Saudi Arabia and the Apostille Convention: What Changed on 7 December 2022
Saudi Arabia and the Apostille Convention: What Changed on 7 December 2022
Saudi Arabia joined the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention in 2022. That is often read as meaning every document bound for Saudi Arabia can now use an apostille. It is not that simple for documents travelling between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This guide sets out the verified dates and the limits of what they mean.
The Dates
The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) status table for the Convention records Saudi Arabia’s accession as deposited on 8 April 2022, with the Convention entering into force for Saudi Arabia on 7 December 2022. No reservations or declarations appear in its row. Cite the HCCH page when you need the deposit date, since some secondary sources give different days.
What the Convention Does
The Apostille Convention replaces the chain of consular legalisation with a single apostille between countries that are both parties. Whether it helps for a given route therefore depends on the status of both the issuing country and the destination country.
What It Means for UAE and Saudi Documents
Saudi Arabia’s accession does not by itself settle the route for UAE documents. UAE MOFA’s published guidance has described attestation and legalisation for documents going abroad, and the UAE’s current status should be checked directly on the HCCH status table before you rely on an apostille. For company registration in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Investment’s Investor Guide and FAQ still name Saudi Embassy authentication for the foreign company’s commercial register copy and last-year financial statements, and they do not mention an apostille. In the other direction, UAE MOFA’s Riyadh page describes Saudi MOFA attestation followed by the UAE Embassy and UAE MOFA. For the wider picture on UAE documents, read our guide to MOFA attestation versus apostille.
MOFA Office in Dubai: What MOFA Itself Says
Many people searching for a “MOFA office Dubai” or “MOFA attestation Dubai location” expect to find a counter. According to MOFA’s own FAQ, the ministry provides its services electronically through its website and the UAE MOFA smartphone app, and its Customer Happiness Centres are closed. In practice, that means:
- Applications are made online at mofa.gov.ae or in the UAE MOFA app, signed in with UAE Pass
- Physical documents are collected and returned by an approved courier, with normal and express delivery options
- Eligible digital documents issued by supported UAE authorities can be attested online without any courier
- People of Determination and senior citizens can request attestation by calling MOFA on 800 44444
- Documents issued abroad start at the UAE embassy or consulate in the issuing country, before reaching MOFA in the UAE
For phone numbers and other ways to reach the ministry, see MOFA attestation contact number. If you would rather not deal with the online system at all, our MOFA attestation services in Dubai cover the full process, from prior authentication to delivery.
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How to Get Started
Not sure which route your document needs for Saudi Arabia? Tell us the document and where it will be used, and we will check the current requirements before any work begins. See our apostille attestation services and MOFA attestation service, or contact us. Related reading: MISA Foreign Company Registration: Which UAE Documents Need Saudi Embassy Authentication? and Saudi-Issued Documents for Use in the UAE: Saudi MOFA to UAE Embassy Attestation.
When did the Apostille Convention start applying in Saudi Arabia?
It entered into force for Saudi Arabia on 7 December 2022, after its accession was deposited on 8 April 2022, according to the HCCH status table.
Does Saudi accession mean UAE documents no longer need Saudi Embassy authentication?
Not on that basis alone. MISA’s published guide still names Saudi Embassy authentication for certain foreign company documents and does not mention an apostille. Confirm with MISA or the Saudi Embassy for your document.
Where can I check a country’s status?
On the HCCH status table for the Apostille Convention at hcch.net.
Does this change how Saudi documents are attested for UAE use?
The UAE MOFA Riyadh page describes Saudi MOFA attestation followed by UAE Embassy and UAE MOFA attestation and does not mention an apostille.
