Authenticating Documents

The Cultural Division in the UAE Embassy only authenticates UAE citizens’ documents from U.S. accredited postsecondary institutions and from U.S. accredited K-12 schools.

Postsecondary Students

I. Procedure for Document Authentication

To begin the authentication procedure (for UAE Citizens only) please complete the following checklist (here) and submit along with the required documents

  1. Original final transcript (a maximum of 2 transcripts). Please make sure that there is the word “Awarded” or “Completed” or "Conferred" on your transcript and the date of completion.
  2. Official transcript/s of any transfer work from institutions in the United States. Please provide original or a copy of transcripts from any other U.S. schools attended. Students can give their schools the Cultural Division's address below, to send transcripts directly.
  3. A copy of your passport.  This office only authenticates UAE citizens’ documents. If you are NOT a UAE citizen, please refer to the below note (1).
  4. Letter of enrollment verification or Degree verification from an official university representative (i.e. Registrar) in a sealed envelope or to be emailed to (cd-usa@moe.gov.ae).  This document MUST confirm the method of delivery of your courses (face-to-face, online, distance learning, independent study, and hybrid/blend).  If you attended more than one university, you have to do the same thing for all other institutions you attended.  This document is required for the authentication process to start. Mode of Instruction Form.
  5. Original diploma.
  6. To mail you your authenticated documents, a money order of $35.00 made payable to "Cultural Division of the UAE Embassy" is required along with your home address and phone number.   
  7. Please fill out, sign and return the Release of Information Consent Form.
  8. Please email scanned PDF of your Document Authentication Checklist, Release of Information Consent Form, passport, and other documents to: cd-usa@moe.gov.ae 

Mail to:

Cultural Division - Accreditation and Authentication Office

2406 Massachusetts Ave. NW- Washington DC 20008

 

 

II. Regulations


The Cultural Division at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates only authenticates UAE citizens(1) transcripts,  certificates, diplomas, letters of completion, letters of achievement and letters of enrollment verification completed at US accredited institutions. To authenticate document/s, please be advised that:

  1. The Cultural Division in the UAE Embassy only authenticates UAE citizens’ documents from U.S. accredited postsecondary institutions recognized by one of the six (6) Regional Accrediting Organizations.
  2. Programs, such as art, business administration, computer science, education, engineering, law, medicine, psychology, public administration, public health, social work, and other programs, have to be accredited by the appropriate Professional Accrediting Organization.
  3. Online, Correspondence, Independent Study, and Distance Learning degrees ARE NOT approved by the Ministry of Education (MOE) will NOT be certified.
  4. Students are not allowed to take credits through non-traditional courses (Online, distance learning, hybrid/blend, correspondence, and independent studies) except in accordance with stated guidelines by MOE.
  5. Credits taken at unapproved universities are not recognized and therefore will NOT be authenticated (See section on accreditation for more information on approved institutions).
  6. MOE allows students to take a total of 25% of their credit hours in non-traditional courses.
    • All Online, hybrid/blended(2), correspondence, distance learning, and independent studies courses must be approved by student’s scholarship sponsor  before s/he enrolls in the course.
    • Student must provide his/her student’s scholarship sponsor with a letter from his/her home university describing the courses in detail.
    • Online, correspondence and distance learning courses must be completed at an approved university. Independent Studies courses must be completed at the home university.
  7. Courses that were denied authentication will not be authenticated unless taken again, through traditional classroom attendance.

Notes: 

(1) If you are NOT a UAE citizen, please call the UAE Consular Section in Washington, DC at (202) 243-2415 or visit the UAE Embassy website to find out all steps required to legalize your document(s).

(2) Hybrid/blended courses are restricted. Students MUST be approved by their scholarship sponsors before enrolling. 

 

K-12 Students

 

I. Regulations

 

The Cultural Division at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates only authenticates UAE citizens(1) grade/card reports, high school diplomas, letters of completion and certificates completed at U.S. accredited schools. To authenticate document/s, please be advised that:

  1. The Cultural Division in the UAE Embassy only authenticates UAE citizens’ documents from U.S. accredited schools recognized by the appropriate Regional Accrediting Organization and/or the Department of Education in the state where the school is located.
  2. Online, distance learning and home-study grade/card reports and diplomas ARE NOT approved and will NOT be certified.

Note: 

(1) If you are NOT a UAE citizen, please call the UAE Consular Section in Washington, DC at (202) 243-2415 or visit the UAE Embassy website to find out all steps required to legalize your document(s).

 II. Checklist of Required Documents  

  1. Original final grade/card reports. 
  2. Original or copies of any grades completed at other schools in the United States.  Please provide official grade reports/report cards from any other U.S. schools attended.  Students can give their schools the Cultural Division's address below, to send their official grade/card reports directly.
  3. A copy of your passport.  This office only authenticates UAE citizens’ documents. If you are NOT a UAE citizen, please refer to the above note (1).
  4. Letter of completion or enrollment verification from an official school representative (i.e. Principal, Registrar, Counselor, Secretary, etc.) in a sealed envelope or to be emailed to (cd-usa@moe.gov.ae). This document MUST confirm the completion of the grade(s) and the method of delivery of your courses (face-to-face, online, Home Study, independent study or hybrid/blend).  If you attended more than one school, you have to do the same thing for all other schools you attended.  This document is required for the authentication process to start. 
  5. Original diploma and other documents you want to certify (e.g., letter of completion, certificate).
  6. To mail you your authenticated documents, a money order of $35.00 made payable to "Cultural Division of the UAE Embassy" is required along with your home address and phone number.       
  7. Please fill out, sign and return the Release of Information Consent Form.

Mail to:

Cultural Division - Accreditation and Authentication Office

2406 Massachusetts Ave. NW- Washington DC 20008