Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for MOJ Attestation in Dubai
- Fathima Inaya
- Oct 1
- 4 min read

The issue of dealing with legal documents is something that business owners in Dubai have to deal with in their daily operations. It is not possible to have contracts, agreements, powers of attorney, or company paperwork that could not be properly attested so as to be legally valid. One critical step many businesses overlook is getting their documents processed through the MOJ Attestation Service in Dubai.
Although the process might seem easy, the pitfalls that are likely to arise can slow down approvals, raise expenses, and cause legal problems. Here we will point out the mistakes to make in applying to MOJ attestation, the MOJ attestation criteria in Dubai and how to get through the process without any hassles.
1. Failure to comprehend the purpose of MOJ Attestation
A lot of business owners make the mistake of equating MOJ attestation to the others, including MOFA or those that can be verified at the embassy. Legal and judicial documents are only authenticated by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and they include:
- Power of Attorney (POA) 
- jurisdictional records and notary documents. 
- Declarations and affidavits. 
- Companies contracts and agreements. 
Underestimation of the role of MOJ wastes time and comes up with unnecessary steps. Read before applying that MOJ attestation is required in the use of documents that are used in the UAE courts or those documents that need legal acceptance.
2. Late submission of Incomplete/Incorrect Documents
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is in producing documents that do not match the requirements of MOJ in Dubai. The absence of signatures, expired identities, or unfinished forms is a red flag, and it generates rejections.
Tip: Before submitting, make sure you check twice:
- It is notarized (where necessary). 
- All the required stamps and signatures are made. 
- Copies and original documents are given upon request. 
Unfinished documents may cause the process to take much time particularly when the document is time sensitive in legal matters.
3. Violation of Translation Requirements
The Dubai business environment is multicultural with the official language being Arabic, which is the official UAE language. Most of the owners are filing in English or any other language without proper translation.
The MOJ requirements are that the documents should be legally translated into the Arabic language and attested. It has to be translated by an accredited legal translator recognized by the Ministry of Justice in the UAE.
An inability to fulfill this condition may result in direct denial and you will have to go through the whole process all over again.
4. Omission of Authentication by other Authorities
MOJ is not necessarily the step one. Other government departments may have to verify the document beforehand, depending on the document:
- The Ministry of Education might have to issue documents of authentication of educational documents. 
- Chamber of Commerce may have to stamp commercial documents. 
- MOJ may require the personal papers to be notarized. 
Failure to follow these steps implies that your application will not be processed in the MOJ counter. It is important to know the approval sequence in order to have a smooth process.
5. Using the incorrect Attestation Channel
Dubai provides several avenues: government counters, service centers and internet portals. A substantial number of owners spend time waiting in the line in the wrong department or fail to utilize the availed online services.
The lack of information on where or how to be applied may result in repetitive visits and needless delays. Establish if your document type is compatible with the MOJ smart services platform or you have to pay a physical visit.
6. Lapses in Deadlines and Periods of validity
Powers of Attorney or contracts are documents whose period of validity is most of the time. Others do not attend MOJ attestation until they require it and this may present some legal problems.
Best practice: You should initiate the process of attestation very early. This keeps the document legal and accepted when one requires it in court or doing business.
7. Trying the Process without any expert advice
When it comes to MOJ attestation, it is easy to get lost the first time. Between knowing what is needed and the right translations and pre authentications, bypassing any of these stages will result in either a loss of time or denial.
That is why a lot of business owners prefer to go with professional attestation service providers who will take care of the whole process. This is time saving, error reducing and provides peace of mind.
The reason why these are the mistakes that business owners should avoid.
Delays in legalizing documents may impact on:
- Entering into agreements with partners and investors. 
- Company registration or branch opening. 
- Court or arbitration cases. 
- POA of the representatives. 
An unproblematic attestation procedure will imply the reduction of delays in important operations and the legality of your papers in the UAE court system.
Final Thoughts
MOJ attestation requirements Dubai does not need to be a daunting task, although it needs to be done thoroughly. You may avoid such pitfalls as failure to adhere to translation rules, incomplete documents, or failure to ensure that the work of the MOJ is completed to save crucial time and ensure that the work is legally valid.
To have a hustle free time, one should trust professionals. Go Kite Pro is a reputable company in the UAE, providing the best Business Setup Services in Dubai and end-to-end document attestation services. You can concentrate on expanding your business and we will do the MOJ complexities of attestation on your behalf.






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