Document legalisation for United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Legalisation Requirement For the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Document for use in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) first needs to be legalised by way of FCDO Apostille and then submitted to the Consulate of the UAE for further attestation.

Step-by-Step Process

1. FCDO Apostille
2. UAE Consulate Attestation (London)
3. UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Attestation

UAE Attestation Fees

Consulate & MoFA Fees

• Private documents: £70 (AED300 + third-party transaction fees)
• Commercial documents: £490 (AED2150 + third-party transaction fees)

Additional Fees

• VFS admin processing fee: £25 (AED118 + third-party transaction fees) per application (up to 5 documents relating to the same individual/direct family member or the same company). This fee is non-refundable in case of rejection by the UAE Consulate/MoFA.
• Court orders (company involved): £70 (AED300 + third-party transaction fees) per document
• Commercial documents requiring London and Arab-British Chambers of Commerce attestation: £539.70 per document (including LCCI & ABCC fees)

Processing Time

• Estimated: 7–10 working days
• May take longer if further verification or approvals are required by the Consulate
• Delays may occur during Ramadan and Eid holidays

Digital Attestation

Effective from 24th February 2025, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has implemented a digital attestation process in collaboration with the UAE Embassy in London.

Outcome

• A digitally attested copy is issued via email
• The document is valid for use within the UAE
• Documents can be verified online at http://verify.mofa.gov.ae

Important Document Rules

General Requirements

• Each document must be certified and Apostilled separately

Bundling Rules

• Bundling is not accepted by the UAE Consulate
• Exception: Certificate of Incorporation and Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name for the same company

Companies House Documents

• Documents such as IN01(ef) forms may be treated as multiple documents
• Each document must be certified and legalised individually

Special Requirements

Commercial Documents

The following must be attested by the London and Arab-British Chambers of Commerce before submission to the UAE Consulate:

• Certificate of Origin
• Invoice
• Bill of Sale

Non-Profit Organisations

• A full scanned copy must be emailed to LondonEMB.legal2@mofaic.gov.ae for approval by the UAE MoFA
• Submission is only allowed after approval is received

Documents Related to Foreign Entities

For documents such as Powers of Attorney, Board Resolutions, Authorisations of Agent, Declarations, and Agreements:

• The notary must confirm the document was signed in their presence within the UK, British Overseas Territories, or Crown Dependencies
• Otherwise, the document may be considered foreign with no UK connection and may be rejected

Foreign Documents

Foreign documents are generally not accepted unless all of the following apply:

• Attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of origin
• Attested by the relevant diplomatic body of the country of origin in the UK
• Certified by a UK notary public
• Apostilled by the UK FCDO
• Submitted to the UAE Consulate in London

Restrictions & Special Cases

Educational Documents

• Foreign educational documents are not accepted under any circumstances

British Overseas Territories

• Documents must be Apostilled in the territory of origin
• Then Apostilled again by the UK FCDO
• The company must be incorporated in the territory concerned

Crown Dependencies

• Documents must be Apostilled in the region of origin (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man)
• No additional UK FCDO Apostille is required
• Documents can be submitted directly to the UAE Consulate
• The company must be incorporated in the relevant Crown Dependency

Submission & Logistics

Payment Method

• Online payment only

Submission Process

• Documents are submitted in person by WLS at the VFS Legalisation Centre in London. We deliver and collect documents in person at the VFS Legalisation Centre in London (we do not use courier services to deliver/collect).

Opening Hours

• UAE Consulate: Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 12:30pm
• VFS Legalisation Centre: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

UAE Consulate Address

48 Prince’s Gate
London
SW7 2QA

FAQs

Do UK documents need an Apostille for the UAE?

Yes. All UK documents must first be Apostilled by the FCDO before UAE Consulate attestation.

How long does UAE legalisation take?

Typically 7–10 working days, but delays can occur during peak periods.

Can documents be bundled together?

No, except for specific company incorporation documents.

Are foreign documents accepted by the UAE Consulate in London?

Only in limited cases and if strict legalisation steps are followed.