Degree attestation for UAE employment
A U.S. university degree or college diploma required for a UAE employment visa, MOHRE work permit, healthcare license with DHA or HAAD, or free-zone employer onboarding needs the full UAE attestation chain — not just an apostille. We complete the U.S. side so your credential is ready for UAE MOFA.
The UAE is not a Hague Convention member. A U.S. degree must pass through a four-step attestation chain: California Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State → UAE Embassy D.C. → UAE MOFA. We handle the first two U.S.-side steps. Your UAE employer or PRO typically handles the UAE Embassy and MOFA steps.
What this page covers
Employers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi — including free zones like DIFC, ADGM, Jebel Ali, and DHCC — require attested degree certificates for employment visa applications and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) work permit processing. Healthcare professionals must have degrees attested for Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD/DoH) licensing. Without the full MOFA attestation chain, a U.S. degree is not recognized for these purposes. We handle the U.S.-side steps: California Secretary of State authentication and U.S. Department of State authentication.
Common reasons people need this
MOHRE and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs require attested educational credentials as part of the work permit application package — confirming the employee’s qualification for the role and professional category.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and allied health professionals working in Dubai require DHA licensure; in Abu Dhabi, HAAD (now DoH) licensure. Both authorities require full MOFA attestation of the U.S. degree and transcript as part of the credential verification process.
DIFC, ADGM, DMCC, Jebel Ali, and other UAE free zones often require attested degree certificates for senior roles, regulated professional positions, or as part of their standard HR verification process.
UAE engineering, legal, accounting, and other professional bodies require attested foreign degrees before granting membership, practicing certificates, or professional registration to expatriate practitioners.
How it works
Tell us which UAE employer, free zone, or licensing authority is requesting the attestation. We confirm whether the original diploma, a university-issued certified copy, or a notarized copy is the correct document to submit and advise on the attestation path.
We submit the degree to the California Secretary of State for state authentication, then to the U.S. Department of State for federal authentication. Both are required before the UAE Embassy step.
After the U.S. Dept of State step, your UAE employer’s PRO or a UAE attestation agent handles the UAE Embassy in Washington D.C. and UAE MOFA. We return the partially authenticated document ready for these final steps.
What will and won't be accepted
Realistic timelines
Before you contact us
Degree / Diploma Attestation FAQ — UAE Use
No. The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. A California Secretary of State apostille alone is not accepted by UAE MOFA, MOHRE, DHA, or other UAE authorities. You need the full four-step attestation chain.
Many UAE employers and licensing authorities (especially DHA and HAAD) require both the degree and the official transcripts to be attested. We can process them together in the same submission to save time.
For DHA nursing licensure, your degree must go through the full four-step chain: California SOS → U.S. Dept of State → UAE Embassy D.C. → UAE MOFA. After MOFA attestation, DHA typically requires a Dataflow verification, passing the DHA exam (for some categories), and English language proficiency. The MOFA attestation is one early step in a longer process.
Yes, but the state-level authentication must come from that state’s Secretary of State. We can coordinate the mail-in process with the correct out-of-state office and then handle the U.S. Dept of State step from there.
UAE MOFA often processes English-language documents without requiring Arabic translation at the attestation stage, but individual employers, licensing bodies, or MOHRE may request a certified Arabic translation afterward. Confirm with your UAE employer or PRO.
Some UAE authorities accept a notarized and attested certified copy; others require the original. We can notarize a certified copy in California first, then submit it through the attestation chain. Confirm with your UAE employer or PRO before choosing this path.
Other UAE documents