Certificate of Incumbency Legalization for the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
A Certificate of Incumbency is an official corporate document that identifies a company’s current directors, officers, and authorized signatories. It verifies who is legally permitted to represent or act on behalf of a company in contractual, financial, or administrative matters.
When submitting this document to authorities, banks, or business partners in the UAE, it must undergo authentication and legalization to be recognized as valid under UAE law. The U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce, together with the Embassy of the UAE in Washington, D.C., provides professional legalization services for Certificates of Incumbency that have been properly certified at the state, federal, and chamber levels.
Legalization Process
To ensure your Certificate of Incumbency is legally recognized in the UAE, it must pass through several authentication stages:
Notarization – by a commissioned U.S. notary public (if required).
State Authentication – by the Secretary of State where the document was issued.
Federal Authentication – by the U.S. Department of State (if applicable).
Chamber Certification – by the U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce.
Embassy Legalization – by the Embassy of the UAE in Washington, D.C.
Each step verifies the authenticity of signatures, seals, and corporate authority, ensuring the document is fully valid for submission to UAE institutions.
Notarized Company Document Processing Time & Fees.
| Service | Fees | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee | $80 | - |
| Maryland notary, court and state fees | $15 | 1 |
| Embassy of UAE fee | $700 | 8 |
| Total | $795 | 9 business days |
About the Certificate of Incumbency
A Certificate of Incumbency is typically issued by a company’s corporate secretary and includes:
Names and titles of company officers and directors
Specimen signatures of authorized signatories
Confirmation of the company’s good standing
The company’s official seal or notary acknowledgment
Legalizing this certificate validates the authority of the named individuals when representing the company in UAE legal, financial, or commercial matters.
When Is a Legalized Certificate of Incumbency Required in the UAE?
A legalized Certificate of Incumbency may be required for:
Opening or maintaining corporate bank accounts in the UAE
Signing contracts or agreements with UAE partners
Registering or licensing a foreign branch or representative office
Participating in government tenders or official filings
Verifying authorized signatories during legal, regulatory, or financial audits
Without proper legalization, UAE entities cannot confirm the authority of the company’s representatives, which may delay or invalidate corporate and financial processes.
Start the Legalization Process
Ensure your Certificate of Incumbency is properly authenticated before submission to UAE authorities, banks, or business partners. The Embassy of the UAE in Washington, D.C., together with the U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce, facilitates complete legalization services, ensuring your corporate document meets UAE standards for authenticity and verification.