UAE Document Attestation in London
Boutique UAE attestation service in London - your UK documents notarised, apostilled and attested for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, handled personally from start to finish
Sending a UK document to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is rarely a single step. Before authorities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah and/or Ras Al Khaimah will accept it, the document usually has to be notarised, apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and then attested by the UAE Embassy in London which includes a final attestation step at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). Each stage has its own requirements, and a single error at the start can mean the whole document is refused weeks later.
As a Notary Public, I understand both the legal substance of your document and exactly what the UAE authorities expect to see. I will take care of the entire chain myself saving you time and costs.
When you will need UAE attestation
You will typically need UAE attestation in the following situations:
For corporate & business clients
• Certificates of incorporation and certificates of good standing.
• Board and shareholder resolutions.
• Powers of attorney for company officers and representatives.
• Commercial agreements, contracts and authorisations of agent.
• Certificates of origin, invoices and trade documents (see corporate section below).
• Documents for mainland and free-zone company setup, corporate bank accounts and appointing agents.
For private individuals
• Degree and professional qualification certificates - for work permits and visa sponsorship.
• Marriage and birth certificates - for spouse and dependant visas.
• Powers of attorney - for property, banking and family matters in the Emirates.
• Police / criminal record certificates (PCC) - for residency, employment and relocation.
• Personal declarations and affidavits.
How the process works
The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an FCDO apostille on its own is not sufficient. The UAE consular and MoFA attestation is still required, now completed digitally. Relevant requirements, fees and timescales are subject to changes - I will confirm the current route for your document before any work begins.
Typically, the UAE attestation process will involve:
1. Notarisation - Depending on the nature of the document, and if needed, I will notarise your document, or certify a true copy, under my official seal and signature. For powers of attorney, board resolutions, declarations and similar documents, the UAE authorities require the document to be signed in the physical presence of a notary in the UK - something I will attend to personally.
2. FCDO apostille - the document will then be submitted to the FCDO for an apostille, confirming my seal is genuine. For more information on the UK apostille process please click here.
3. UAE Consulate & MoFA attestation (digital) - since 24 February 2025 the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working with the UAE Embassy in London, attests documents digitally. A digitally attested copy is issued by email, is valid for use throughout the UAE, and can be verified online at verify.mofa.gov.ae. There is no longer a separate physical attestation step inside the UAE. Once this chain is complete, the fully attested document is delivered to you electronically. I manage the whole process and keep you updated at each stage.
Typical turnaround: around two weeks from start to finish.
What you will receive: your original document returned to you with its physical FCDO apostille attached, plus the UAE attestation as a digital certificate issued by email - valid throughout the UAE and verifiable at verify.mofa.gov.ae.
Non-UK documents: I can also assist where your document originates outside the UK but is needed in the UAE. Foreign documents follow a stricter route and they usually have to be authenticated and attested in their country of origin. I will assess your document and advise on the correct international route as part of my international document service.
How your quote is calculated
Clear pricing, no surprises. Your quote has four parts:
1. My notarial fee - for notarising or certifying your document (plus VAT).
2. My legalisation handling fee - for managing the apostille and UAE attestation process on your behalf (plus VAT).
3. FCDO apostille fee - a fixed fee of £40 for standard & express apostille service.
4. UAE MoFA attestation fee - a fixed government disbursement (currently set at £70 per stamp for private documents and £490 per stamp for commercial documents).
Items 3 and 4 are official government fees, not a mark-up - you pay the same as if you would arranged each step yourself, but with everything handled for you. Some commercial documents also carry an ABCC fee. You will get a full, itemised quote before any work begins.
Corporate document attestation for the UAE
I act as the notary for UAE powers of attorney in London and handle corporate certificate attestation for UK companies for Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the wider Emirates (including, amongst other things, certificates of incorporation, certificates of good standing, board resolutions and commercial agreements).
Whether you are registering a mainland or free-zone entity, opening a corporate bank account or appointing an agent, I provide complete corporate document legalisation and attestation for the UAE under one roof, with the precision and discretion that high-value transactions require.
Certain commercial documents (including certificates of origin, invoices and some trade documents) must first be attested by the ABCC before they can be submitted for UAE attestation. This step is frequently overlooked, and is a common reason corporate documents are delayed or rejected. I identify whether your documents require ABCC attestation at the outset and arrange it as part of a single, managed process so nothing is missed and nothing stalls.
The boutique difference
From your first enquiry to the moment your documents are returned, you deal with me - not a rotating team or a call centre. As a Notary Public and a corporate lawyer with a decade of experience, I handle complex company and cross-border legal documents personally and in confidence, with the precision UAE authorities demand.
Appointments are available at my office or by mobile visit to your home or workplace, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays, with same-day options when a deadline cannot move.
I am also available for mobile notary appointments across Central and Greater London (including the City of London, Canary Wharf, Mayfair, Westminster, Holborn and Finchley) visiting your home or office at a time that suits you, including evenings and weekends.
