Legalising documents for the UAE: attestation, apostille and translation
Foreign documents — degrees, marriage and birth certificates — are accepted in the UAE only after legalisation. The UAE is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is usually not enough: full consular legalisation is required.
The legalisation chain
- First, certification in the issuing country (notary and, usually, the foreign ministry).
- Then attestation at the UAE embassy or consulate in that country.
- After arrival, a certified Arabic translation and attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Documents issued inside the UAE usually only need a certified translation.
Timelines
| Document | Steps | Time, checked |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | legalisation + Arabic translation | 2–6 weeks · 11.10.2026 |
| Marriage/birth certificate | legalisation + translation | 2–4 weeks · 11.10.2026 |
| Translation | certified translator | from 1 day · 11.10.2026 |
Frequently asked
- Is an apostille enough?
- Usually not — the UAE requires full legalisation through its embassy.
- Does it have to be in Arabic?
- For official use, yes; a certified translator and MOFA attestation are required.
- How much does it cost?
- It varies by issuing country; check with the UAE embassy and the translator.
Rules differ by country — confirm with the UAE embassy and MOFA.