What is the purpose of document attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in UAE?

Attesting documents and certificates is a process that confirms the validity of the seal and signature on a document, whether issued from within the country or from outside.

What types of documents can be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

Personal documents:

• Educational documents (the certificate and transcript are treated as two separate documents)
• Birth certificates
• Death certificates
• Medical reports
• Certificate of good conduct
• Marriage certificate, and court certificates
• Power of attorney
• Certificate for whom it may concern
• Employment contract
• Employment offer
• Bank statements
• Personal tax certificate

Commercial documents:

• Contract or agreement
• Commercial registry
• Appointment of director
• Minutes of the board of directors or partners meeting
• Change of company name
• Trademark registration
• Distribution agreement
• Company insurance certificate
• Company tax certificate
• Board of directors decision
• Commercial license
• Partnership or shareholder certificate
• Appendices and annexes in commercial documents
• Memorandums
• Company closure
• Company branch registration
• Bankruptcy documents
• Financial statement
• Product registration
• Patent registration or assignment
• Trademark registration
• Power of attorney with a commercial nature
• General power of attorney
• Signature document
• End-user certificate
• Tax certificate
• Completion certificate
• Any other document of a commercial nature

Procedures for documents attestation issued from within the country:

• The original document must be submitted, and it must be attested by the issuing authority, except for electronically authenticated documents, which must not be heat-laminated. 

Procedures for attesting documents issued from outside the country:

• The document must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in which it was issued.
• The document must then be authenticated by either the embassy or consulate of the country in which the document was issued in the United Arab Emirates, or by the embassy or consulate of the United Arab Emirates in the country in which the document was issued.
• Finally, the document must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the United Arab Emirates.