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True Copy Attestation UAE

A true copy attestation is a certified statement from a notary public or competent authority that a copy of a document is identical to the original. UAE banks, government departments, courts, and overseas regulators routinely require true copy attestations. Insight Advisory prepares, notarises, and where required attests true copies of personal and corporate documents.

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Quick answer

A true copy attestation is a certified statement from a notary public or competent authority that a copy of a document is identical to the original. UAE banks, government departments, courts, and overseas regulators routinely require true copy attestations. Insight Advisory prepares, notarises, and where required attests true copies of personal and corporate documents.

Who this is for

  • Businesses needing certified copies of trade licenses, MOAs, or corporate certificates for banks and tenders
  • Individuals needing certified copies of passports, Emirates IDs, or academic certificates for visa or job applications
  • Companies submitting documents to overseas authorities that require notarised copies
  • Lawyers and consultants needing certified copies for court or arbitration filings

What we handle

  • 01True copy attestation of passports, Emirates IDs, and personal documents
  • 02True copy attestation of trade licenses, MOAs, and corporate documents
  • 03True copy attestation of degree certificates, marriage certificates, and birth certificates
  • 04Legal translation (Arabic / English) before attestation where required
  • 05MOFA attestation of true copies for use overseas
  • 06Apostille support for documents going to Hague Convention countries

Submitting an original passport, license, or certificate to every government office or bank is impractical. The UAE solves this with the true copy attestation - a notary public or authority certifies that a photocopy is a verbatim copy of the original document. This certified copy can then be submitted in place of the original. Insight Advisory handles the full true copy attestation process - including translation where needed and MOFA legalisation for documents going abroad.

Process

How it works

  1. 01

    Document Review

    We review the original document and confirm the level of attestation required (notary public, MOFA, embassy / apostille).

  2. 02

    Translation (if needed)

    We arrange certified Arabic or English translation, since UAE notaries can only certify documents in approved languages.

  3. 03

    Notary Public Attestation

    We present the original and the copy to the notary public for true copy certification.

  4. 04

    MOFA / Apostille (if needed)

    For documents going abroad, we obtain MOFA attestation and the relevant embassy legalisation or apostille.

Documents required

  • Original document being attested
  • Photocopy or high-quality scan of the original
  • Passport copy of the document holder (for personal documents)
  • Trade license and authorised signatory ID (for corporate documents)
  • Certified translation (if document is in a language other than Arabic or English)

Frequently asked questions

True copy attestations are used wherever an authority needs to verify that a copy matches the original - for bank account openings, tender submissions, visa applications, court filings, and overseas legalisations.
Yes. The UAE acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention in 2025. For documents going to other convention member states, an apostille replaces the embassy attestation step. We confirm which countries accept the UAE apostille for your specific document.
The attestation itself does not expire, but the underlying document may. Authorities often require true copy attestations to be obtained within 3–6 months of submission, especially for time-sensitive documents.
Foreign documents must first be attested in the country of origin and at the UAE Embassy there, then at MOFA in the UAE. Only then can a true copy attestation be obtained locally. We guide you through the full attestation chain.

Watch out

Common mistakes to avoid

  • 01Submitting a low-quality scan instead of the original - notaries require sight of the original document.
  • 02Skipping translation when the destination authority requires English or Arabic.
  • 03Going to MOFA before notary attestation - the order of authorities matters.
  • 04Assuming an apostille is available - the UAE acceded to the Apostille Convention in 2025, but not every country issues or accepts apostilles uniformly.
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Written by Insight Advisory Corporate Team · Reviewed by Corporate Advisory Team · Last updated: May 2026

This page provides general information about true copy attestation in the UAE. Specific requirements vary by document type, destination authority, and country. Contact Insight Advisory for advice tailored to your case.