Topic · updated 16.08.2026 · 4 min read · Lucent Legal team
Documents in the UAE: Legalisation, Apostille, Notary, Translations
Key points
- The UAE hasn't joined the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention — it counts 129 members as of 2026 and the UAE isn't one, so an apostille from Russia, India, the Philippines, or almost anywhere else carries no weight in the UAE.
- Consular legalisation replaces the apostille: issuing authority → MOFA UAE → the receiving country's consulate (and the reverse order for documents heading the other way, into the UAE).
- MOFA's 2026 fees sit around AED 150 for a personal or education document (degree, certificate) and around AED 2,000 for a commercial one (power of attorney, company incorporation papers).
- For a POA meant for use back home, your own country's consulate in Dubai is usually the simplest option — a POA issued there typically needs no further legalisation.
- Anything not in Arabic (a POA included) needs translation by a UAE Ministry of Justice–accredited legal translator; without it, courts and government bodies reject the document.
Getting a document recognised between the UAE and your home country doesn't run on the Hague Apostille Convention — the UAE isn't a party — but on consular legalisation (attestation): a chain of certifications through the issuing authority, MOFA (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and the relevant consulate. MOFA is the key authority on the UAE side; without its stamp, courts and government bodies won't accept the document. A power of attorney (POA) is its own case — you may need one as a standalone document for a deal in Dubai, or as part of a legalisation chain for use back home.
Legalisation and apostille: getting a document recognised abroad
Apostille doesn't work here, in either direction — whether you need a foreign degree, marriage certificate, or POA recognised in Dubai, or a UAE-issued document accepted back home. Start from that fact, then follow the right chain.
- Document legalisation UAE ↔ abroad: apostille, MOFA, powers of attorney — 2026 guide — read this for the full step-by-step chain in both directions (foreign ministry, consulate, translations) and the most common reasons applications get rejected.
- Apostille in the UAE: does it work, and what to do instead — 2026 — read this if you just need the answer to "will an apostille work" plus 2026 MOFA fees.
Power of attorney in Dubai: types, fees, translation
A power of attorney has its own procedure entirely — its own document types, its own notary process, and its own legalisation path if it needs to work both in the UAE and back home.
- Power of attorney in Dubai: cost, where to get one, and how to make it valid back home — 2026 — read this if you need a general or special POA in Dubai (including for a property deal), or a POA specifically meant for use in your home country.
FAQ
Does apostille work in the UAE at all?
No. The UAE isn't a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention or a member of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), so apostille counts for nothing on documents entering the UAE or on UAE-issued documents meant for abroad.
What do I use instead of an apostille?
Consular legalisation (attestation): the issuing authority certifies the document, then MOFA (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs), then the receiving country's consulate. Going the other way — from home into the UAE — the chain typically runs notary → your country's justice ministry → your country's foreign ministry → the UAE embassy at home → MOFA in the UAE. (For Russian citizens specifically, our Russian-language guide details the exact Russian Ministry of Justice / MFA chain.)
How much does document legalisation cost in the UAE in 2026?
MOFA charges around AED 150 for a personal or education document (degree, marriage certificate, official statement) and around AED 2,000 for a commercial one, a power of attorney or company incorporation papers included.
Do I need to translate a POA or other document into Arabic?
Yes, if it's headed for the courts, the DLD, or other UAE government bodies — a UAE Ministry of Justice–accredited legal translator must do it, or the document won't be accepted.
This material is for information only and is not legal advice. UAE law changes — a lawyer will assess how it applies to your situation.