UAE

Document Attestation &

Embassy Legalisation (UK)

Document attestation for use in the United Arab Emirates, handled in the correct order and checked before submission.

  • Document pre-check before submission
  • UAE-compliant process based on current embassy requirements
  • Secure, tracked UK-based handling from start to finish
CHECK MY DOCUMENTS
GET A QUOTE

Prefer WhatsApp?

Chat with us now.

At a Glance

Step

  • Send your documents (originals or clear scans)
  • We confirm the correct UAE legalisation route
  • We arrange solicitor certification if required
  • We obtain a UK apostille from FCDO
  • We complete the UAE embassy legalisation
  • Documents returned via tracked delivery

What You Need

  • The document(s) you want to legalise
  • The destination country: UAE
  • Intended use (employment, business, education, etc.)
  • Clear scan or original document
  • Translation, if required (Arabic may be needed depending on the authority)

What Affects Turnaround

  • Whether certification is required before an apostille
  • FCDO processing times
  • UAE embassy processing timelines
  • Courier and submission schedules
  • Public holidays in the UK or the UAE

Common Reasons for Rejection

  • Incorrect certification format
  • Documents not suitable for apostille
  • Name mismatches across documents
  • Missing steps in the legalisation chain
  • Poor-quality scans or incomplete submissions

UAE Legalisation Process

UAE Legalisation Process

What is UAE legalisation?

UAE legalisation is the process of preparing UK-issued documents so they are officially recognised for use in the United Arab Emirates. In most cases, this involves the following sequence:
Certification (if required)
Some documents must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before an apostille can be issued.

This step depends on the document type.
 UK Apostille
Your document has been submitted to the FCDO for an apostille.

This confirms the authenticity of the signature or seal on the document.
UAE Embassy Legalisation
After the apostille is issued, the document is submitted to the UAE Embassy in London.

This final step makes the document valid for use in the UAE.

UAE Document Types

UAE Document Types

We handle personal, educational, and commercial documents for use in the United Arab Emirates.

Personal Documents

Use for visa, residency, and family-related matters.

  • Birth Certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Police certificates (ACRO)
  • Passport copies
  • Affidavits and declarations
+ More

Educational Documents

use for employment licensing, and qualification recognition

  • Degree certificates
  • Diplomas
  • Transcripts
  • Professional qualifications
  • Course Completion Certificates
+ More
Commercial Documents

Use for company setup, trade, and corporate authority.

  • Certificates of incorporation
  • Memorandum and Articles of Association
  • Board resolutions
  • Powers of attorney
  • Invoices and export documents.
+ More

Not sure which documents you need?
Send your documents for a quick review, and we’ll confirm the correct legalisation route.

Check my documents

UAE Legalisation by Document Type

UAE Legalisation by Document Type

Different document types follow slightly different legalisation routes.
We confirm the correct process before submission to avoid delays, incorrect certification, or rejection.

UAE Document Legalisation

Personal Documents for UAE

Personal documents are commonly used for visa, residency, family sponsorship, and civil matters in the United Arab Emirates.

Typical process
1
Document review — We check whether your document is suitable for legalisation and whether certification is required
2
Certification (if required) — Some documents must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before apostille
3
UK Apostille — Your document is submitted to the FCDO for apostille
4
UAE Embassy legalisation — The document is legalised by the UAE Embassy in London
What often matters
  • Name consistency across documents
  • Whether the document is suitable for apostille
  • Whether Arabic translation is required
Common issues
  • Name mismatches between documents
  • Incorrect certification before apostille
  • Submitting copies when originals are required
  • Missing steps in the legalisation process
Check My Documents

Educational Documents for UAE

Educational documents are typically required for employment, licensing, and qualification recognition in the UAE.

Typical process
1
Document review
2
Certification (if required)
3
UK Apostille
4
UAE Embassy legalisation
What often matters
  • Degree vs transcript requirements
  • Correct certification before apostille
  • Employer or authority requirements
  • Translation requirements
Common issues
  • Submitting the wrong document
  • Missing or incorrect certification
  • Name differences across documents
  • Assuming apostille alone is sufficient
Check My Documents

Commercial Documents for UAE

Commercial documents are used for company formation, trade, contracts, and corporate authority in the UAE.

Typical process
1
Document review
2
Certification — Solicitor / notary / chamber if required
3
UK Apostille
4
UAE Embassy legalisation
What often matters
  • Type of document and intended business use
  • Certification requirements before apostille
  • UAE authority requirements
  • Supporting company documents
Common issues
  • Wrong certification route
  • Missing corporate documents
  • Incorrect signatory format
  • Submitting without confirming requirements
Check My Documents

Do all Documents Need Legalisation for the UAE?

Most UK documents must be legalised before they are accepted in the UAE.

However, requirements can vary depending on:

The authority requesting the document
Different UAE authorities may have specific legalisation requirements.

The purpose (employment, business setup, education)
The Intended use of the document determines the legalisation route.

Whether translation into Arabic is required,
some authorities require Arabic Translation before acceptance

We confirm this during the pre-check stage, so you know exactly what’s needed

Translation Requirements (Arabic)

Some UAE authorities require documents to be translated into Arabic before they can be accepted.

Translation requirements depend on:


The authority requesting the document
Each authority may have its own translation rules.

The purpose (employment, legal, business, immigration)
The use of the document impacts translation requirements.

The document type
Certain documents must always be in Arabic.

In practice, translation may be required:

01

After legalisation (most common)

02

Before submission, in certain cases

03

Or both, depending on the authority

Our Translation & Legalisation Support
Will guide you through every step to ensure your documents are accepted without delay.

TALK TO OUR EXPERTS →

Our translation and legalisation support

Services include:

Certified translations

Notarised translations

Legalised translations (where required)

Business and legal document translation

We advise the correct approach based on your document and use case.

TURNAROUND AND PROCESSING TIME

We offer standard and priority handling depending on urgency.

Turnaround depends on:

Document Type

Determines the legalisation route, required certifications, and whether additional steps are needed before submission.

Required steps

Some documents require certification before an apostille, then UAE Embassy legalisation, in the correct order.

Embassy Timelines

Processing times vary depending on UAE Embassy requirements, submission volume, and public holidays.

For an accurate timeframe, use

Check My Documents →

Why choose Sterling & Reeve

Experience with UAE Legalisation Requirements
In-depth knowledge of the UAE Legalisation Process and authority requirements.

Precheck system to reduce rejection risk
Our precheck process helps identify issues early to minimise rejection.

Structured step-by-step handling
Some authorities require an Arabic Translation before acceptance

Clear communication throughout
You’ll stay informed at every step with prompt updates and responsive support.

Check your documents before you start

Avoid delays and incorrect corrections.

Send your documents for a quick review, and we will all confirm:

The exact UAE legalisation route

What steps are required

Estimated timeframe

Check My Documents →
Get a quote

Frequently asked questions

It depends on certification requirements, FCDO processing, and UAE embassy timelines. We confirm after reviewing your documents.

In many cases, yes. Some documents can start from scans, but originals are usually required for final processing.

Yes. You can send clear scans for review, then post originals when ready.

Sometimes. This depends on the authority in the UAE. We advise during pre-check.

Yes. We regularly handle business and export documents requiring UAE legalisation.

No. UAE requires both an apostille and embassy legalisation.

Start your UAE legalisation correctly

Send your documents today and get the correct process confirmed before submission.

Check My Documents Get a Quote WhatsApp Us