If you’re planning to start a business in the UAE, you will most likely require document attestation services at one point or another.
The procedure, also known as document certification, authentication or legalisation, essentially makes an overseas document valid for use in the UAE.
These could be a personal document such as a birth, marriage or education certificate, or commercial documents like contracts, statements of work or invoices.
If your documents are not attested, then you may run into problems should you ever need them in your time living and working in the UAE.
Naturally, as the service is in demand, there are many companies that offer document attestation services, including Set Hub. If you wish to know a little more about the service, below is a simple guide to document attestation in Dubai.
Understanding document attestation in Dubai
In order for your important documents to be viewed as legitimate in Dubai, they must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), otherwise known as The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC).
Document attestation in Dubai is the process undertaken by MOFAIC to verify and legitimise documents for use in the country. Documents that may need to be attested include:
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Education certificates such as degrees and diplomas
- Divorce paperwork
- Educational certificates
- Medical reports
- To Whom It May Concern certificates
- Employment contracts
- Passport copies
- Certificate of Dependency and Determination of Heirs (estate)
- General and Special Power of Attorney
- Contracts and trade agreements
- Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting resolutions
- Commercial licenses
- Commercial contracts and agreements
- Company Memorandum of Association
- Certificate of pledge to open or close a company
- Commercial register
- Financial budget approval
- Registration of a new product
- Registration of a Trademark
- Other formal government documentation from your home country
As well as having your document authenticated by MOFAIC, you may also need to have it attested in your home country first to prove its validity.
If the document to be attested was issued outside the UAE, for example, it must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where it was issued, as well as by the UAE mission to such country.
Pakistan certificate attestation in Dubai: Procedure explained
I will use Pakistan document attestation in Dubai here as an example, however the process is very similar whether you are needing Indian certificate attestation in Dubai, birth certificate attestation in Dubai or degree attestation in Dubai.
So, if you are a Pakistani national and need a visa for the UAE, you may first be required to have your marriage or birth certificate attested.
Whatever the document that requires attesting, the process usually follows the same five steps. These are:
- Registration
Log in to the MOFAIC website and register for online services. - Application
Fill out the required fields, attach a copy of the document to be attested, select the area in the document that requires attestation and submit. - Review of application
Your application will be reviewed by the UAE Embassy or a Customer Happiness Center within the UAE. In case conditions are met, you will receive an approval notification along with details on how to pay. - Payment of fees
After obtaining the approval, log into the MOFAIC website, select “My Tasks”, and start payment process. - Receipt of documents
After completing the payment process, you must visit a UAE Embassy/Customer Happiness Center within the UAE to attest the original document. This can then be submitted elsewhere as necessary.
For greater ease, it is also possible to work with a company setup specialist such as Set Hub. We can manage the entire process on your behalf to ensure a fast and seamless service.
What are apostille services in Dubai?
An apostille is a form of certification that authenticates any official seal, stamp or signature on a document to be legitimate. It was introduced as a way of standardising the authenticity of official documents and the like.
However, the apostille is only generally accepted in countries that are part of the Hague Convention, which the UAE is not.
That is why document attestation services are required in this part of the world. In order to legitimise a document with an apostille in Dubai, you must have the document legalised here by MOFAIC. The document is then seen just as legitimately as it would be in any other Hauge Convention conforming country.
Straightforward document attestation with Set Hub
Getting your important documents attested in the UAE does not have to be a complex process.
That being said, as with any business process here in the UAE, it does require a level of prior knowledge. What’s more, it is important to note that the whole procedure is only straightforward if your license application is complete at the time of submission and free from errors.
To help you to ensure that this is the case, it’s a good idea to work with a company formation specialist such as Set Hub when establishing a new company in the UAE.
We are a team of company registration professionals who are passionate about bringing the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs to life.
Our team have a vast experience in preparing and legalising documents for acceptance anywhere within the UAE. We undertake the complete legalisation process on your behalf from your country of origin and ensure that your documents will be accepted when you come to use them for business licensing and visa processing in the UAE.
The Set Hub process:
1. Receiving a copy of the document
2. Finding out a price
3. Informing the client about the price
4. Receiving original document
5. Sending the document to agent
6. Receiving the attested document back
Our document attestation timelines are as follows:
- United Kingdom – 13 Days
- Egypt – 18 days
- United States of America – 5 days
- Canada – 18 days
- India – 15 days
As well as handling your document attestation needs, we can also assist with trade license applications, the opening of corporate bank accounts, and advise on the most appropriate financial institution to suit your specific needs.
We also offer visa and immigration services and can handle all government formalities, permissions, work permits and visas applications that are required to trade in the UAE.
