Degree attestation for the UAE, step by step

The exact MEA → embassy → MOFA chain, what it costs, how long it takes, and the mistakes that delay people by weeks.

Your employment visa application will ask for an attested degree certificate. Attestation is a chain of stamps proving your degree is genuine, and it's the single most common thing that delays a Dubai move. Start it before you have an offer.

The chain (India-issued degrees)

Notary + State HRD attestation, your degree is first verified in the state where the university sits. Some states are quick (days), some take 3–4 weeks.
MEA attestation (Ministry of External Affairs, India), the central government stamp. Usually 1–3 days once HRD is done.
UAE Embassy attestation (in India), the UAE embassy in Delhi stamps the MEA-attested document. Typically 3–5 working days.
MOFA attestation (in the UAE), after you arrive (or via your employer/PRO), the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs adds the final stamp. Same-day to 2 days, ~AED 150 per document.

Realistic cost and time

| Step | Typical cost | Typical time | |---|---|---| | HRD/state | ₹500–2,000 | 3 days – 4 weeks | | MEA | ₹50–500 | 1–3 days | | UAE Embassy | ₹2,000–2,500 | 3–5 days | | MOFA (UAE) | ~AED 150 | 1–2 days |

Using an agent adds ₹2,000–5,000 but saves you the queueing. Total realistic timeline: 2–6 weeks end to end.

Mistakes that cost weeks

Waiting for the offer letter. Attestation is valid indefinitely, do it while you're still applying.
Name mismatches. Your name must match exactly across passport, degree, and marksheets. Fix discrepancies with an affidavit first.
Attesting only the degree. Some employers/free zones also want marksheets attested, confirm before couriering anything.
Laminated certificates. Remove lamination before starting; stamped pages can't be laminated.

Keep high-resolution scans of every stamped page. You'll re-use them for the visa, labour contract, and sometimes school admissions later.