MOFA attestation is the official verification process by which the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Wizaarat al-Kharijiyya wal-Taawun al-Dawli) stamps a document to confirm it is authentic and issued by a recognized UAE authority. Without MOFA attestation, no UAE document will be accepted by foreign governments, embassies, universities, or courts.
MOFA Attestation vs Apostille — Which One Do You Need?
MOFA Attestation — For these countries:
- Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman (Gulf states NOT in Hague)
- Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and most North African countries
- Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Nepal
- India (before January 7, 2023) and most African countries
Apostille — For Hague Convention countries:
- United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
- All EU countries — Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, etc.
- India (from January 7, 2023 onwards)
- Russia, Ukraine, China (for some purposes), Turkey, South Africa
The Complete MOFA Attestation Process
Step 1 — Notarize the document first (if required)
Private documents (POAs, affidavits, contracts) must be notarized by a UAE Notary Public before MOFA attestation. Government-issued documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, educational degrees issued by UAE institutions) do not need prior notarization.
Step 2 — Submit to MOFA service centres
Documents can be submitted in person at MOFA service centres in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah. Alternatively — and more conveniently — through authorized service providers like E-Notary Dubai who handle pickup, submission, and delivery on your behalf.
Step 3 — MOFA verifies and stamps
MOFA verifies that the document is genuine and issued by a recognized UAE authority. They apply their official attestation stamp on the back of the document. This stamp is internationally recognized as proof that the document is authentic.
Step 4 — Embassy attestation (if required)
For Hague Convention countries: after MOFA attestation, you need an Apostille stamp — not embassy attestation. For non-Hague countries: after MOFA attestation, you also need the document attested by the relevant embassy or consulate in the UAE. E-Notary Dubai handles both chains.
Processing Times and Fees
Standard MOFA attestation: 1–3 business days. Express same-day service available for urgent documents (additional fee). Fees are set by the UAE government and vary by document type — personal documents (birth, marriage, degree) and commercial documents (trade licence, MOA) have different fee tiers. Contact us for a complete cost estimate before proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation is the mandatory first step for any UAE-issued document to be legally recognized internationally. Without the MOFA stamp, no foreign embassy, apostille authority, or government entity will process your document.
Standard MOFA attestation takes 2-3 business days. Express same-day service is available for certain document types when submitted before 10 AM. We handle the entire submission and collection process on your behalf.
Same-Day Service
Contact before 2 PM for same-day processing.