Topic · updated 31.07.2026 · 4 min read · Lucent Legal team
Documents in the UAE: Legalisation, Apostille, Notary, Translations
Key points
- The UAE is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention — as of 2026 the convention has 129 members and the UAE isn't one of them, so an apostille from Russia, India, the Philippines, or almost anywhere else is not recognised in the UAE.
- Instead of an apostille, use consular legalisation: issuing authority → MOFA UAE → the receiving country's consulate (and in reverse order for documents going the other way, into the UAE).
- MOFA's 2026 fees run around AED 150 for a personal or education document (degree, certificate) and around AED 2,000 for a commercial document (power of attorney, company incorporation papers).
- If you need a POA specifically for use back home, your own country's consulate in Dubai is usually the simplest route — a POA issued there typically needs no further legalisation.
- Any document not in Arabic (including a POA) needs a translation by a UAE Ministry of Justice–accredited legal translator — without it, courts and government bodies won't accept the document.
Getting a document recognised between the UAE and your home country isn't governed by the Hague Apostille Convention — the UAE isn't a party to it — but by 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 separate case: you may need one as a standalone document for a deal in Dubai, or as part of a legalisation chain to use back home.
Legalisation and apostille: getting a document recognised abroad
Whether you need a foreign degree, marriage certificate, or POA recognised in Dubai — or a UAE-issued document accepted back home — start from the fact that apostille simply doesn't work here, in either direction.
- 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 is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention and isn't a member of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), so apostille isn't recognised on documents coming into the UAE or on UAE-issued documents meant for use 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. For a document 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 in your home country → MOFA in the UAE. (For Russian citizens specifically, our Russian-language guide covers the exact Russian Ministry of Justice / MFA chain in detail.)
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 document, including a power of attorney or company incorporation papers.
Do I need to translate a POA or other document into Arabic?
Yes, if it will be used in courts, with the DLD, or with other UAE government bodies — the translation must be done by a UAE Ministry of Justice–accredited legal translator, 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.