Spain and UAE are both Hague Convention members. Spanish apostille (Ministerio de Justicia) is accepted for most UAE purposes. We handle Spanish apostille + Arabic translation in approximately 1–2 weeks.
Step 1 of 4
What Spanish document needs UAE authentication?
Both Spain and UAE are Hague Convention members. This means the Spanish apostille is accepted as the complete authentication method for most UAE purposes. Combined with Arabic translation, the process takes approximately 1–2 weeks.
Spanish professionals in architecture, engineering, hospitality, and business are well represented in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Spanish apostille is now accepted for most UAE purposes — much faster than the old consular chain.
Spanish companies entering UAE free zones need apostilled corporate documents from Spain. The Spanish apostille is accepted by most UAE free zone registrars since the UAE joined Hague in 2021.
Some Latin American professionals may have Spanish academic or professional credentials. If your document is issued in Spain, the Spanish apostille route applies.
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Spanish document | Spanish issuing authority (notary, university, registro civil) | Before process starts | Spanish civil documents from the Registro Civil, notarial documents, and university degrees each have specific starting formats. |
| Spanish Apostille (Ministerio de Justicia or competent authority) | Spanish Ministry of Justice (Apostilla de la Haya) or competent Spanish authority | 1–5 business days (online service) | Spain is a Hague Convention member — Spanish apostille is accepted for most UAE purposes since UAE joined in March 2021. No UAE Embassy Madrid chain needed for most cases. |
| Certified Arabic translation | UAE-accepted certified translator | 2–3 business days | UAE requires Arabic translation of Spanish-language documents for employment, business, and official submissions. |
| UAE MOFA attestation (if required) | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Varies | Some UAE authorities still request MOFA attestation. We advise case by case. |
We confirm whether Spanish apostille alone or apostille + UAE MOFA is needed. Spanish apostille is typically the complete step since UAE joined Hague in 2021.
We obtain the Spanish apostille from the Ministerio de Justicia or relevant competent authority. Spain's online apostille service is fast — typically 1–5 business days.
Certified Arabic translation of your Spanish documents for UAE submission.
If your specific UAE purpose requires UAE MOFA attestation, we coordinate that step. Complete documents are then delivered.
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
Yes. Spain is a Hague Convention member (Spanish apostilles are issued by the Ministerio de Justicia). UAE joined the Hague Convention in March 2021. Spanish apostilles are now accepted for most UAE purposes — no UAE Embassy Madrid legalization required.
Spain offers online apostille for most documents — typically 1–5 business days. Combined with Arabic translation (2–3 days), the total Spain→UAE authentication timeline is approximately 1–2 weeks.
Yes. UAE requires certified Arabic translation of Spanish-language documents for employment, business registration, and official proceedings. We provide Spanish apostille + Arabic translation packages.
The Ministerio de Justicia (Ministry of Justice) handles apostilles for most Spanish documents including civil registry documents. Notarial documents are apostilled by the Colegio de Notarios. University degrees are apostilled after the university rector's signature is verified.
No. This page covers Spanish (Spain) documents. Latin American documents (from Mexico, Colombia, etc.) are handled by each country's own apostille authority. If you have documents from a Latin American country, we handle those too — please contact us specifying the country of issue.
Message us today for a free document review and guidance.