For MOFA attestation in Ras Al Khaimah, there is no ministry counter to visit any more. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs closed its customer happiness centres in July 2022 and now takes every attestation request online, through its website or app with a UAE PASS login. What you need is the right document, already verified by whoever issued it.
Send a photo on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm the requirements and quote in writing before we start.
Send a photo on WhatsAppSo the real question for RAK residents isn’t “where is the MOFA office?” but “is my document ready for MOFA, and which route does it take?” Our certificate attestation service in Ras Al Khaimah works this out from a photo, and this guide shows you the same thinking so you know what to prepare before you start.
Is there a MOFA office in Ras Al Khaimah?
Not for attestation. Years ago MOFA ran service points in several emirates, including one at the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce. In its July 2022 announcement the ministry said it would close those centres from 18 July 2022 and provide its services online only.
People still get sent to the wrong building. The ICP customer happiness centre in RAK, for example, deals with Emirates ID and residency, not MOFA attestation. If someone tells you to “go to MOFA in RAK”, ask what they actually need: usually it’s the attestation result, and that comes by email or courier, not from a counter.
How does MOFA attestation work now for RAK residents?
According to MOFA’s attestation service page, you apply on the ministry website or the UAE MOFA app after signing in with UAE PASS, and you pay there too. There are two routes inside the UAE:
| Route | Which documents | What you get back |
|---|---|---|
| Digital attestation | UAE-issued digital documents that carry a QR code, barcode or reference number, uploaded as the original PDF | The attested file by email or in “My Requests”, with the attestation on the last page |
| Courier | Paper originals in Arabic or English (or with a legally certified translation), already certified by the competent authority | A courier collects the original from your address and brings it back attested |
Either way, nobody has to drive from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for the ministry step itself.
Which documents does this apply to?
Most RAK requests we see fall into three groups:
- Family documents: UAE birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, often needed for a family visa abroad or a school file.
- Education: degrees and school certificates issued in the UAE, for jobs or study in another country.
- Company papers: trade licences, MOAs, resolutions and powers of attorney for RAKEZ, RAK ICC and mainland companies. If you’re setting up there, our note on doing business in RAKEZ gives the wider picture.
Documents issued abroad are a different story, covered further down.
What to have ready before you apply
MOFA’s rules are strict, and an application can’t be edited once it’s submitted. A rejected one has to be filed again. Check these first:
- Issuer verification done. MOFA expects the document to be certified by the authority that issued it, where that applies. A paper degree, for example, needs the university and education authority step before MOFA.
- Not laminated. MOFA does not accept laminated documents. If yours is, you’ll need a fresh original from the issuer.
- Arabic or English. Anything else needs a legally certified translation first.
- The original PDF for digital documents. Not a scan, not a phone photo, not password-protected.
- The destination country decided. It’s set on the application and can’t be changed later.
- Same route per application. Up to five documents can go in one request, but digital and courier documents are filed separately.
If you’re not sure whether translation or attestation comes first for your paper, our guide on whether to translate or attest first walks through it.
What about documents issued outside the UAE?
For a degree or certificate from your home country, the MOFA step usually happens before the document ever reaches Ras Al Khaimah. MOFA says documents issued abroad go through selected UAE missions, and for many countries the UAE embassy now adds the MOFA attestation digitally when it legalises the document. You get a digitally attested copy with a reference number and no separate MOFA visit here.
Not every mission works the same way, so check your country’s UAE embassy page before you start. And remember the UAE has not joined the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone won’t make a foreign document valid in RAK.
How do you check the attestation is genuine?
Use MOFA Verify: choose Document Status and enter the reference number and issue date printed with the attestation. Employers and schools in RAK increasingly check this themselves. We wrote a step-by-step on how to verify a MOFA attestation if you want screenshots of what to look for.
Mistakes that slow RAK applications down
- Applying before the issuer has verified the document, then waiting for a rejection.
- Uploading a scan of a digital certificate instead of the original PDF.
- Picking the wrong destination country, which can’t be corrected afterwards.
- Laminating a certificate “to protect it”. It’s a common habit, and it means starting again.
- Mixing a paper document and a digital one in a single request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I walk into a MOFA office in Ras Al Khaimah?
No. MOFA closed its customer happiness centres from 18 July 2022 and now handles attestation online through its website and app. You apply with UAE PASS, and paper originals travel by the ministry’s courier service. For questions MOFA lists its call centre, 800 44444.
Do I need UAE PASS to apply?
Yes, MOFA requires a UAE PASS login for online attestation. Residents with an Emirates ID can register in the UAE PASS app; MOFA notes that non-residents can also create an account at uaepass.ae. If you’d rather not handle it yourself, an attestation office can file the request on your behalf.
Does a foreign degree need MOFA attestation again in RAK?
In most cases no, if the UAE embassy in the issuing country already added the digital MOFA attestation. Older legalisations or missions using a different process may still need the UAE step, so check the stamp or reference before you assume either way.
How long does MOFA attestation take?
It depends on the route and on how ready the document is. Digital UAE documents move faster than courier ones, and a missing issuer step adds time. Tell us your deadline and we confirm what is possible before we start.
Can Wordcraft collect documents from my home in RAK?
Yes. Free pickup and delivery of documents is available in Ras Al Khaimah, arranged from our RAK office. Send a photo first so we can confirm the route before anything is collected.
Can I walk into a MOFA office in Ras Al Khaimah?
No. MOFA closed its customer happiness centres from 18 July 2022 and now handles attestation online through its website and app. You apply with UAE PASS, and paper originals travel by the ministry’s courier service. For questions MOFA lists its call centre, 800 44444.
Do I need UAE PASS to apply?
Yes, MOFA requires a UAE PASS login for online attestation. Residents with an Emirates ID can register in the UAE PASS app; MOFA notes that non-residents can also create an account at uaepass.ae. If you’d rather not handle it yourself, an attestation office can file the request on your behalf.
Does a foreign degree need MOFA attestation again in RAK?
In most cases no, if the UAE embassy in the issuing country already added the digital MOFA attestation. Older legalisations or missions using a different process may still need the UAE step, so check the stamp or reference before you assume either way.
How long does MOFA attestation take?
It depends on the route and on how ready the document is. Digital UAE documents move faster than courier ones, and a missing issuer step adds time. Tell us your deadline and we confirm what is possible before we start.
Can Wordcraft collect documents from my home in RAK?
Yes. Free pickup and delivery of documents is available in Ras Al Khaimah, arranged from our RAK office. Send a photo first so we can confirm the route before anything is collected.
Where Wordcraft Comes In
Our Ras Al Khaimah office in Al Nakheel checks your document, sorts out any issuer verification or certified translation, and files the MOFA request for you, so you don’t have to work out the route alone. You can see our address and opening hours on the Ras Al Khaimah office page, or read more about our MOFA attestation service. Free pickup and delivery of documents is available in RAK. Send a photo of your document on WhatsApp +971 56 681 3996 or call toll-free 800 9673, and we reply with a written quote in 10 to 30 minutes. We confirm the government fees and our service charge in writing before any work begins.
