How to attest documents in the UAE: a preparation guide

By PDFEditor.ae · Published 12 October 2026

Start with the document and where it will be used

A university certificate, a marriage certificate and a company document may each need different preparation. Identify the document you have, who issued it and where it will be used before you start. Making a PDF is useful for organising copies, but it does not make a document attested.

Understand which route applies

MOFA's Documents Attestation service decides between the digital and courier routes based on the issuing authority and the document type. The digital route covers supported UAE-issued digital documents intended for use abroad. It needs the original digital PDF with its verification feature; a photograph or scanned copy is not a substitute.

For courier processing, MOFA lists original documents in Arabic or English (or with a legally certified translation), prior certification where applicable, and no lamination. Check the official service for your document's route.

Official source: MOFA: Documents Attestation service

Keep originals separate from working copies

Create two folders before you start: one for untouched originals and one for copies you send to an employer or service provider. This stops a resized scan or converted file from being mistaken for the original.

Use descriptive filenames such as degree-certificate-original.pdf and degree-certificate-reference-copy.pdf. Leave personal identifiers out of filenames, especially when sending documents by email.

Prepare clear copies when someone asks for one

If someone asks for a reference scan of a paper document, capture the whole page, and the reverse side if it carries relevant information. Check signatures, stamps and small text before sharing.

Our JPG to PDF tool turns photographs into a PDF for ordinary copies. Use it only when a copy is appropriate: it cannot turn a photograph into an original digital certificate.

Open JPG to PDF

Use a document checklist

Note these down before you start. For fees and completion times, check the current official service and any guidance from the relevant mission rather than an old article.

Issuing country and issuing authority.
Document type and the country where it will be used.
What the recipient needs it for.
Which prior certifications the official route requires, and whether a translation is needed.
Where the original is stored, and the application reference once you have one.

Can a PDF editor attest my certificate?

No. A PDF editor helps prepare ordinary copies; attestation happens through the official process. Editing an issued certificate is never a replacement for having its issuer correct it.