Document Attestation, Legal Translation & MOFA Legalization
Get your birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other government documents attested, legally translated into Arabic, and legalized with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) — handled end-to-end by Aikya.
Why Attestation Matters
Attestation confirms a document issued in one country is legally recognized in another. For UAE visa applications, family sponsorship, education, and other official processes, your certificate typically needs two stages of authentication: attestation in your home country (the issuing authority, your home country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the UAE Embassy or Consulate there), followed by legalization through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) once the document reaches the UAE. Where the receiving authority requires Arabic, a certified legal translation is arranged alongside this process — see below.
Documents We Attest
Marriage Certificate
Required for dependent visa sponsorship and family residency.
Birth Certificate
Required for dependent visas, school admissions, and Emirates ID applications for children.
Educational Certificates
Required for Golden Visa (Executive route) and employment visas.
Other Government Documents
Commercial, police clearance, or other official documents. Tell us what you need attested.
Legal Arabic Translation
Most UAE government authorities — including MOFA, the courts, and the Ministry of Education — require documents to be submitted in Arabic, or accompanied by a certified legal translation. Aikya arranges this through UAE-accredited legal translators, so your translation is accepted the first time, with no resubmission delays.
When it's typically required:
- Documents being submitted to UAE courts or notaries
- Education certificates going through Ministry of Education equivalency (relevant to the Executive Golden Visa route)
- Any certificate not already issued in Arabic, where the receiving UAE authority requires it
The Attestation Process
Document Review
We confirm what type of attestation (and translation, if needed) your document requires.
Home-Country Attestation
Through the issuing authority, your home country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the UAE Embassy/Consulate where applicable.
Legal Arabic Translation (where required)
Certified translation through a UAE-accredited legal translator.
UAE MOFA Legalization
Final legalization through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs once the document is in the UAE.
Handover
Your attested, translated, and legalized document delivered back to you, ready for use.
What We Need From You
- Original document (or a clear scanned copy to begin the review)
- Passport copy of the document holder
- Any existing attestation stamps/certificates already obtained
- Confirmation of which UAE authority the document is going to (helps us confirm upfront whether translation is required)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need attestation if my document is already apostilled?
Depends on whether your home country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention and whether the UAE accepts apostille for your document type — we confirm this during review.
Do I need my document translated into Arabic?
If the receiving UAE authority requires it (common for courts, education equivalency, and some government submissions), yes — we arrange certified legal translation as part of the process rather than leaving you to source it separately.
Is any Arabic translation accepted, or does it need to be "legal"/certified?
UAE authorities generally require translation by a Ministry of Justice-accredited (or Dubai Courts-accredited) legal translator, not a general translation service. We only use accredited translators so the result is accepted without delay.
How long does attestation and translation take?
Timelines depend on your home country's process, the document involved, and whether translation is required; we give you a realistic estimate after reviewing it. [confirm typical timeframe before publishing]
Can you attest documents while I'm outside the UAE?
In many cases, yes — the home-country portion can start before you arrive. MOFA legalization requires the physical document to be in the UAE.