Moving to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for work, residency, or further study often means you’ll need to get your UK educational qualifications officially recognised. This crucial process is called attestation.

Navigating the requirements can seem tricky, but we’re here to help.

This guide explains the up-to-date process for UAE attestation for all UK-issued educational documents. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • University Degrees (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD)

  • Diplomas (e.g., Higher Education Diplomas, Professional Diplomas)

  • Postgraduate Certificates (like PGCEs)

  • Certain Professional Qualification Certificates issued by UK bodies

  • Sometimes, Academic Transcripts are requested (check with the requesting authority; in most cases, these are NOT needed)

This guide details the entire procedure, reflecting the latest digital attestation system implemented by the UAE Embassy in London.

UK degree attestation costs for the UAE at a glance

The total cost of legalising a UK degree for use in the UAE varies depending on the agent you use. Our fees for UAE attestation are transparent and competitive.

  • Cost per educational document: £242

The fee covers the full end-to-end service, including solicitor certification and the FCDO apostille. It ensures your UK degree is fully legalised for the UAE with no hidden costs.

What determines the cost of a UK degree attestation for the UAE

Legalising UK educational documents for the UAE is a multi-step process involving different authorities with separate fees.

The following fees will determine the total amount you’ll pay:

  • Facilitation fees: You can utilize our firm, London Apostille Services Ltd., to facilitate and coordinate the entire document legalisation process end-to-end.

  • Solicitor certification fees: Private documents like degree certificates must first be certified by a solicitor or notary before the FCDO can apostille them. Solicitors and notaries set their own rates.

  • The FCDO apostille fee: An apostille certificate issued by the FCDO legalises your documents for use abroad. The FCDO charges £45 for a standard paper-based apostille.

  • Embassy attestation fee: You’ll then submit the apostilled document to the UAE embassy for attestation. The fee at this stage also covers attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

  • VFS admin processing fee: A non-refundable VFS admin processing fee of £42 (AED 196 plus third-party transaction fees) is charged per application. Each application covers up to 5 documents from the same individual/direct family member, or company.

How much does a UK degree attestation for the UAE cost?

Understanding the degree certificate attestation for UAE price is simple with our service.

  • UAE attestation (educational documents): £242 per document.

This price is inclusive of:

  • Solicitor certification fee
  • FCDO Apostille fee (urgent apostille service included)
  • UAE Embassy Digital Attestation fee (which now also covers the UAE MoFA attestation)
  • The VFS admin processing fee (£25 / approx. AED 118 + transaction fees)
  • VAT

Important note on fees: The £25 VFS admin processing fee component is non-refundable if the UAE Consulate/MoFA rejects the document for any reason (e.g., eligibility issues).

Using our service avoids the hassle of paying multiple entities. It gives you a clear, upfront cost for the entire UAE embassy attestation, including the MoFA process from start to finish in the UK.

What’s the NEW digital attestation process for UK educational documents?

Getting your UK degree ready for the UAE now involves these key stages:

  • 1

    Solicitor certification: A UK solicitor or Notary Public must certify your degree certificate (or a true copy). For most UK degrees, solicitor certification is sufficient unless notarisation is specifically requested by the authority in the UAE.

  • 2

    FCDO apostille: Next, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) must issue an apostille certificate. This verifies the solicitor’s signature and confirms that the document is legitimate for international use. It is an important step before the UAE Embassy will examine it. We offer a fast-track apostille service for this stage.

  • 3

    UAE Embassy Digital Attestation (London): This is the new, streamlined step. Your apostilled document will be submitted (to the VFS Centre acting for the Embassy), and the Embassy digitally attests the document. This now includes the attestation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in the UAE. You no longer need a separate MoFA stamp upon arrival in the UAE.

Additional UAE-specific requirements that affect pricing

While the 3-stage process above applies to all educational documents, please note that Arabic translations and transcripts will incur additional costs if specifically required by your requesting authority.

  • Arabic translations: Are you required to translate the attested degree into Arabic? You’ll have to procure an Arabic translation from a qualified professional. You can use our translation service.

  • Academic transcripts: Some UAE authorities may require the transcript to be attested alongside the degree certificate. It counts as a second document and will be attested separately.

Full-service support – How we prevent costly delays

You could manage the document attestation for UAE yourself, navigating the requirements of the solicitor, FCDO, and the VFS/Embassy submission process. However, it’s time-consuming, and errors can lead to delays and rejection.

Alternatively, let us handle everything for you.

Our comprehensive UAE degree attestation service takes the stress out of the process.

We manage every step efficiently:

  • Solicitor certification: Arranged correctly for UAE requirements.

  • FCDO Hauge apostille: We provide a fast apostille service, often securing the Apostille much faster than standard postal or online applications (potentially offering next-day legalisation or 24-hour apostille for the FCDO stage, depending on FCDO processing times). This is the fastest way to get an apostille for this process.

  • Embassy submission: We handle the submission to the VFS Centre in London for the digital attestation. We deliver and collect documents in person, avoiding potential courier delays or losses for this critical step.

  • All-inclusive pricing: Our fee covers all necessary third-party costs (see below).

Choosing our express apostille or quick apostille service ensures your documents are processed correctly and promptly, leveraging our expertise to avoid common pitfalls.

 Ready to start? Please email our team today for efficient document attestation for the UAE.

What do you receive? The UAE digital attestation

Upon successful completion:

  • You will receive a digitally attested copy of your document via email.
  • This PDF includes the necessary authentications from both the UAE Consulate in London and the UAE MoFA.
  • This UAE-attested degree certificate (digital version) is valid and ready for use within the UAE.

  • Its authenticity can be verified online here: http://verify.mofa.gov.ae

  • Your original physical document, complete with the solicitor certification and FCDO Apostille, will also be returned to you. Please note: It will no longer bear the traditional stamps or stickers from the UAE Embassy, as the secure digital certificate now serves as the official proof of attestation.

Important considerations for UAE document attestation:

To avoid common pitfalls and guarantee a successful attestation process, let’s explore some essential considerations regarding document eligibility and UAE-specific requirements:

  • Eligibility – UK documents only: The UAE Embassy in London will ONLY attest to UK-issued educational documents (degrees, diplomas, etc.). FOREIGN EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. They must be attested in their country of origin.

  • No bundling: Documents CANNOT be bundled together. Each degree, transcript, or other document must be processed, certified, and apostilled separately, and each requires its own fee.

  • Original or certified copy?: In most cases, a solicitor-certified copy of your educational document is accepted for UAE attestation, which we typically use for processing. However, we strongly recommend checking with the authority requesting the attestation in the UAE if they have specific requirements. Should they explicitly state that the original document must be attested, we can accommodate this request – please inform us when you place your order.

  • Notarisation: Usually, solicitor certification is enough. Only arrange for notarisation (where a Notary Public verifies the degree directly with the issuing university) if explicitly required by the end-user in the UAE.

  • Translation: If the authority in the UAE requires an Arabic translation of your UK educational document, it’s crucial to follow the correct order. The standard process is:

    1. First, fully attest your UK document through the required UK steps (Solicitor certification -> FCDO Apostille -> UAE Digital Attestation via London).
    2. Then, arrange for an official translator to translate the attested UK document into Arabic.
    3. Finally, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) must attest to the Arabic translation. We strongly advise you to confirm the exact requirements—including whether a translation is needed at all, what needs translating, and the specific procedure for attesting the translation—directly with your sponsoring entity or employer in the UAE before commissioning any translation work.

How to reduce attestation costs without risking rejection

The UAE document attestation process is meticulous. Common mistakes when doing it yourself include:

  • Submitting documents directly to the Embassy without prior solicitor certification and FCDO Apostille.

  • Incorrect certification type.

  • Attempting to bundle documents.

  • Submitting non-UK documents.

Any mistake can lead to rejection, loss of fees (like the VFS admin fee), and significant delays. Using an experienced service like ours minimises these risks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are answers to some of the commonly asked questions about the cost of a UK degree certificate attestation for the UAE.

The UAE isn’t part of the Hague Apostille Convention for recognising foreign public documents directly. Therefore, further legalisation (attestation) by their embassy and MoFA is required.

Attestation of documents for UAE is necessary to:

  • Validate the authenticity of your UK qualification within the UAE system.
  • Ensure your UAE-attested degree certificate is accepted locally for employment, residency visas, or further education.
  • Enable you to secure the correct employment status and access relevant services.
 

While we offer the fastest way to get an apostille at the FCDO stage, the overall timeframe depends on the UAE Embassy’s processing.

  • The estimated turnaround is 5-7 working days from when we have your document ready for processing.

Please note:

  • This is an estimate; processing times can vary depending on the Embassy’s workload.
  • The UAE Embassy does not offer an expedited service for their attestation.
  • Delays may occur during peak periods or public holidays like Ramadan and Eid. We’ll always keep you informed.

The standard apostille legalises your documents for use in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention. The UAE is not a party to the convention, necessitating an additional document legalisation step: embassy attestation.

The higher cost is due to the additional consular legalisation step and the fees charged by the UAE authorities.

No, attesting a copy of your degree won’t save you money on fees. The fees are per document, regardless of whether it is an original or a certified copy.

That said, attesting a copy of your degree certificate is the more practical choice as it helps you avoid permanently altering the original certificate. Also, the requesting authority may want to keep the attested document.

No, attestations processed by the UAE embassy in London currently include MoFA attestation. When you receive your attested degree certificate, it will be fully legalised for the UAE.

No. The attestation process and fees are standardised for all educational documents. Nonetheless, the degree must be from a recognised UK university.

Want to see what it looks like?

Click the button to preview a sample Digitally Attested document, including the UAE Bilingual Digital Certificate (found on the final page).

Key locations

Key locations & opening hours

  • UAE Consulate (Embassy of the United Arab Emirates): 1-2 Grosvenor Cres, London SW1X 7EE. Document processing is handled via VFS.
    • Consulate Hours for VFS Submissions: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
  • VFS Legalisation Centre: The authorised submission point in London.
    • VFS Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
  • Our Service: We handle submissions and collections in person at the VFS Centre during their operating hours, ensuring secure handling of your documents.

Unsure about any part of the attestation degree UAE process?

Contact us today for friendly, expert advice and a quote for our quick apostille service. We’re here to make your degree certificate attestation for UAE smooth and successful.