Complete Guide to Attestation Costs in Dubai (2026)

Understanding Attestation Costs in Dubai

Certificate attestation in Dubai involves multiple government agencies, each with their own fee structure. The total cost depends on three main factors: which country issued your document, what type of document needs attestation, and how quickly you need it processed. This guide breaks down every fee you will encounter so you can budget accurately and avoid surprises.

MOFA Attestation Fees (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

MOFA attestation is the final step in the attestation chain and has the most transparent pricing. These are official government fees published on mofa.gov.ae.

• -Standard MOFA Attestation: AED 40 per document — processing takes 2-3 working days
• -Express MOFA Attestation: AED 150 per document — processing completed within 1 working day
• -Commercial Document Attestation: AED 2,000-2,300 per document (trade licenses, board resolutions, AOA)
• -VAT: 5% applies on top of all MOFA fees
• -Payment method: Online via mofa.gov.ae using UAE Pass authentication

Embassy and Consulate Attestation Fees

Embassy fees vary significantly by country. Indian documents processed through BLS International typically cost AED 100-200 per document. Pakistani Embassy attestation ranges from AED 150-300. Philippines Embassy charges AED 50-150 through the consulate. UK documents using the FCDO apostille service cost GBP 30 per document online. US documents through the State Department cost approximately USD 20 for apostille. These fees are subject to change and should be confirmed before submission.

Home Country Authentication Costs

Before embassy attestation, documents must be authenticated in the issuing country. These costs vary widely.

• -India (MEA/HRD): INR 500-2,000 depending on the state and document type
• -Pakistan (MOFA Pakistan): PKR 500-1,500 per document
• -Philippines (DFA Red Ribbon): PHP 100-200 per document
• -UK (FCDO Legalisation): GBP 30 per document (online application)
• -USA (State Department): USD 8-20 for apostille
• -Translation costs: AED 150-500 per page for MOJ-certified translation (if required)

How to Save on Attestation Costs

While government fees are fixed, there are legitimate ways to manage your attestation budget. Processing multiple documents together reduces per-document service fees. Starting the home country authentication before arriving in the UAE avoids rush charges. Using standard MOFA processing instead of express saves AED 110 per document. Planning attestation timelines around your visa deadlines prevents emergency premium charges. Getting documents right the first time — correct format, proper notarization, no lamination — avoids rejection and resubmission fees.