UK
Documents from United Kingdom
UK certificate attestation in UAE, and notary services for British residents
British residents in the UAE often have paperwork going back to the UK: a pension provider that wants a signature witnessed, a bank that asks for a certified copy of your passport, a solicitor handling a house sale who needs a power of attorney. We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit notary services, so these are notarised in person, online or at your home or office.
1
Home country
The issuing body or a notary
2
Home country
The foreign ministry
3
Home country
The UAE embassy or consulate there
4
In the UAE
MOFA in the UAE
UK certificate attestation in UAE runs the other way: a UK degree, birth certificate or ACRO police certificate that a UAE employer or visa office must accept. It needs the FCDO Legalisation Office in the UK, the UAE embassy in London, and MOFA here. This page covers the notary work first, then that route.
Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
At a glance
- A document signed in the UAE for the UK is notarised here. If the UK recipient wants more, MOFA attests it next, then the UK embassy or consulate in the UAE.
- A UK document for the UAE goes through the FCDO Legalisation Office, the UAE embassy in London, then MOFA.
- The FCDO issues its certificate as an apostille. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so the UAE embassy in London must still stamp it before MOFA. Source: HCCH status table.
- MOFA charges AED 150 for a personal document and AED 2,000 for a commercial one. Source: MOFA FAQ.
- MOFA accepts documents in English, so a UK document does not need translating for MOFA. Source: MOFA attestation service.
Side by side
Notary work British residents ask for
| Document | Typical UK use | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Power of attorney | A relative or solicitor deals with a UK property, bank account or car sale for you | Power of attorney notarisation |
| Statutory declaration or affidavit | A declaration of identity, residence or a lost document for a UK bank, pension or registry | Affidavits before a notary |
| Witnessed signature | Pension transfer forms, bank forms, share transfers | Witnessing of signature |
| Certified true copy | Passport, utility bill or bank statement for UK identity checks | Certified true copies |
| Company papers | A UAE company’s resolution or licence for a UK bank or partner | Company documents notarisation |
Before you sign, ask the UK bank, pension provider or solicitor exactly what they want: a notary’s seal alone, or MOFA and embassy stamps as well. We then prepare the document to match.
Online, in person or a home visit
Online.
By video, through the UAE remote notarisation channels such as the Ministry of Justice e-Notary system and UAE PASS. We tell you if your document can be done online. See online notary public services.
In person.
Bring your original passport and Emirates ID. The notary checks your identity, watches you sign and applies the seal.
Home or office visit.
We come to your home, office, hospital or care home in the UAE. Useful for couples signing together or a parent who is unwell. Our charge is quoted when you book. See home visit notary services.
Side by side
UK documents for the UAE: the first UK step
The FCDO certifies the signature of a UK public official, solicitor or notary whose signature it holds on record. So the first step depends on the document.
| Document | First step in the UK | Then |
|---|---|---|
| University degree | A UK solicitor or notary public certifies a copy or confirms the degree with the university | FCDO, UAE embassy in London, MOFA |
| Birth, marriage or death certificate | Order a certified copy from the General Register Office or local register office | FCDO, UAE embassy in London, MOFA |
| ACRO police certificate | Apply soon after it is issued, as offices often want a recent one | FCDO, UAE embassy in London, MOFA |
| Certificate of incorporation or board resolution | A UK notary public | FCDO, UAE embassy in London, MOFA as a commercial document |
GOV.UK lists birth, marriage and death certificates from a public registry among the documents the Legalisation Office can legalise, and says General Register Office certificates are legalised on paper only, not electronically. You apply online on GOV.UK. Either way, the UAE embassy stamp still follows.
Checks
Four checks for British families
01
Original or copy.
Ask the UAE employer or licensing body whether it wants the original degree or an attested certified copy before you start.
02
Full birth certificate.
A short form birth certificate without the parents’ names may not satisfy a UAE visa office sponsoring a child. Order the full version.
03
Recent police certificate.
Start the ACRO certificate chain soon after it is issued.
04
Arabic later.
MOFA does not need a translation for English papers, but a UAE court or ministry may ask for an Arabic legal translation. See legal translation.
How we help
- We notarise powers of attorney, statutory declarations, witnessed signatures and true copies for the UK, in person, online or at home.
- We look at your UK certificate and tell you whether it needs a solicitor or notary step in the UK first.
- We tell you what to ask the UK provider for, so the UAE embassy stamp is not missed.
- When the document comes back, we submit it to MOFA.
For the certificate side, see degree attestation, birth certificate attestation and police clearance attestation. Every country is on embassy attestation.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Power of attorney for use in the UK | From AED 1,500 | AED 100 per party on the federal schedule |
| Statutory declaration or affidavit | From AED 600 | AED 300 per affidavit on the federal schedule |
| Witnessing of signature | From AED 900 | AED 200 per party on the federal schedule |
| Certified true copy (passport, bill, statement) | From AED 400 | Confirmed at booking |
| MOFA stage, personal document | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
| MOFA stage, commercial document | From AED 300 | MOFA AED 2,000 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a UK pension form witnessed in Dubai?
Yes. The notary checks your ID, watches you sign and applies the seal. Ask the pension provider first whether a notary’s seal is enough or whether it wants further stamps.
My UK degree has an FCDO apostille. Why is Dubai asking for more?
The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so the FCDO apostille alone does not finish the chain. The UAE embassy in London has to stamp the document, and then MOFA attests it here.
Can UK certificate attestation in UAE be done without sending anything to Britain?
No. The solicitor or notary, FCDO and UAE embassy steps all happen in the UK. Only the MOFA step is in the UAE, and we submit it for you.
Can you certify a copy of my passport for a UK bank?
Yes. Bring the original passport, and the notary certifies that the copy matches. Check the wording the bank wants on the certification before you book.
Get a written quote
Talk to us about your UK document
Send a photo of the document and tell us who asked for it.
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
- Address: Dubai, UAE
Sources for this page
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQ (attestation chain and fees): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attestation service: https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation
- HCCH, Apostille Convention status table (the UAE is not a party): https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41
- GOV.UK, Get your document legalised: https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491