Trade License Attestation in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
UAE Trade & Commercial Licence Attestation, Explained
A UAE trade licence needs a certified copy from its issuing authority — DET, ADDED/TAMM, or your free zone — then UAE MOFA attestation before it’s accepted abroad. A foreign company’s own licence needs a matching chain (home registry, home foreign ministry, UAE Embassy, then UAE MOFA) before UAE authorities accept it. We handle both directions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Does a Dubai or Abu Dhabi trade licence need attestation?
Yes, in most cases. A UAE trade licence (commercial licence) usually needs attestation when you use it outside the UAE — for example to open a bank account abroad, register a branch or subsidiary, bid for an overseas tender, or sign a contract with a foreign partner. The typical path is a certified copy from the issuing authority, then UAE MOFA attestation, then any further step the destination country requires. The reverse also applies: a foreign company’s own trade licence or registration document often needs attestation before UAE banks, free zones or government departments accept it — see Direction B below.
Who issues a certified copy of a UAE trade licence?
The licence’s own issuing authority provides the certified or ‘true’ copy — not a third party. For a Dubai mainland company this is the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED); for an Abu Dhabi mainland company it is the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), accessed through the TAMM platform; for a free zone company it is that free zone’s own authority. As one official, publicly documented example, the Dubai Development Authority (DDA) runs its own ‘True Copy – Attestation’ service for DDA-issued documents, including the commercial licence, applied for online through its AXS portal, for AED 100 per document plus small Knowledge/Innovation Dirham fees, with a stated 2-working-day turnaround (dda.gov.ae, checked 9 Nov 2026). Tell us which authority issued your licence and we will confirm the exact certified-copy route and fee before you apply.
Do I need Chamber of Commerce attestation before UAE MOFA?
Not necessarily, for a trade licence specifically — this is a common point of confusion. UAE MOFA’s own FAQ states that for a UAE-issued document, the issuing government entity attests first, then MOFA, and optionally a UAE mission abroad; it does not list a Chamber of Commerce step for commercial document attestation generally, and the only place a Chamber of Commerce appears is inside the separate digital system for certificates of origin, not for a trade licence (mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs, checked 9 Nov 2026). This matches what the Chambers themselves say: the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s own attestation service states plainly that it does not attest documents issued by UAE government entities (abudhabichamber.ae, checked 9 Nov 2026), and Dubai Chambers’ ‘True Copy’ and ‘Signature Attestation’ services are described for Chamber-member documents and signatures rather than for government-issued licences (dubaichambers.com, checked 9 Nov 2026). In practice, a Chamber of Commerce step usually applies to privately signed commercial papers — invoices, agreements, certificates of origin — rather than to the trade licence itself. Share your document with us on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm the exact steps for your case before you pay for anything.
How is a UAE trade licence attested for use abroad? (Direction A)
- Certified copy from the issuing authority — DET (Dubai mainland), ADDED/TAMM (Abu Dhabi mainland), or your free zone authority.
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UAE MOFA) attestation — MOFA’s own FAQ lists an AED 2,000 fee for commercial documents (page undated) plus separate courier fees; commercial contracts or agreements may be charged as multiple documents depending on content, so confirm the exact fee with MOFA or with us first.
- Destination-country step, where required — some countries accept the UAE MOFA stamp alone; others want their own embassy/consulate step. This varies by country, so we confirm it with you before you commit to the destination leg.
Commercial invoices and certificates of origin follow a different, separate digital route (eDAS 2.0) rather than this chain — tell us if that’s what you actually have before we quote you.
How is a foreign company's licence attested for use in the UAE? (Direction B)
The general shape, for most countries, is: the home country’s own companies registry or a notary certifies the document first; that country’s foreign ministry (or an apostille, where the UAE accepts it as the home-country step) follows; then the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country attests it; then UAE MOFA. Exact requirements vary by country and change over time, so confirm the current rule with the issuing country’s own registry or with us before you start.
One officially documented example: for a UK company, Companies House issues certified copies and certificates at GBP 22 (standard) or GBP 65 (express), with incorporation documents at GBP 44/GBP 130 (gov.uk, updated 17 Aug 2026). From there, the UK chain for a commercial document runs Companies House (or a UK notary, for board resolutions, POAs and contracts) → the FCDO → the UAE Embassy, London → UAE MOFA.
Who is this for?
- UAE-based businesses that need their trade or commercial licence attested to open a bank account abroad, register a branch or subsidiary, bid for an overseas tender, or sign a contract with a foreign partner.
- Free zone and mainland companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi alike — the certified-copy step differs by issuing authority, but the UAE MOFA step is the same.
- Foreign companies setting up or doing business in the UAE whose home trade licence, certificate of incorporation or registration document needs attestation before a UAE bank, free zone authority or government department will accept it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to attest my Dubai or Abu Dhabi trade licence to open a bank account abroad?
Usually yes. Most banks and registries outside the UAE will only accept a UAE trade licence that has been certified by its issuing authority and then attested by UAE MOFA, with further legalisation if the destination requires it. Confirm the receiving bank’s exact requirement before you start.
What is the difference between a certified copy and MOFA attestation?
A certified (‘true’) copy confirms the copy matches the original and is issued by the licence’s own issuing authority (DET, ADDED/TAMM, or the free zone authority). UAE MOFA attestation is a separate, later step that authenticates that issuing authority’s own seal and signature so the document is recognised outside the UAE.
Does the UAE accept an apostille on a trade licence instead of attestation?
No. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille from another country is not a substitute for the UAE’s own attestation chain, and a UAE-issued trade licence cannot be apostilled either — it goes through the certified-copy-then-MOFA route instead.
Is Chamber of Commerce attestation required for a trade licence?
Not confirmed as a required step for the trade licence itself. UAE MOFA’s own FAQ describes the issuing government entity attesting first, then MOFA, with the Chamber of Commerce named only for certificates of origin in a separate digital system. A Chamber step more commonly applies to privately signed commercial papers such as invoices and agreements — we’ll confirm what your specific document needs.
How long does trade licence attestation take?
It depends on the issuing authority’s own turnaround for the certified copy (for example, DDA states 2 working days for its own True Copy service) plus UAE MOFA’s processing and courier time, and then any destination-country step. We give you a specific estimate once we see the licence and the destination.
What does trade licence attestation cost?
UAE MOFA’s published FAQ lists an AED 2,000 fee for commercial documents generally (undated, and commercial agreements may be priced differently depending on content), plus separate courier fees and the issuing authority’s own certified-copy fee. Contact us for an exact, current quote for your licence and destination.
Can a free zone company's trade licence be attested the same way as a mainland licence?
Yes, the overall chain is the same — certified copy from the issuing authority, then UAE MOFA — but the certified-copy step is handled by that free zone’s own authority rather than DET or ADDED. Tell us which free zone issued your licence and we’ll confirm the exact process.
Do MOA/AOA or board resolutions need separate attestation from the trade licence?
Yes. A Memorandum and Articles of Association, board resolution or power of attorney is attested as its own document, even if it was issued alongside the trade licence — see our commercial documents attestation page for the full list.
What about commercial invoices or certificates of origin?
These follow a separate, fully digital route — the Electronic Documents Attestation System (eDAS 2.0) — not the certified-copy-then-MOFA chain described on this page. Tell us if that’s what you actually need attested.
Does a foreign company's registration document need certification in its home country before UAE attestation?
Yes, in most cases. The usual pattern is home companies registry or notary certification, then that country’s foreign ministry (or apostille, where applicable as the home-country step), then the UAE Embassy or Consulate there, then UAE MOFA. The exact steps vary by country, so confirm with us or the home registry first.
Can Attest Dubai collect my trade licence for attestation?
Yes — send us a photo of the licence on WhatsApp and we will confirm the steps, give you a free quote, and arrange free pickup anywhere in the UAE.
Do I need the original trade licence, or is a certified copy enough?
You generally need either the original licence or a certified true copy from the issuing authority — a plain photocopy or screenshot is not accepted for attestation. We’ll tell you exactly what’s needed once we know your issuing authority.
Sources and last reviewed: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs FAQ (mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs); Dubai Development Authority ‘True Copy – Attestation’ service (dda.gov.ae); Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry attestation service (abudhabichamber.ae); Dubai Chambers ‘True Copy’ and ‘Signature Attestation’ services (dubaichambers.com); UK Companies House certified copies and certificates (gov.uk, page updated 17 Aug 2026). All UAE and Chamber sources checked 9 November 2026. This page is undated for fees and processing times beyond what each source itself states — always confirm current fees and turnaround with us or the relevant authority before applying. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone does not replace attestation for UAE use.
Need Trade License Attestation in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
Send us a photo of your trade licence on WhatsApp. We’ll confirm the exact attestation steps for your issuing authority and destination, give you a free quote, and arrange free pickup anywhere in the UAE.