Fees and steps checked on
A UK apostille is the certificate the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) adds to a UK document so other countries can trust the signature on it. For the UAE it is necessary but not enough. The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a UK document that stops at the apostille is refused. Two more things must happen: the UAE Embassy in London and MOFA attest the document together, and the document must have had the right first step in the UK. We run all of it from a PDF while you stay in the UAE.
Price: from AED 985 plus VAT on standard (22 to 24 working days), AED 1,200 on express (18 working days) or AED 1,600 on premium (12 to 14 working days). FCDO, embassy and MOFA fees and the courier are included. See attestation fees.
What the FCDO apostille is
The apostille is a certificate from the FCDO Legalisation Office. It confirms that the signature, seal or stamp on the UK document is genuine. It does not say the content is correct, and it does not make the document valid in the UAE. A UK apostille service, an apostille stamp and UAE document legalisation in the UK all refer to this same FCDO step.
It comes in two forms. A paper apostille is attached to the document. An e-Apostille is a digital certificate. GOV.UK lists these FCDO fees:
| FCDO service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard postal | £45 |
| Next-day service, registered businesses only | £40 |
| e-Apostille | £35 |
| Restricted urgent, registered businesses only | £100 |
For the UAE we use the paper apostille. The embassy step needs the paper original with its apostille, so an e-Apostille does not help here. Some documents, such as ACRO and DBS certificates, cannot get an e-Apostille at all.
Why the apostille alone is not accepted
An apostille works between members of the Hague Apostille Convention. The UAE is not one of them, as explained on attestation vs apostille and apostille in Dubai. Claims online that the UAE joined in 2021 are wrong. So the UAE asks for its own attestation on top.
The extra UAE step
After the FCDO, the UAE Embassy in London and MOFA attest the apostilled document together. The request goes through the MOFA portal, the paper document is collected in the UK, and the attestation is issued digitally. There is no separate MOFA stamp to collect in Dubai afterwards. The step usually takes 2 to 3 working days. More is on UAE Embassy London attestation.
Which documents need a solicitor or notary first
The FCDO does not legalise every document as it stands.
- Solicitor or notary first: degrees, transcripts, powers of attorney, contracts and copies. See UK degree attestation.
- Straight to the FCDO: birth, marriage and death certificates from the public register. See UK birth certificate attestation and UK marriage certificate attestation.
If you apostille a degree without certification, the FCDO cannot legalise it. We tell you which applies from a photo, before anything is posted.
How our service runs the chain
- Send a PDF on WhatsApp. We confirm the route, the time and one total price.
- We arrange certification by a UK solicitor or notary where it is needed.
- We get the FCDO apostille on paper.
- We complete the UAE Embassy London and MOFA step.
- You receive the attested document by email, and the original returns by courier.
If you already hold an apostille, we pick up from step 4 once we have checked it. The full UK list is on UK certificate attestation.
Check the result
Enter the reference number and issue date from the last page at verify.mofa.gov.ae and open Document Status. The UAE office can run the same check.
