Attestations

Attestations

Legal certifications are a fundamental pillar in enhancing the reliability and authenticity of official documents before relevant authorities, both locally and internationally. Certification gives documents formal status, granting them legal weight and acceptability before courts, government bodies, and external entities. In light of increasing international transactions and diverse legal procedures, certification acts as a bridge between different legal systems, facilitating cross-border document exchange with clear legal guarantees.

Types of Legal Attestations:

Local Attestations(Attestations by UAE Government Entities)

Carried out by official authorities in the UAE, depending on the type and purpose of the document. The main types include:

• Ministry of Justice Attestations:
  Relevant to legal documents such as powers of attorney and civil contracts. It involves verifying signatures and seals.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestations:
  Applied to government-issued official documents, such as certificates, before being certified by foreign embassies.
• Local Court Attestations:
  Covers judicial rulings and official records issued by UAE courts to ensure their validity and enforceability.
• Local Authority Attestations (e.g., Dubai or Abu Dhabi Municipality):
  Applied to property documents such as title deeds and real estate contracts.
• Educational Authority Attestations (e.g., Ministry of Education):
  Covers academic certificates and qualifications issued by educational institutions in the UAE.

Consular Attestations (Embassy/Consulate Attestation)

Applied to documents intended for use outside the country. Embassies or consulates certify these documents after verifying their authenticity, granting them official status in the destination country.

International Attestations (Hague Apostille)

Applicable in countries that are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention. Documents are stamped with an “apostille” by the competent authority, eliminating the need for consular certification and facilitating recognition of documents in member countries.

Judicial Attestations (Court Attestation)

Covers the certification of court-issued documents such as rulings and records to ensure their validity for broader legal use.

Commercial Attestations (Chamber of Commerce Attestation)

Applied to commercial documents such as invoices and contracts. The Chamber of Commerce certifies them to grant formal status for international commercial transactions.

Educational Attestations (Degrees and Qualifications Attestation)

Covers the attestation of academic documents by relevant ministries or universities to ensure their recognition locally or abroad.