Document Attestation in the UAE: The Order of Steps That Matters

Attestation is a chain, and each link must be completed before the next. Translating too early — or too late — usually means paying twice.

The standard sequence for a foreign document

1. Notarisation or authentication in the issuing country.
2. Attestation by that country ministry of foreign affairs.
3. Legalisation at the UAE embassy in that country.
4. Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
5. Certified legal translation into Arabic by a Ministry of Justice licensed translator.

Common pitfalls

• Translating before the embassy stage, so the new stamps are missing from the translation.
• Submitting a photocopy where the authority requires the original.
• Expired documents — some certificates must be recent to be accepted.

Send us your document set and we will confirm the exact sequence and timeline for your case before any work begins.