The service enables customers to authenticate official documents for use in other countries, subject to the issuing authority, document type and intended destination of the certified records.

According to the ministry, attestation confirms the authenticity of signatures and official seals appearing on documents issued within or outside the UAE, in accordance with the applicable government procedures.

The clarification is particularly relevant to citizens, expatriate residents and business owners who need officially attested documents for international administrative, professional or commercial purposes.

The ministry’s official service information confirms that eligible original digital documents issued in the UAE can be attested within two hours during official working hours, provided the application meets the relevant requirements.

To qualify for this electronic procedure, a document must originate from a supported UAE issuing authority and belong to one of the document categories currently accepted for digital attestation.

The original electronic document must contain a recognised verification mechanism, such as a QR code, barcode, electronic link or reference number that allows its authenticity to be established.

A photograph or scanned copy of a paper document does not qualify as an original digital document, even when the applicant uploads it as an electronic file.

Applicants begin by accessing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or its official UAE MOFA mobile application and signing in through the UAE Pass national digital identity system.

They then select the document attestation service within the UAE and confirm that the relevant document was issued by an authority in the United Arab Emirates.

The applicant identifies the issuing organisation and document category, allowing the ministry’s system to determine automatically whether the digital route or an approved courier-based route applies.

When digital attestation is available, the applicant selects the destination country, uploads the original digital document, confirms the accuracy of the submitted information and pays the applicable charges.

After the application has been processed successfully, the digitally attested document can be delivered by email or accessed through the My Requests section of the ministry’s website.

The ministry also operates an official verification platform that allows receiving organisations to confirm the authenticity and current verification status of digitally attested documents.

Users can check a completed attestation through the MOFA VERIFY service by providing the required reference number and issuance date associated with the authenticated document.

These verification arrangements help individuals and institutions establish the reliability of certified records without relying solely on unverified digital copies or manually reproduced documentation.

Where a document does not meet the conditions for digital attestation, the ministry provides a separate procedure involving an approved courier service provider to collect and return the necessary original documents.

Documents submitted through this route must generally be original records in Arabic or English, or accompanied by an appropriate legally certified translation when another language is involved.

They must also carry the required prior certifications from the relevant authorities where applicable and must not be laminated in a way that prevents their official processing.

Applicants provide the necessary contact and delivery information, select an available courier provider, complete payment and follow the instructions for transferring and receiving their documents.

The ministry lists a normal processing period of one to three working days for courier-based attestation inside the UAE, depending on the selected provider and the circumstances of the application.

Applications involving documents issued outside the UAE may require different embassy procedures and longer processing periods, particularly where original documents must be collected or transported.

Customers should therefore distinguish between the domestic digital attestation service and the separate procedures available through UAE diplomatic missions abroad.

The advertised two-hour completion period should not be interpreted as applying to every document or every international attestation request because it specifically concerns eligible UAE-issued digital documents.

Regarding fees, the ministry directs applicants to its official attestation guide and calculates the applicable amounts according to the classification of the document and the selected transaction.

The availability of digital processing does not mean that attestation is automatically free of charge, nor does it establish an identical fee for every personal or commercial document.

The official guidance allows up to five documents within one application when those documents can all be processed through the same attestation method and meet the relevant eligibility conditions.

Applicants should carefully verify their issuing authority, document category, personal information and destination country before submission to reduce the likelihood of application rejection.

The ministry’s online service can be accessed around the clock, although the actual digital attestation processing timeframe is measured during official working hours.

For further assistance, customers inside the UAE may contact the ministry’s official support centre at 80044444 regarding digital identity access, payments, documents or verification difficulties.

Users are encouraged to rely on authorised government platforms and avoid disclosing UAE Pass credentials or confidential document information to unverified intermediaries.

These procedures concern an established government service and should not be described as a new decision introducing free attestation or guaranteeing two-hour processing for every document category.

Source: United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Official Documents and Certificates Attestation Service.