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Attestation, apostille and notarisation are three different stamps. Notarisation confirms a signature or that a copy is true. An apostille is a single certificate that makes a document valid between members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Attestation is the full chain of stamps the UAE requires, because the UAE is not a member of that convention: home country, UAE embassy, then MOFA attestation.
Price: our total prices for apostille countries start from AED 985 plus VAT for UK personal documents and AED 1,025 plus VAT for USA ones, all official fees included. See attestation fees.
Attestation vs apostille vs notarisation at a glance
| Notarisation | Apostille | Attestation (UAE) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it confirms | A signature, or that a copy is true | The signature and seal on a public document | Each stamp in the chain, ending with the UAE |
| Who gives it | A notary or solicitor | The issuing country's apostille authority | Home foreign ministry, UAE embassy, MOFA |
| Where it works | Usually the first step only | Other Apostille Convention members | The UAE |
| Accepted alone in the UAE | No | No | Yes |
The UAE is not in the Apostille Convention
The UAE is not a contracting party to the Hague Apostille Convention. It is not listed on the HCCH status table, last updated 30 June 2026. Some websites claim the UAE joined in 2021. That is not correct.
Its Gulf neighbours differ. Saudi Arabia has been a member since 7 December 2022, Bahrain since 31 December 2013 and Oman since 30 January 2012. Qatar and Kuwait, like the UAE, are not members. So a document that is fine in Riyadh with an apostille still needs the full chain in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
What happens to an apostilled document in the UAE
If your country is an Apostille Convention member, its apostille takes the place of the foreign ministry legalisation step. The UAE then adds its own stamps on top.
- Notary or solicitor certifies the document where the country requires it.
- Apostille from the issuing country's authority, such as the FCDO in the UK or the US Department of State.
- UAE embassy in that country attests it.
- MOFA in the UAE attests it. On the digital route, the embassy and MOFA attest together.
The UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the Philippines, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands issue apostilles. Canada's membership took effect on 11 January 2024 and the Philippines' on 14 May 2019. All of them still need the UAE embassy and MOFA steps. See UK certificate attestation and USA certificate attestation.
Countries that do not issue apostilles
Countries outside the convention use legalisation by their foreign ministry instead. For the UAE, the chain looks the same from step 3 onwards. Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Nigeria, Qatar and Kuwait are among the countries not on the HCCH list. Australia also issues an authentication certificate rather than an apostille for non-member destinations such as the UAE.
Where notarisation fits
Notarisation is usually the start of the chain, not a substitute for it. A notary confirms that a signature is genuine or that a copy is a true and accurate copy of the original. In the UK, qualification certificates, powers of attorney and copies must be certified by a UK notary or solicitor before the FCDO will legalise them.
In Dubai, notarisation is needed for documents signed here, such as a power of attorney. A government notary attests a power of attorney and certifies true copies. See notary public in Dubai.
UAE documents going abroad
The same rule works in reverse. Because the UAE is not a member, it does not issue apostilles. A UAE document for use in another country is attested by MOFA and then, in most cases, by the destination country's embassy in the UAE. That applies even when the destination is an Apostille Convention member. See UAE documents for use abroad and apostille in Dubai.
Common apostille mistakes for the UAE
- Stopping at the apostille. The document arrives in Dubai with an apostille and nothing else, and the visa office or employer cannot accept it.
- Bundled apostilles. For US documents going to the UAE, each document must be apostilled individually. A bundle of documents under one apostille is not accepted.
- Skipping the notary. The FCDO only legalises a UK degree after a UK solicitor or notary has certified it, so sending it straight to the FCDO wastes time.
- Paying the wrong body. In South Africa, DIRCO warns about people falsely claiming to act in its name.
Which one do you need?
- Foreign document for use in the UAE: full attestation. An apostille is one step of it, not the whole route.
- UAE document for use abroad: MOFA attestation, then usually the destination country's embassy.
- Document signed in Dubai, such as a power of attorney: notarisation first. If it is going abroad, it then follows the route for UAE documents.
Not sure what your document already has? Read what certificate attestation is or send a photo and you get the missing steps and the total price.
