Copies, translation and attestation
True Copy Attestation in Dubai: From Notary Copy to MOFAIC
True copy attestation in Dubai takes a copy of your document through two checks. First a notary public compares the copy with your original and certifies it as a true copy. Then, when the office receiving it asks for attestation, the copy goes to MOFAIC. We take care of both steps for you.
We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit private notary services. The notary step needs your original. The MOFAIC step happens online only, so you never stand at a ministry counter.
In short
- Price: from AED 400 for the certified true copy, plus MOFAIC handling from AED 150 for a personal document. MOFAIC fees are paid on top at cost.
- Order: notary true copy first, then MOFAIC, then any step the receiving country asks for.
- What to bring: the original document and your Emirates ID or passport.
- Where: the notary step at our office or at your home or office. The MOFAIC step online.
- Next step: tell us on WhatsApp which country or office will receive the copy.
Three ways to start your attestation
In person with our in-house notary public
Bring the original. The notary public compares the copy with it, certifies the copy and applies the seal. While you are with us, we prepare the MOFAIC application from the certified copy.
Home or office visit
We come to you for the notary step. Our visit is priced on request, and the Dubai private notary government fee of AED 1,000 per trip outside the place of work is added.
Online
Send photos of the document on WhatsApp first, and we tell you which steps it needs. MOFAIC works online through UAE PASS, and anyone can attest documents on your behalf, so you do not apply yourself.
When an office asks for an attested copy
A certified true copy is enough when the request only says "certified copy". Attestation is the extra step when the request asks for more. Ask the office whether it wants attestation when you see one of these:
- The words "attested" or "MOFA attested", not only "certified".
- The copy is going to an embassy, or to an office in another country.
- A UAE authority asks for the copy to be attested by MOFAIC.
If the request only asks for a certified copy, the notary step is all you need. See certified true copy in Dubai.
Before the copy: what the original may need
Before MOFAIC attestation, a UAE-issued document is attested by the body that issued it, except a digital government document. MOFAIC gives the example of a birth certificate, which goes through the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the local health authority first. If that step is missing on your original, it comes before anything else.
A document issued abroad may need steps in the country that issued it. Those steps differ by country, so ask the office that will receive the copy what it accepts, and send us its answer.
Step by step
Certified true copy attestation, step by step
1
Send us a photo of the original on WhatsApp and tell us where the copy will be used.
2
We tell you the steps it needs and the price before you pay.
3
The notary public checks the copy against your original page by page, then certifies and seals it.
4
We submit the certified copy to MOFAIC online. MOFAIC's system decides between digital and courier-based attestation.
5
We return the attested copy to you with MOFAIC's reference. Its status can be checked on MOFA Verify with the reference number and the issue date.
MOFAIC fees and times
| MOFAIC item | MOFAIC figure |
|---|---|
| Attestation, individual document | AED 150 |
| Attestation, commercial document | AED 2,000 |
| Digital attestation of UAE-issued documents | Within 2 hours in official working hours |
| Courier-based attestation inside the UAE | 1 to 3 business days |
| Courier, Normal | AED 40, 3 working days, up to 25 documents |
| Courier, Express | AED 150 excluding VAT, 1 working day, up to 10 documents |
These are MOFAIC's own fees and times, not ours. MOFAIC's lists decide whether a document counts as individual or commercial, and we tell you which applies before you pay.
Mistakes to avoid
Mistakes that get an attested copy sent back
- An original that missed its first attestation. A UAE-issued paper goes to its issuing body before MOFAIC.
- Asking for an apostille. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention and does not appear in its status table, so a UAE copy goes through MOFAIC attestation instead.
- The wrong document type. Individual and commercial documents carry different MOFAIC fees.
- Collection and delivery at different places. MOFAIC's courier collects and delivers at the same location.
Prices
Price
| Item | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Certified true copy, the notary step | From AED 400 | Paid at cost, as the authority charges it |
| MOFAIC attestation, personal document (handling) | From AED 150 | MOFAIC AED 150 per individual document |
| MOFAIC attestation, commercial document (handling) | From AED 300 | MOFAIC AED 2,000 per commercial document |
| Home or office visit for the notary step | Price on request | AED 1,000 per trip outside the place of work (Dubai private notary) |
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay. See the notary fees page for the notary fee basis.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is true copy attestation?
It is a copy of your document certified by a notary public as a true copy, then attested by MOFAIC. The notary step confirms the copy matches the original. The MOFAIC step is the attestation that the receiving office asked for.
Do I need the original for true copy attestation?
Yes, for the notary step. The notary public compares the copy with the original before certifying it. After that, the certified copy goes to MOFAIC and your original stays with you.
How long does the MOFAIC step take?
MOFAIC states digital attestation of UAE-issued documents within 2 hours in official working hours, and courier-based attestation in 1 to 3 business days inside the UAE. Those are MOFAIC's times. Ask us about the notary step when you book.
What about true copy attestation in Abu Dhabi?
MOFAIC works online only, so its step is the same anywhere in the UAE. For the notary step in Abu Dhabi, see our private notary in Abu Dhabi page. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department lists AED 5 per true copy for notary work there, and that figure applies in Abu Dhabi only.
Can someone else attest the copy for me?
Yes. MOFAIC says anyone can attest documents on your behalf. We submit the certified copy for you and send the attested copy back.
More in copies, translation and attestation
Getting a document ready for MOFAIC or for use abroad.
Contact
Book your true copy attestation
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: support@privatenotarydubai.com
- Hours: Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time). WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
See all private notary services, our document attestation page, or translation services for a copy that needs Arabic.
- Phone+971 52 947 5935
- WhatsApp+971 52 947 5935
- Emailsupport@privatenotarydubai.com
- AddressJebel Ali, Main Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE