Company documents
Commercial invoice attestation for importers and exporters in the UAE
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 here. For goods coming into the UAE, the rules depend on the shipment and on MOFA’s current import requirements, which we check for each case.
We handle the paperwork side for traders in Dubai, Sharjah, Mussafah and the other emirates: preparing the set, taking it through each office in order, and returning it in time for shipment or the bank.
Step by step
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. People search for “attested from chamber of commerce” for this step.
03
Chamber attestation
of the invoice, where required.
04
MOFA attestation.
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
A supplier’s invoice issued abroad can come to you already legalised (home chamber, home foreign ministry, UAE mission there), or it may need MOFA action in the UAE under MOFA’s import invoice rules. The difference matters for customs clearance, so check before the goods arrive. Supplier documents from China, for example, often start at a Chinese trade body; see China certificate attestation for Dubai.
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.
Other commercial documents that travel with invoices
Buyers and banks sometimes ask for a trade licence copy, a power of attorney for the signing person, or a board resolution, each attested. See corporate document legalization for company papers, and attestation for a power of attorney in Dubai for authority letters. For the general route of UAE papers going abroad, see legalising UAE documents for use abroad.
Mussafah and industrial area businesses
Many of the traders we work with are in industrial areas such as Mussafah in Abu Dhabi. The steps are the same in every emirate; only the chamber changes. See MOFA attestation in Mussafah.
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 take the set through the chamber, MOFA and the embassy.
05
We return the documents or send them to your bank or forwarder.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fees, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| MOFA attestation, commercial document (handling) | From AED 300 | MOFA AED 2,000 per commercial document |
| Commercial documents, general notarisation | From AED 500 | Federal schedule by value (items 1 to 7) |
| 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 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 has not joined the Apostille Convention, and it issues no apostilles.
Can you attest 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
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
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491
- MOFA commercial invoice attestation (eDAS 2.0): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/Services/EDAS-Attestation-v2