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Documents from United States
US certificate attestation in UAE, and notary services for Americans
Americans living in the UAE still sign papers for home. A title company in Florida needs a power of attorney for a house sale. A brokerage wants a form with a witnessed signature. A parent’s estate needs an affidavit. 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 in the UAE.
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
US certificate attestation in UAE is the reverse trip: a US diploma, birth certificate or FBI background check that a UAE employer or visa office must accept. The first question is whether a state or the federal government issued it. Both routes end with the UAE embassy in Washington and then MOFA here. This page covers the notary work first, then the attestation route.
Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
At a glance
- Notarised here: powers of attorney, affidavits, witnessed signatures and certified copies for US banks, title companies, courts and family matters.
- A US state document goes through the Secretary of State of that state, the US Department of State, the UAE embassy in Washington, then MOFA.
- A US federal document, such as an FBI background check, skips the state step.
- The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so a US apostille alone does not finish the chain. Source: HCCH status table.
- MOFA charges AED 150 for a personal document and AED 2,000 for a commercial one. Source: MOFA FAQ.
Notary work for Americans in the UAE
Power of attorney
for a relative or agent to sell or manage a US property, handle a car title or deal with a bank. See power of attorney notarisation.
Affidavits and declarations
for a name change, residence or an estate matter. See affidavits before a notary.
Witnessed signatures
on brokerage, retirement account and share transfer forms. See witnessing of signature.
Certified true copies
of a passport or driving licence for US identity checks. See certified true copies.
Parent consent
for a child travelling with one parent. See child travel consent.
US recipients differ in what they accept. Ask the title company, bank or court what form of notarisation it wants, and whether it wants MOFA and the US embassy or consulate in the UAE to stamp the document after the notary. We prepare the document to match.
Step by step
How a US form gets signed here
01
Send the form.
Share the PDF by WhatsApp or email. Do not sign it yet.
02
We check it.
Some US forms carry a notary block written for a US notary. We tell you how it will be completed here.
03
Choose how to sign.
In person, online by video through the UAE remote notarisation channels such as the Ministry of Justice e-Notary system and UAE PASS, or at your home. We tell you if your document can be done online.
04
Sign before the notary.
The notary checks your passport, watches you sign and applies the seal.
05
Extra stamps if asked.
If the US recipient wants them, we submit the document to MOFA, and then it goes to the US embassy or consulate in the UAE.
More on online notary public services and home visit notary services.
Side by side
US documents for the UAE: state or federal
| State document | Federal document | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Birth and marriage certificates, university diplomas, notarised copies | FBI background check |
| First US step | The Secretary of State of the state that issued it, or where the notary holds a commission | US Department of State |
| Next | US Department of State, then the UAE embassy in Washington | UAE embassy in Washington |
| Last | MOFA in the UAE | MOFA in the UAE |
Choosing the wrong route is the most common delay, so we sort that out before anything is posted.
Three US documents, three tips
Diplomas.
A US diploma is usually handled as a state document, often as a notarised copy or a registrar’s letter signed before a notary, then the Secretary of State of the state where that notary is commissioned. Ask the UAE office first whether it wants the original diploma or accepts a notarised copy, and whether it wants transcripts. See degree attestation.
Birth and marriage certificates.
Order a certified copy from the state or county vital records office. A child’s residence visa usually needs a long form birth certificate showing both parents. See birth certificate attestation.
FBI background checks.
These are federal, so they go straight to the US Department of State and then the UAE embassy. Receiving offices often want a recent one. See police clearance attestation.
How we help
- We notarise US powers of attorney, affidavits, witnessed signatures and true copies, in person, online or at home.
- We tell you whether your US certificate is a state or federal document, and which state must act.
- We list what to request from each US office, so the UAE embassy stamp is not missed.
- When the document returns, we check it against MOFA’s needs and submit it to MOFA.
Documents going from the UAE to the US are covered on legalising UAE documents for use abroad. 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 US | From AED 1,500 | AED 100 per party on the federal schedule |
| Affidavit or declaration | 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 |
| Driving licence or passport true copy | From AED 500 | Confirmed at booking |
| MOFA stage, personal document | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
| Full chain including the US side | Quote after we see the document | State, federal, UAE embassy and MOFA fees at cost |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I sign a US real estate power of attorney in Dubai?
Yes. We notarise it in person, online or at your home. Ask the US title company or lawyer first what form of notarisation it accepts and whether it wants MOFA and embassy stamps.
Can I use a Secretary of State apostille in Dubai?
No, not on its own. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so the document still needs the US Department of State step and the UAE embassy in Washington, then MOFA. Tell the Secretary of State the document is for the UAE.
Does US certificate attestation in UAE need the original diploma?
It depends on the UAE office. Some accept a notarised copy that has been through the chain; others want the original. Ask before you send anything.
Which state handles my notarised copy?
The Secretary of State of the state where the notary public holds a commission. A copy notarised in Texas is authenticated by the Texas Secretary of State.
Get a written quote
Get help with a US document
Send a photo or PDF 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
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491