UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · DOCUMENT ATTESTATION
UAE Document Attestation from Boston
The United Arab Emirates is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone won't be accepted. Your document needs U.S. authentication and UAE legalization. We handle every step, and our DC Satellite Office takes care of the Washington steps for you.
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UAE ATTESTATION
Typically 3–4 weeks
Depending on the document
- State and U.S. Department of State steps
- UAE digital attestation process, guided
- Arabic translation if required
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
Documents we legalize for the UAE
Education
Diplomas and transcripts for employment visas and professional licensing.
Personal
Birth and marriage certificates for family visas and residency.
Background
FBI background checks for work and residence visas.
Corporate
Certificates of Good Standing, board resolutions, powers of attorney and commercial documents for company setup and trade.
The UAE legalization process
- 1
Notarization or certified copy
If your document needs it.
- 2
State certification
By the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth or the issuing state. FBI checks and other federal documents skip this step.
- 3
U.S. Department of State authentication
In Washington, DC.
- 4
UAE attestation
The UAE has consolidated its process through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' digital system, so the legalization through the UAE mission in Washington, DC or New York and the attestation in the UAE are completed together in one application. We assist you from start to finish.
- 5
Arabic translation, if required
By the receiving UAE authority.
Price and turnaround
Every request is a little different, so we provide a personalized quote for each UAE legalization, with government and embassy fees listed separately. Typical turnaround is 3–4 weeks, depending on the document, after we receive your documents. Federal documents such as FBI checks add about 10 business days for the State Department step.
How long UAE attestation takes
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Notarization appointment | Within 24 hours, often the same day |
| Massachusetts certification | 1–2 business days |
| U.S. Department of State authentication | About 2 weeks through our DC Satellite Office |
| UAE legalization and attestation (one digital application) | Varies; we plan about 1 week |
| Arabic translation, if required | Usually 3 business days, with rush available |
Most UAE attestations take about 3 to 4 weeks from the day we receive your documents. Federal documents such as FBI checks skip the state step.
Who needs UAE attestation
Employment visas
Attested degrees and transcripts for teachers, engineers, nurses and other professionals moving to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.
Family residence
Attested birth and marriage certificates to sponsor a spouse or children on a residence visa.
Professional licensing
Healthcare, engineering and education regulators ask for attested credentials before issuing a license.
Company setup
Attested corporate documents and powers of attorney to open a branch, register a company or sign contracts in the UAE.
Avoid these common delays
- Getting an apostille instead. The UAE isn’t in the Apostille Convention, so a state apostille won’t be accepted.
- Unverifiable degrees. Make sure your diploma and transcripts come from your school’s registrar, notarized as the school requires. We coordinate with Boston-area registrars every day.
- Old certified copies. If a vital record is more than 12 months old, confirm with your employer or sponsor that it will be accepted.
- Names that don’t match your passport. Differences in spelling or middle names can hold up the UAE step.
- Separated pages. Never remove staples or pages from a notarized or certified document.
How the UAE step works now
Since August 21, 2025, the UAE Embassy in Washington has handled attestation through its provider, VFS Global, after U.S. Department of State authentication. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers digital attestation for documents issued in the United States, with the original document required. See digital MoFA legalization.
Degree attestation for Boston-area graduates
Most UAE employment visas start with an attested degree. For a Massachusetts diploma or transcript, the school’s registrar issues or confirms the record and it’s notarized, then certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth before the federal and UAE steps.
We work with registrars across Greater Boston every week, including Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Northeastern and Suffolk, so your degree is prepared the way the UAE expects. Graduated from a school in another state? We handle documents from any U.S. state.
What we need from you
- The original document, or the document to be signed in front of our notary
- A copy of your passport, so names can be matched
- Where in the UAE the document will be used, and by whom (employer, sponsor, ministry or free zone), if you know
- Whether the receiving office asked for an Arabic translation
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an apostille for the UAE?
No. The UAE is not a Hague Convention member, so documents need full legalization.
Do I need MOFA attestation too?
It's now part of one consolidated digital process. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles the U.S. legalization and the UAE attestation together, so there's no separate step after you arrive. We help you through the application.
My employer in Dubai asked for an "attested degree." Is this the same thing?
Yes. "Attestation" is the UAE term for this legalization process.
How long does UAE attestation take?
Most UAE attestations take about 3 to 4 weeks from the day we receive your documents. We confirm current timing with your quote.
Can you attest documents from other states?
Yes. We handle documents from any U.S. state. We arrange the state certification, then complete the federal and UAE steps.
Is my certified copy too old?
If a birth or marriage certificate is more than 12 months old, confirm with your sponsor or employer that it will be accepted. We can order a new certified copy for you.
Can you send the documents to me in the UAE?
Yes. We send finished documents anywhere in the world with tracking.
Moving to or doing business in the UAE?
Send us your document list, and we'll confirm each step and the total.