Company documents
Commercial invoice attestation in Dubai, and the notary papers that go with it
Commercial invoice attestation is how a trade document becomes acceptable to customs, a bank or a buyer in another country. For a UAE exporter, the invoice and certificate of origin usually go to a chamber of commerce, then to MOFA, and then, if the buyer’s country asks, to that country’s mission in the UAE. Most invoices never need a notary. But the papers that travel with them often do: a company power of attorney for the customs agent, a signatory declaration, or a notarised copy of the trade licence.
We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit notary services. We notarise the company papers that go with your invoices, at our office, online or at your own office, and we take the invoice set through the chamber, MOFA and the embassy in the right order.
Side by side
The notary side of trade papers
| Paper | Why a trader needs it | What happens to it |
|---|---|---|
| Company power of attorney for a customs agent or clearing agent | Lets the agent act for the company with customs and ports | Signed by the company’s signatory before a notary public |
| Signatory declaration | Confirms who may sign invoices and trade papers for the company | Signed before a notary public; MOFA if the reader is abroad |
| Board resolution authorising a signatory | A bank or buyer abroad wants to see the signer’s authority | Notarised, then MOFA as a commercial document, then the embassy |
| Certified true copy of the trade licence | A buyer or bank wants a verified copy | Notarised copy; MOFA if the reader is abroad |
A company power of attorney written only in general terms gives the agent acts of management only under the Civil Transactions Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025), so state the acts the agent may do. Source: UAE Legislation. See power of attorney notarisation and certified true copies.
Step by step
Commercial invoice attestation for exports: the usual order
01
Your invoice and packing list, on company letterhead, signed and stamped, matching the shipment exactly.
02
Certificate of origin
from a UAE chamber of commerce, where the buyer’s country or bank requires one.
03
Chamber attestation
of the invoice, where required.
04
MOFA attestation, often through eDAS.
05
Legalisation by the buyer country’s mission in the UAE, where that country requires it.
Some buyers only need the certificate of origin; others want every document through every step. The letter of credit, if there is one, usually states exactly which documents must be legalised. Read it before you start.
01
Imports: documents coming into the UAE
MOFA’s FAQ says attestation is mandatory for goods imported into the UAE, and import invoices go through its eDAS system at AED 150 per invoice or certificate of origin. A supplier’s invoice issued abroad may also come to you already legalised (home chamber, home foreign ministry, UAE mission there). The difference matters for customs clearance, so check what applies to your shipment before the goods arrive. Supplier documents from China, for example, often start at a Chinese trade body; see China certificate attestation.
Checklist
What makes a trade document fail
- The invoice value, weights or HS codes differ from the certificate of origin or the bill of lading.
- The invoice is unsigned or on plain paper.
- The company name differs from the trade licence.
- A correction made by hand on an already attested invoice. It must be reissued and attested again.
- The document was attested after the date the letter of credit required.
- The customs agent’s power of attorney was never notarised, or names the wrong company.
Step by step
How we help traders
01
You send the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any letter of credit terms.
02
We check that the figures and names agree across all documents.
03
We tell you which offices each document must pass, in order, and which fees apply.
04
We notarise the company papers that go with the set: the agent’s power of attorney, the signatory declaration or a true copy. Your signatory signs before our notary public in person, online, or on a visit to your office. We tell you if your document can be done online.
05
We take the set through the chamber, MOFA and the embassy.
06
We return the documents or send them to your bank or forwarder.
The steps are the same in every emirate; only the chamber changes. For businesses in Abu Dhabi’s industrial areas, see notary public in Mussafah. For company papers beyond trade, see company documents notarisation.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| MOFA attestation, commercial document (handling) | From AED 300 | MOFA AED 2,000 per commercial document, or AED 150 per invoice or certificate of origin through eDAS |
| Commercial documents, general notarisation | From AED 500 | Federal schedule by value (items 1 to 7) |
| Company power of attorney | From AED 1,500 | AED 100 per party (federal schedule) |
| Urgent handling (add-on) | From AED 250 | None |
| Courier pickup and delivery | From AED 80 | None |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is commercial invoice attestation used for?
To prove to customs, a bank or a buyer abroad that the invoice is genuine and was issued by a registered company. It is often a condition of a letter of credit or of customs clearance.
Does a commercial invoice need a notary?
Usually not. The invoice goes through the chamber and MOFA. The papers that go with it, such as the customs agent’s power of attorney or a signatory declaration, are the ones signed before a notary public.
Does every export invoice need MOFA attestation?
No. It depends on the destination country, the buyer and the bank. Check the letter of credit or ask the buyer for the list.
Is eDAS the same as an apostille?
No. eDAS is MOFA’s electronic route for attesting certain commercial papers. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, and it issues no apostilles.
Can you handle invoices for a company in another emirate?
Yes. We handle files from every emirate. The chamber step is done at the chamber where the company is registered.
Send us your trade documents
Send the invoice set and the buyer’s or bank’s list of requirements.
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
- Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
Sources for this page
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQ (fees): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attestation service (including eDAS): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation
- MOFA commercial invoice attestation (eDAS 2.0): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/Services/EDAS-Attestation-v2
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491
- Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, Civil Transactions Law: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/4011