Certificate of Incorporation Attestation UAE — Business Setup Guide (2026)
Do I need to attest my certificate of incorporation for UAE business setup?
Yes, if your company is registered outside the UAE and you want to set up a branch office, open a corporate bank account, or register in a free zone, your certificate of incorporation must be attested. The process follows notarization, chamber of commerce authentication, UAE Embassy attestation, and MOFA attestation at commercial rates (AED 2,000-2,300).
When Certificate of Incorporation Attestation Is Required
A certificate of incorporation (COI) is the foundational legal document proving your company exists as a registered entity. In the UAE, an attested COI is required for: establishing a branch office or representative office on the UAE mainland or in a free zone; opening a corporate bank account with any UAE bank; entering into contracts, joint ventures, or partnerships with UAE entities; applying for government tenders or public sector contracts; registering with UAE regulatory authorities; and transferring company assets or shares involving UAE parties. Banks are particularly strict — every major UAE bank requires an attested COI dated within the last 6 months as part of corporate account opening documentation.
The Attestation Process
Certificate of incorporation attestation follows the commercial document attestation chain.
- 1Obtain a recent COI — If your original is old, request a current certified copy from the business registry (Companies House in UK, Secretary of State in US, ASIC in Australia)
- 2Notarization — Have the certificate notarized by a notary public in the issuing country
- 3Business authority authentication — Chamber of commerce, Companies House apostille (UK), or Secretary of State (US) authenticates the document
- 4UAE Embassy attestation — The UAE Embassy in the issuing country attests the document
- 5MOFA UAE attestation — Final attestation at commercial rates: AED 2,000-2,300 per document
Country-Specific Authentication
The authentication step varies by country of incorporation.
- -UK companies — Companies House issues a certified copy; FCDO provides apostille (Hague Convention). Embassy attestation not required.
- -US companies — Secretary of State of the incorporating state authenticates, then US Department of State, then UAE Embassy.
- -India — Registrar of Companies (ROC) certification, then MEA authentication, then UAE Embassy via BLS.
- -Offshore jurisdictions (BVI, Cayman, Jersey) — Local registry issues certified copy; authentication by the jurisdiction's designated authority; then UAE Embassy in the relevant consular jurisdiction.
- -Hague Convention countries — Apostille replaces embassy attestation. MOFA UAE attestation still required.
Tips for Business Setup
When setting up a UAE business presence, you typically need several corporate documents attested together — COI, AOA/MOA, board resolution, and power of attorney. Attest all of them in one batch to save time and intermediary costs. Some free zones (DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA) have their own document requirements that may be slightly different from mainland DED requirements — confirm the exact list with your chosen free zone before starting attestation. Banks may require the attested COI to be less than 6 months old — time your attestation accordingly to avoid needing a re-attestation. AttestExpress handles bulk commercial document attestation with office pickup and delivery across Dubai.
Need this service?
Certificate of Incorporation Attestation — Free Doorstep ServiceCertificate of Incorporation Attestation UAE — Business Setup Guide (2026) — FAQ
MOFA charges AED 2,000 to AED 2,300 for commercial document attestation, which includes certificates of incorporation. This is per document. Additional costs include notarization, authentication, and embassy fees in your home country.