gov.ae by entering the Attestation Reference Number and Issued Date.

Discounts are available for applications involving three or more documents.

Documents we can attest for the UAE

We can handle the entire UAE embassy attestation process for private, statutory, and commercial documents, including:

  • Wills

  • Affidavits

  • Bank statements

  • Export documents

  • Powers of attorney

  • Educational documents

  • Certificate of incorporation

  • Police clearance certificates

  • Marriage and civil partnership certificates

  • and many more..

Have your documents pre-checked by experts

To avoid rejections and delays, our service includes checking if your documents meet the requirements for UAE embassy attestation.

These are the processing requirements and verification rules for various types of documents:

Certification & Legalisation Process

Step-by-Step:

  • Some documents must be first certified or notarised.

  • Non-UK documents require initial attestation by the issuing country (exceptions apply).

  • The FCDO legalises the certified documents.

  • Finally, they are submitted to the UAE Embassy in London for attestation.


Separate Processing: Each document must be processed individually.

Bundled apostilled documents are not accepted (except for a Certificate of Incorporation and its Change of Name certificate for the same company).

Invoices: Must be processed separately and certified by the Arab British Chambers of Commerce.

Verification for Specific Documents

The UAE Consulate requires additional verification for:

Powers of Attorney, Board Resolutions, Authorisations of Agent, Affidavits, and Consent Letters.

The requirements are:

  • Cover Letter: Each signatory must provide a cover letter confirming that the document was signed in the presence of a UK notary public or solicitor.

  • Passport Copy: Attach a copy of the signatory’s passport.

  • Contact Information: Include personal email and telephone number.

  • Multiple Signatories: Every signatory must provide a separate cover letter with signatures matching those on the document and passport.

  • Cooperation: The Consulate may contact the signatory for further verification.

Transparent, no hidden UAE embassy attestation fees

In addition to Certification, Apostille, UAE Consulate, and MoFA fees, the following charges apply:

VFS Admin Processing Fee:

  • £42 (AED 196 plus third-party transaction fees) per application covering up to 5 documents from the same individual/direct family member or company.
  • This fee is non-refundable if the UAE Consulate rejects the application.

Additional Charges for Company Documents:

  • In cases involving a court order where a company is party to the process, the Consulate may charge £72 (AED 300 plus third-party transaction fees) per document.

Note: Recent fee adjustments now include the MOFA attestation as part of the overall service.

Submission guidelines for UAE document attestation

VFS Legalisation Centres:

  • All documents must be submitted through the VFS Legalisation Centres.
  • Each application may include up to 5 documents. For individual or direct family member applications, proof of relationship (e.g., marriage or birth certificate) is required. For commercial documents, all papers must relate to the same company.

Foreign Documents:

  • The issuing country must attest documents originating from outside the UK before submission.
  • Documents from the British Overseas Territories require an apostille by the relevant government, followed by legalisation through the UK FCDO, then submission to the UAE Embassy.
  • Once apostilled in their region of origin, documents from Crown Dependencies are accepted directly by the UAE Embassy (no further UK FCDO apostille is required).

Special Cases:

  • Foreign educational documents are not accepted under any circumstances.
  • Documents related to non-profit organisations (UK charities) must be pre-approved via email by the Consulate before submitting the apostilled originals for legalisation.
  • For documents relating to a foreign entity, the notarial certificate must state that the document was signed in the presence of a UK notary public (or within the UK, Crown Dependencies, British Overseas Territories, or the Republic of Ireland) to be accepted.

Additional Requirements

  • Separate Processing: Every document is to be processed independently; bundled submissions are not allowed.
  • Notarisation: Companies House documents (e.g., IN01(ef) Form) are considered multiple documents and must each be notarised and legalised individually.
  • Invoices & Commercial Papers: Must follow specific certification guidelines as provided by the Legalisation Team.
UAE embassy attestation signatures and stamp examples
UAE embassy attestation signature examples / image © apostillelondon.com

Read our article for requirements for degree attestation with the UAE embassy.

Processing times and important considerations

Estimated Turnaround:

  • Apostille processing typically takes 1-2 working days.
  • UAE Embassy processing usually takes around 8 – 10 working days. (Overall turnaround may range from 8-10 working days, but delays can occur if additional verification or approvals are required.)

Peak Periods: Expect possible delays during Ramadan and Eid.
No Expedited Service: The UAE Embassy does not offer an expedited service.

Streamline process with digital attestation

With the new Digital Attestation process.

How It Works:

  • After the UAE Embassy and MoFA complete attestation, you receive a digitally attested copy along with the original document.
  • This digital copy is valid for use in the UAE and can be verified online.

Verification Process:

Why use our UAE embassy attestation service

Embassy attestation services aren’t created equal. Here’s why clients prefer working with us.

  • Specialised document legalisation service: We are a specialised agency focusing on apostille services and embassy attestations. We are registered with the FCDO Legalisation Office as a business user.

  • Help even if you are already in the UAE: Are you already in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other city in the UAE? In that case, just courier your documents to our London office. We’ll handle the apostille and attestation process and send the fully-legalised documents to you via DHL.

  • Streamlined processes and logistics: Our operations are highly efficient, accounting for instances where you may need documents legalised quickly to meet an urgent need.

  • Refund/resubmission guarantee: In the unlikely event of a problem or delay with your order, you’ll receive a full refund of our service fees or have your documents resubmitted at no additional cost.

Where our expert team saves you time and stress

UAE embassy attestation is a complex multi-step process. Using our services streamlines and expedites the process, enabling you to navigate the bureaucracy with ease.

Here’s how:

  • A one-stop solution: Instead of coordinating the solicitor/notary certification, FCDO apostille, and embassy attestation processes on your own, you can let our team handle it all for you.

  • Expert pre-screening: We pre-screen your documents before submission to the FCDO or the UAE Embassy. Having all documents in order helps prevent rejections and delays.

  • Expedited apostille service: Completing the apostille process quickly enables us to initiate the attestation process promptly. We offer fast-tracked apostille services, including the next-day apostille service.

Need Assistance?

Whether you require help with the entire process or have already completed some legalisation steps, our experienced team liaises with the UAE Embassy in London daily. We understand their requirements and can help process your documents without rejection.

Don’t hesitate to contact our office today for the fastest answers on costs, requirements, and turnaround times.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some of the commonly asked questions about the UAE Embassy attestation process:

Consular legalisation and embassy attestation are used interchangeably to mean the same thing. It’s the final document legalisation step when your destination country is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

It generally depends on the embassy’s workload. That said, the estimated turnaround time is five to seven working days from the time we receive your documents for processing.

Payment:

All payments must be made online.

Operating Hours:

UAE Consulate in London: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
VFS Legalisation Centre: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Please note that our submission and collection of documents are performed by VFS Centre.

No, you need the original document or a certified true copy that has been certified by a solicitor or notary public.

We can secure an FCDO apostille quickly with our next-day apostille service. However, the UAE Embassy does not offer an expedited service. Therefore, the overall speed depends on the embassy’s processing times.

While the UAE will email a digitally attested copy to you, you must submit the physical document and apostille certificate to the UAE Embassy in London.

We will promptly inform you of the reason for the rejection and advise on how to correct it. If it’s corrected, we’ll resubmit your document at no additional cost.

Embassy attestation service.

Attestation can be a complicated process. We are here to help. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.

Embassy attestation service.

Attestation can be a complicated process. We are here to help. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.