Belgium certificate attestation in UAE is the legalization a Belgian diploma, civil-status extract, criminal-record extract or company document needs before a UAE visa, job, license or corporate file will accept it. Belgium legalizes the document, then the UAE Embassy in Brussels. Wordcraft coordinates both and the Arabic legal translation from French, Dutch or German, with a free quote within 10–30 minutes.
Three Languages, Two Communities, One UAE Route
Belgium's three official languages make its documents different from most European files. A diploma may come from a French-speaking or a Flemish institution, a civil-status extract from a municipality in either language, and company papers may carry a publication reference from the Belgian Official Gazette. We identify which authority must act on each document, and which language the Arabic translation will be made from, before anything leaves your hands.
Belgium is a member of the Apostille Convention; the UAE is not. A Belgian apostille is therefore not what UAE authorities accept, and documents for the UAE follow the legalization route ending at the UAE Embassy in Brussels. Our article on the UAE and the Apostille Convention covers the background.
Arabic Legal Translation From French, Dutch or German
UAE ministries, courts, notaries and free zones generally require Belgian documents in Arabic. Most of our Belgian files are French and go to our French legal translation team; Dutch documents are handled by our Dutch linguists, and German-language ones by our German legal translation team. MOJ-certified legal translators complete every translation, covering all stamps and legalizations.
Belgian Documents We Attest
- Bachelor's and master's diplomas, doctorates and transcripts from Belgian universities and colleges
- Secondary education certificates (CESS / diploma secundair onderwijs)
- Birth, marriage, divorce and death extracts
- Belgian criminal-record extracts
- Company statutes, extracts from the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (BCE/KBO) and board minutes
- Powers of attorney, affidavits and employment certificates
The Belgian Legalization Chain
- Preliminary certification, where required. Some diplomas are first certified by the education authority of the relevant Community; private documents such as powers of attorney by a notary.
- Belgian federal legalization. The Belgian foreign affairs service legalizes the signature and seal for use in a country outside the Apostille Convention.
- UAE Embassy in Brussels. Legalization for use in the UAE. The embassy now normally completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally in the same step, so a separate MOFA attestation here is usually not required.
- Arabic legal translation and hand-in to the UAE office.
Belgian steps vary by document type, so the route for yours is confirmed before work begins. Our UAE embassy attestation page explains the embassy's digital certificate.
Sending Us Belgian Documents
- The original Belgian document (municipalities issue fresh extracts, and recent ones are often requested)
- Holder's passport copy
- For diplomas: the transcript or diploma supplement, when the receiving authority wants it
- For company documents: the BCE/KBO extract and the signatory's passport copy
- UAE visa or Emirates ID copy, for residents
- A signed authorization letter
A scan or photo by WhatsApp or email is enough for the quote, or you can visit any of our four offices. How long it takes depends on the document, any preliminary certification, and processing at the Belgian foreign affairs service and the embassy in Brussels, so the quote states a timeline for your document rather than a generic figure.
Who Brings Us Belgian Documents
- Belgian professionals whose UAE visa or license requires an attested diploma (see educational certificate attestation)
- Families sponsoring a spouse or children with Belgian marriage and birth extracts
- Belgian companies opening a UAE branch or subsidiary (see commercial document attestation)
- Teachers and engineers applying for UAE professional registration
Belgium Certificate Attestation: Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Belgian apostille accepted in the UAE?
No. Since the UAE is outside the Apostille Convention, Belgian documents are legalized in Belgium and then by the UAE Embassy in Brussels.
My documents are in Dutch. Can you translate them into Arabic?
Yes. Dutch, French and German Belgian documents are translated into Arabic by MOJ-certified legal translators after attestation.
Is a separate MOFA attestation needed after the UAE Embassy in Brussels?
Rarely. The Brussels embassy now completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally, and the quote confirms whether your document is an exception.
Can I attest Belgian documents without traveling to Belgium?
Yes. The original stays with us in the UAE while we coordinate the Belgian and embassy steps.
How long does Belgium certificate attestation take?
It depends on the document and on whether preliminary certification is needed. The free quote gives a realistic estimate.
Last updated: September 2026
