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How to Get a Bank Statement Attested by MOFA in the UAE

If you’re dealing with processes such as visa applications, company setup, overseas assignments, or financial compliance in the UAE, you may encounter a requirement to have your bank statement legally attested. The bank statement needs to be recognized by UAE or foreign authorities as authentic and valid. That’s where MOFA attestation comes in. In this blog we’ll go in-depth into:

• What “bank statement attestation” means and why it might be needed
• The exact steps and requirements in the UAE, including MOFA’s role
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid delays
• A conclusion with a recommendation — namely that the service provider Best Attestation can complete this process within 24 hours if you’re on a tight schedule.

What is a Bank Statement Attestation?

A bank statement is a formal record issued by a banking institution summarizing transactions for a specified period (for example, monthly) — showing the account holder’s name, account number, opening/closing balances, deposits, withdrawals, etc

When the bank statement needs to be used for official purposes (e.g., immigration, overseas employment, company registration, or legal proceedings), many jurisdictions require that it be “authenticated” via a document-legalisation process. In the UAE, since it is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, attestation via MOFA (and often via the UAE embassy or consulate) is required.

In short: your bank statement must be verified as genuine, with all required seals and signatures, before being accepted by authorities inside or outside the UAE.

Why You Might Need MOFA Attestation for a Bank Statement

Some common scenarios:

• You are relocating or applying for a residence/visas in the UAE and the immigration authority asks for a bank statement from your home country, attested for use in the UAE.
• You are setting up a business or applying for a corporate bank account in the UAE and need to present a bank statement (or financial statement) from abroad that is attested.
• You are going abroad from the UAE and the destination country requires your UAE-issued bank statement to be legalised for their authorities (via MOFA + embassy).
• You are engaged in a legal process (court, arbitration) and your bank statement must be validated for credibility.

In all these cases, getting the MOFA attestation ensures that the document is officially recognized by the relevant UAE authorities and can be used in the downstream process. ClearTax

Step-by-Step: How to Get a Bank Statement Attested via MOFA

Here are the details of the process:

1. Prepare the Bank Statement

• Ensure the statement is original (not a photocopy) and is issued by the bank; it shows account name, number, bank’s name/address, transaction breakdown.
• Ensure the statement has not been laminated and is in good condition (MOFA will not accept laminated or tampered documents). Start Any Business+1
• If the original document is not in English or Arabic, arrange a certified translation (often via a Ministry of Justice–approved translator) before submission.

2. Check if Prior Legalisation/Attestation Is Needed

• If the bank statement is issued outside the UAE, you typically need the following sequence:
  1. Notarisation or attestation by the bank’s country/Issuing authority (e.g., notarised copy, ministry of foreign affairs in that country).
  2. Attestation by the UAE Embassy/Consulate in the issuing country.
  3. Then bring it to the UAE for MOFA attestation. Start Any Business+1
• If the bank statement is issued in the UAE, you still need to ensure any required internal authorisations (depending on usage) are done and it is ready for MOFA attestation. (For example – if going abroad, you still need MOFA for legalisation).
• Important: The step of embassy attestation cannot be skipped for foreign-issued documents. MOFA will reject if prior steps aren’t done. Bayut+1

3. Submit to MOFA (UAE)

• Visit the official MOFA website or mobile app. Use the “Attestation of Official Documents and Certificates” service. mofa.gov.ae+1
• Register (or use UAE Pass) and login. Choose your customer-type: individual or company. Bayut+1
• Upload or submit the document application indicating “Bank Statement” (or equivalent financial document type) as the document.
• Provide the required details: type of document, issuing country, purpose of attestation, applicant details, etc.
• Pay the applicable fee (for personal documents the standard fee is about AED 150, although for commercial/financial/statement-type documents there may be higher charges. Bayut+1
• Choose delivery method: pick-up or courier. Many services allow door-to-door collection. ClearTax

4. Processing & Delivery

• After submission and payment, MOFA reviews the document to verify all prior attestations are present, document authenticity, correct translation, correct signatures/seals.
• Once approved, MOFA applies its stamp/seal or electronic seal and the document is considered legally attested.
• The processing time is typically 1–3 working days under normal service. Some sources say same-day or 24-hour express may be possible if arranged. Lingoline+1
• The document is then delivered/couriered to you. Verify the document after receiving.

Key Requirements / Checklist for Bank Statement Attestation

• Original bank statement (not photocopy)
• No lamination, clear signature/seal
• If foreign-issued: prior legalisation in issuing country + UAE embassy attestation
• Translation into English or Arabic if required
• Passport copy / Emirates ID copy of applicant
• Payment of MOFA fees
• Accurate information submitted (name, account number matches passport, etc)
• Correct document type designated in MOFA application
• Choose verified courier or pick-up method

How Long Does It Take & What It Costs

• Standard MOFA processing: 1–3 working days. Lingoline+1
• Fees: For many personal documents ~ AED 150 each (as of 2025). For complex or commercial/financial documents the cost may be significantly higher (e.g., AED 2,000) depending on category. Bayut+1
• If you need it urgently, you can engage an express service/attestation agent to aim for same-day or 24-hour turnaround (depending on MOFA slot availability and completeness of your paperwork).

Using an Attestation Service (Why It’s Helpful)

Given the multiple steps, documentation, translation, and prior legalisations involved, many people choose to use a professional attestation service / PRO firm. The benefits:

• They know exactly which steps your bank statement needs (issuing country legalisation → UAE embassy → MOFA)
• They ensure translations are correct, all stamps are present, no lamination, names match, etc
• They handle collection, submission, courier delivery — saving you time and travel
• They can expedite the whole chain and aim for 24-hour turnaround in urgent cases (though subject to MOFA availability)
• Peace of mind: less chance of rejection or delay

Conclusion & Recommendation

Getting a bank statement attested by MOFA is absolutely doable — you just need to ensure you follow the correct chain of legalisation steps, have the correct documentation, pay the fees, and submit through the MOFA service. The key factors are:

• Ensure your bank statement is original, correctly issued and formatted.
• If issued outside UAE, complete the issuing country + UAE embassy legalisation steps first.
• Use the MOFA portal (or drop-off) and select the correct category.
• If you are under time pressure (for example, a visa or bank account opening), consider using a dedicated attestation service.

For those needing fast turnaround, the service provider Best Attestation in Dubai can manage your bank statement attestation and deliver the attested document within 24 hours, provided all prior requirements are met (original document, correct translations, prior stamps, no errors). Engaging such a service dramatically reduces stress, accelerates your process, and helps you avoid bottlenecks.