Fees and steps checked on
MOFA attestation in Abu Dhabi follows the same online process as everywhere in the UAE: you or a service apply on the MOFA website or app with UAE PASS, pay, and an approved courier collects the original from your address in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Mussafah. MOFA says its Customer Happiness Centres are closed, so there is no counter to queue at. A UAE paper document usually comes back in 1 to 3 business days.
Price: MOFA attestation of a UAE document from AED 250 plus VAT for a personal document and from AED 2,600 plus VAT for a commercial one, usually in 2 to 3 working days, all official fees included. Documents from the UK start from AED 985 plus VAT and from the USA from AED 1,025 plus VAT for the full chain. See attestation fees.
Is there a MOFA attestation centre in Abu Dhabi?
MOFA's headquarters is in Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, with listed hours of 8:00 to 16:00. But MOFA states that its Customer Happiness Centres are closed and that attestation is handled online or through the app. Many guides and map pins still show MOFA attestation at Marina Mall or in Mussafah. Those listings are out of date. See MOFA attestation centres for what changed.
Who needs MOFA attestation in Abu Dhabi
- Professionals joining an Abu Dhabi employer whose foreign degree is needed for a skilled work permit. See degree certificate attestation.
- Golden visa applicants on Abu Dhabi's skilled professional route, which asks for an attested bachelor's degree or equivalent, MOHRE skill level 1 or 2, and a salary of at least AED 30,000. See attestation for the golden visa.
- Families sponsoring a spouse or children. ICP asks for an attested marriage contract for a spouse and birth certificates for children. See marriage certificate attestation and birth certificate attestation.
- Companies in Abu Dhabi, Mussafah and the free zones using foreign or UAE company documents. See commercial document attestation.
Step by step: MOFA attestation from Abu Dhabi
For a UAE-issued document, such as an Abu Dhabi university degree or a birth certificate:
- Issuing authority first. The university, court or authority that issued the document attests it.
- Apply online. Sign in to the MOFA website or app with UAE PASS, confirm the document is UAE-issued, and select the issuing authority and document type.
- Book the courier. Enter your Abu Dhabi address and choose a courier from MOFA's list.
- Pay. MOFA shows the fee before payment.
- Hand over and receive. The courier collects the original and returns it attested.
For a document issued abroad:
- Home-country stamps. Notary where needed, then the foreign ministry legalisation or apostille.
- UAE embassy and MOFA. You apply on the MOFA portal, an approved provider collects the original, and for many countries, including the UK and USA, it comes back attested digitally by both the embassy and MOFA.
- Use it in Abu Dhabi. No separate MOFA step is needed in the UAE on that digital route.
Full screen-by-screen steps are in MOFA attestation online.
Fees and times for Abu Dhabi residents
There is no Abu Dhabi price list. MOFA fees are federal and the same in every emirate.
| Step | Who stamps it | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| UAE personal document | MOFA | 1 to 3 business days by courier |
| UAE commercial document | MOFA | 1 to 3 business days by courier |
| UAE digital document | MOFA | within 2 hours in working hours |
| Personal document from abroad | UAE embassy and MOFA | usually 2 to 3 working days for that stage |
| Courier, Aramex normal / express | Aramex | 3 working days / 1 working day |
Our prices include every official fee and the courier.
| Country | Document | Usual time | Our total price |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE, MOFA only | Personal | 2 to 3 working days | from AED 250 plus VAT |
| UAE, MOFA only | Commercial | 2 to 3 working days | from AED 2,600 plus VAT |
| UK, standard | Personal | 22 to 24 working days | from AED 985 plus VAT |
| USA | Personal | about 7 weeks | from AED 1,025 plus VAT |
| Canada | Personal | 4 to 6 weeks | from AED 1,900 plus VAT |
Documents you need
- The original document, or the original digital PDF with a QR code.
- The issuing authority's attestation, for UAE documents.
- A legal translation if it is not in Arabic or English.
- Your delivery address in Abu Dhabi.
Laminated documents are not accepted. See MOFA attestation requirements.
Common problems in Abu Dhabi
- Going to an old counter. MOFA's Customer Happiness Centres are closed, so counter listings for Marina Mall or Mussafah no longer apply.
- Apostille only. The UAE is not in the Apostille Convention, so a foreign document also needs the UAE embassy step.
- Degree without verification. Some employers and the golden visa also need a recognition certificate. See equivalency certificate in the UAE.
We are a private document service, not MOFA, and we apply on your behalf as MOFA allows. For the complete process, read MOFA attestation.
