UK Document Legalisation for Use in the UAE

Since the UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the process involves multiple stages. First, UK documents must receive an Apostille from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Then, they must be verified by the UAE Embassy in London and finally attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) upon arrival in the UAE. This multi-step procedure ensures that documents originating in the UK hold the same legal standing as local UAE-issued papers.

Without proper attestation, documents may be rejected by UAE government agencies or private institutions. The process of legalising a UK document for use in the UAE typically involves interaction with four key authorities:

A common misconception is that the Apostille alone is sufficient for document recognition abroad. While this is true for countries that are party to the Hague Convention, the UAE is not a signatory, which means legalization involves more than just the Apostille.

Legalisation requirements apply to a wide range of documents. The UAE government and private institutions will not process unverified foreign documents, regardless of their purpose. Below is a breakdown of the most commonly legalised UK documents, categorised for clarity.

Personal documents are often required for immigration, employment, family sponsorship, or medical purposes in the UAE. Legalising these ensures that they are accepted by UAE authorities.

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce decrees
• Police clearance certificates (ACRO)
• Educational certificates (GCSE, A-Levels, degrees)
• Medical records
• Death certificates
• Adoption papers

These documents typically accompany visa applications or residency permits and must reflect authenticity to avoid rejection.

Businesses expanding into the UAE or forming partnerships require attested documentation to validate their corporate standing and comply with local regulations.

• شهادة تأسيس
• مذكرة ونظامها الأساسي
• شهادة حسن سلوك
• Board Resolutions
• Shareholder agreements
• Power of Attorney for business transactions
• Financial statements and audit reports

Corporate legalisation is essential for setting up mainland, free zone, or offshore entities and for securing commercial licenses.

Companies that engage in trade, franchising, or international transactions with UAE-based partners are required to present authenticated commercial documents.

• Commercial invoices
• Certificates of Origin
• Bills of Lading
• Agency or distribution agreements
• Export/import licenses
• Trade contracts
• Product registration certificates

These documents help facilitate customs clearance, protect against disputes, and enable formal recognition of trade relationships.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) authenticates documents by verifying the seal of its foreign diplomatic missions. Attestation by the MFA generally represents the concluding phase in the document validation procedure. During this stage, the MFA examines the document to ensure all preceding certification and legalization stamps are present and legitimate. Once the MFA confirms their authenticity, it proceeds with its attestation, which grants the document official legal recognition within the UAE.

Additional Information: Depending on the document’s intended purpose in the UAE, further steps might be required. When submitting a document to a UAE court or a governmental ministry, these authorities commonly require an Arabic translation since Arabic is the official language of the country. In such situations, the document must be translated by a certified legal translator authorized by the UAE Ministry of Justice. Afterwards, both the translation and the original document need to be presented to the Ministry of Justice for certification of the Arabic version. However, if the document is intended for use within a UAE free zone authority, these extra translation and certification steps are typically unnecessary because the majority of free zone authorities accept documents in English.

*Our fee for legalizing documents for the UAE is indicated per document (for documents of both legal entities and individuals).

*Certification by a solicitor / notary public and translation of the document (if necessary) are payable additionally according to the standard price list. The total cost of translation of a document depends on its volume.