Notarial Services & Document Legalisation in the United Arab Emirates

Buying land in Ghana while working in Dubai? Sending a power of attorney home? Using a UAE marriage certificate for a Ghanaian process — or a Ghanaian degree for a UAE work permit? Document legalisation between the two countries follows a specific chain, and the Embassy of Ghana in Abu Dhabi sits at the end of it. This guide explains the steps in both directions.

The Key Fact: No Apostille Between the UAE and Ghana

The United Arab Emirates is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so there is no single-stamp shortcut for documents moving between the UAE and Ghana. Instead, documents must pass through the traditional legalisation chain — each authority certifying the signature of the one before it. Skipping a link in the chain is the single most common reason documents get rejected, so follow the sequence exactly.

UAE Documents for Use in Ghana

For a document issued or signed in the UAE — a power of attorney, company document, marriage certificate, educational record or affidavit — the usual route is:

1. Notarisation or source certification in the UAE. Private documents such as powers of attorney are signed before a UAE notary public (available through Dubai Courts, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and the other emirates’ court systems, largely via online appointment). Official documents such as birth or marriage certificates are certified by the issuing authority instead.
2. Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFAIC). MoFAIC attests the document through its customer happiness centres or online attestation service, confirming the UAE notary’s or issuer’s stamp. MoFAIC charges its own fees per document.
3. Legalisation by the Embassy of Ghana in Abu Dhabi. The embassy legalises the MoFAIC-attested document, making it acceptable to authorities in Ghana — the Lands Commission, courts, banks and registrars.

Documents drawn up in Arabic generally need an English translation by a legal translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice before they will be useful in Ghana; translate before attestation so the translation can be bound and certified with the original.

Ghanaian Documents for Use in the UAE

The chain runs in reverse for Ghanaian documents needed in the Emirates — typically degree certificates for work permits, police clearances, birth and marriage certificates for family visa sponsorship:

1. Certification/authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra;
2. Legalisation by the UAE Embassy in Accra;
3. Final attestation by MoFAIC once the document reaches the UAE.

This leg is mostly done in Ghana, so if you are already in the UAE you will usually need a relative or agent in Accra — often acting under a power of attorney you legalise through the very chain described above. The Abu Dhabi embassy can confirm what Accra currently requires before you brief anyone.

Powers of Attorney: The Diaspora Workhorse

The single most requested notarial service among Ghanaians in the UAE is the power of attorney — authorising a family member or lawyer in Ghana to buy or sell land, manage a building project, operate a bank account or appear in court. Two practical points:

• Be precise. Ghanaian institutions scrutinise powers of attorney closely, especially for land transactions. Name the attorney fully, describe the property or account exactly, and state clearly what the attorney may and may not do. A Ghanaian lawyer should draft or review the text before you sign anything in the UAE.
• Ask the embassy about direct execution. Some Ghana missions can take declarations or witness signatures on Ghanaian-format documents at the consular counter, which may simplify the chain compared with starting at a UAE notary. Contact the Abu Dhabi mission on +971 2 441 2159 to ask which route it currently supports for your document type.

Other Documents the Embassy Handles

• Certification of true copies of Ghanaian passports and certificates
• Affidavits and statutory declarations for use in Ghana (name confirmation, marital status, guardianship)
• Authentication of Ghanaian educational certificates presented by employers or attestation agents in the UAE
• Life certificates for pension purposes in Ghana
• Commercial document legalisation for Dubai–Accra trade — invoices, certificates of origin and agency agreements

Timing, Fees and Common Pitfalls

Embassy legalisation itself typically takes around 3–5 working days once your paperwork is in order, but budget extra time for the UAE-side steps: notary appointments, translation and MoFAIC attestation each add days. Consular fees are charged per document and vary by document type; MoFAIC and notary fees are separate again — confirm current amounts with each office rather than relying on published third-party figures. Pitfalls to avoid:

• Presenting documents at the embassy before MoFAIC attestation — they will be returned;
• Laminated originals — stamps cannot be applied; obtain a fresh certified copy instead;
• Name mismatches between your passport, Emirates ID and the document — fix with an affidavit before starting the chain;
• Leaving it late — the full UAE-to-Ghana chain rarely completes in under two weeks, and land deals in Ghana will not wait.

Official Sources

• Embassy of Ghana, Abu Dhabi — official mission website
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana
• Ghana Immigration Service
• National Identification Authority (Ghana Card)
• Ghana e-Visa Portal

Last updated: 2026-08-04. Legalisation requirements change; confirm the current chain, fees and document formats with the embassy and MoFAIC before starting.