The answer is no. As of September 2026, the UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so no UAE authority can put an apostille on a document. UAE company documents go through full legalization instead: MOFA attestation, then the Embassy or Consulate of the country where the document will be used.
For example, if a bank in Switzerland asks a DMCC company for apostilled corporate documents, the process is legalization at MOFA first, and then at the Swiss Embassy or Consulate.
Is the UAE a member of the Hague Apostille Convention?
No. The UAE has not joined the convention, and there is no confirmed date for it to join.
This surprises many founders, because their home countries are members. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Switzerland, the UK and all EU countries use the apostille. A document moving between two of these countries needs one apostille. A document from the UAE needs more steps and costs more.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate added to a public document by one authority in the country that issued it. It confirms that the signature and stamp on the document are genuine. Every other member country must accept it, with no embassy or consulate step. More than 120 countries are members.
It only works when both countries are members. Since the UAE is not, an apostille cannot be issued on a UAE document. It works the same way in the other direction: a foreign apostille on its own is not enough for UAE authorities.
How are UAE company documents legalized instead?
The process is called consular legalization, or attestation. For a UAE company document going abroad, the usual order is:
- Notarization by a UAE notary, for documents the company signs itself, such as a Power of Attorney or a board resolution. A board resolution can also be certified by the Free Zone. This step is not needed for every document.
- MOFA attestation. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the stamp of the issuing authority or the notary.
- Legalization at the embassy or consulate of the destination country in the UAE.
- Certified translation, if the destination country needs it.
UAE company documents for Europe
The process is the same, but each European embassy in the UAE has its own rules. Some work by appointment only, and some need a translation into their official language. Before you start, ask the bank, notary or company registry in Europe exactly which documents they want, and whether they accept copies. Then check the rules of that country's embassy.
Which UAE company documents usually need legalization?
The documents we legalize most often for use abroad are:
- Trade License
- Certificate of Incorporation
- MOA and AOA
- Share Certificates
- Certificate of Incumbency or register of directors and shareholders
- Board Resolutions
- Powers of Attorney
They are usually needed to open a bank account abroad, register a branch or subsidiary, sign a contract with a state company, prove ownership to a foreign notary, or show a foreign tax authority that the company is a UAE resident.
How long does legalization take and what does it cost?
Government fees depend on the document and the destination country. The UAE side is the same for every country:
- MOFA attestation: USD 545 per company document.
- True Copy (of a resolution, for example) from DMCC, for DMCC companies: USD 64 per document.
The embassy fee is set by each country. For the Russian Consulate, it is USD 77 per stamp plus USD 88 per page at standard speed, or about USD 300 per document on fast track. For documents over five pages, such as a full MOA and AOA, the price may be higher.
For Russia, plan for about 5 to 6 working days in total at normal speed: 3 working days for MOFA and translation, and 2 to 3 working days at the Consulate. Other embassies can take longer, so ask about timing when you book.
Fees and timelines are set by the authorities and can change. USD figures are approximate equivalents of the AED amounts.
What about foreign documents used in the UAE?
The same rule applies in reverse. If a parent company in Cyprus or Switzerland opens a UAE subsidiary, its documents need to be legalized for the UAE. This usually covers the certificate of incorporation, register extract, board resolution and Power of Attorney.
An apostille from the home country is not enough on its own. The usual path is notarization in the home country, certification by that country's foreign ministry, legalization at the UAE Embassy there, and then MOFA attestation in the UAE. Some UAE authorities also ask for a legal translation into Arabic, especially on the Mainland. Each UAE Embassy publishes what it accepts, so check with the one in your country first.
What slows legalization down?
In practice, most delays come from four things:
- Old documents. Many banks and registries abroad only accept documents issued in the last 6 months. Order a fresh certified copy before you start.
- The wrong order. An embassy will not legalize a document that has not been attested by MOFA first.
- A plain copy instead of a certified copy. MOFA attests the stamp of the issuing authority, so a copy without that stamp will be rejected.
- Names that do not match. The company name and the names of directors should be spelled the same way on the license, the MOA and the Power of Attorney.
Our team handles legalization of UAE company documents for all countries: the certified copy, MOFA attestation, translation, embassy submission, follow up, and delivery back to you in Dubai. If you are not sure which steps your document needs, you can book a 30 minute call with our team.
FAQ
Can UAE company documents be apostilled?
No. The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so no UAE authority can issue an apostille. UAE company documents need consular legalization instead: MOFA attestation, then legalization at the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be used.
Is the UAE part of the Hague Apostille Convention?
No. As of September 2026, the UAE has not joined the convention and there is no confirmed date for it to join. The official list of members is the HCCH status table, and the UAE is not on it.
What replaces an apostille for UAE documents?
Consular legalization. A UAE company document gets a certified copy from the issuing authority (or notarization for documents the company signs), then MOFA attestation, then legalization at the embassy or consulate of the destination country in the UAE. A certified translation is added if that country needs it.
How much does MOFA attestation cost for a UAE company document?
The MOFA government fee is USD 545 per company document. The embassy or consulate fee of the destination country is added on top. For DMCC companies, a True Copy from DMCC costs USD 64 per document.
Is a foreign apostille valid in the UAE?
Not on its own. Because the UAE is not a member of the convention, foreign documents usually need notarization and foreign ministry certification in the home country, legalization at the UAE Embassy there, and then MOFA attestation in the UAE.
Can InBusiness help with the attestation of documents worldwide?
Yes. We handle the attestation of all kinds of documents for most countries in the world.
About InBusiness
InBusiness is a Dubai-based accounting, tax, and corporate services firm, founded in 2021, that acts as the UAE finance and compliance arm for international businesses. The team provides outsourced accounting, tax advisory, company formation, admin services, and immigration across all Free Zones and Mainland. The team speaks English and Russian.
