MOFA Attestation for Commercial Documents — Business Guide (2026)

Why Commercial Documents Have Higher MOFA Fees

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges significantly higher fees for commercial document attestation compared to personal documents. Personal documents (certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates) cost AED 40 for standard processing and AED 150 for express. Commercial documents cost AED 2,000 to AED 2,300. This price difference reflects the higher liability and verification complexity involved in commercial transactions. Commercial documents affect business operations, financial transactions, and corporate governance — the higher fee supports more thorough verification. The distinction between personal and commercial is determined by MOFA based on the document type and intended use, not by the applicant.

Which Documents Are Classified as Commercial?

MOFA classifies these documents as commercial for fee purposes.

• -Trade licenses and commercial registrations from foreign jurisdictions
• -Articles of association (AOA) and memorandum of association (MOA)
• -Board resolutions and shareholder resolutions
• -Certificate of incorporation or registration
• -Certificate of good standing or compliance certificate
• -Powers of attorney for commercial purposes (business representation, property transactions)
• -Financial statements and audit reports
• -Agency agreements and distribution agreements
• -Commercial contracts and partnership agreements
• -Tax residency certificates and tax clearance certificates

The Attestation Process for Commercial Documents

The attestation chain for commercial documents is similar to personal documents but involves business-specific authentication steps.

1. 1Notarization — The document is notarized by a notary public in the issuing country
2. 2Chamber of commerce or business authority authentication — The local chamber of commerce or equivalent business registry authenticates the document. In the US, this may be the Secretary of State. In the UK, Companies House or a solicitor.
3. 3Home country MOFA authentication — The foreign ministry of the issuing country authenticates the document (not required for Hague Convention countries using apostille)
4. 4UAE Embassy attestation — The UAE Embassy in the issuing country attests the document
5. 5MOFA UAE attestation — Final attestation at AED 2,000-2,300. Processing: 2-3 business days standard

Tips to Minimize Commercial Attestation Costs

Given the high per-document fees, businesses should be strategic about attestation. Consolidate where possible — instead of attesting individual documents separately, batch all corporate documents together to save on intermediary fees (notarization, courier, service charges) even though MOFA charges per document. Check free zone requirements first — some free zones accept notarized copies for initial setup and require attested originals within a specified period, allowing you to begin operations while attestation is in progress. Use a comprehensive board resolution — a single well-drafted board resolution covering multiple authorizations costs the same to attest as a narrow one. Include all UAE-related authorizations in one document. Consider timing — if you are setting up multiple entities or making several corporate changes, coordinate all attestation needs into one batch. AttestExpress offers doorstep service for commercial document attestation across Dubai, with pickup and delivery from your office.