Document Legalization in UAE

A document legalization procedure is a procedure for the authorities of one country to certify the document’s legality to the authorities of another country.

Since the UAE has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention, simplified legalization or UAE apostille services will not work in the UAE and the only way to have the documents legalized is to go through the UAE embassy legalization process.

If a document is issued in the UAE and needs to be submitted to any authority in another country, it must be legalized by such country’s Consulate in the UAE.

Normally, the procedure is as follows:

• A certified copy of a document is prepared (if the original cannot be submitted since it is available in the only copy);
  * If it is a corporate document, it can go through UAE Document Attestation with the administration of a Free Zone or offshore zone where your company is registered, unless it is a mainland entity;
• Then the document is attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• Finally, it is presented for attestation to the Consulate of the country where you intend to use it in the future.

The requirements for document legalization in UAE may vary from country to country, but generally the process of document legalization in UAE for documents released outside the UAE and designated for use in the Emirates includes the following steps:

• The document is certified by a notary in the country of origin, (unless it is issued by a state body);
• If the document is not in English or Arab, it needs to be translated (and the translation to be certified) into either of the two languages;
• Then the document is authenticated by a competent authority of the country of origin (Foreign Office, court, or any other relevant agency);
• Then the document can be presented to the UAE Embassy in the country of origin for UAE document authentication.

Once the documents are brought to the UAE, an additional step is required before they have full legal effect:

• UAE document verification needs to be done with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the ministry verifies the stamp of the Embassy, makes sure all other stamps and certifications are there, and grants its final authentication.

Timelines: legalization of documents for the UAE takes around 2-3 weeks, but the time frame depends on the country of origin of the documents.

Document authentication in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a complex undertaking that necessitates extensive engagement with various governmental entities at multiple sequential stages.

Any delay or error occurring during this process can impede your progress through subsequent procedures, potentially resulting in unforeseen financial implications. This underscores the indispensable importance of possessing comprehensive local knowledge and familiarity with UAE government agencies to navigate the labyrinthine landscape of legalization requirements and procedures successfully.

As professionals rooted in the local context Smart Advisors team are well-equipped to alleviate not only your document-related concerns but also assist with administrative and accounting routines, thereby enabling you to devote your attention to fostering the growth of your business.