Legislation Details
- Full Title: Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- Law Type: Cabinet Resolution
- Law Number: 38 of 2022
- Issued Date: 21 Apr 2022
- Effective Date: 01 Feb 2023
- Official Gazette: No. 726
- Sector: Finance and Banking
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 19
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 1
Summary
This Cabinet Resolution regulates the fees charged by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for attesting various documents, bills, and certificates of origin. The purpose is to standardize and update the fee structure for these consular services provided by the Ministry and its representative delegations abroad. The Resolution matters for businesses and individuals in the UAE as it specifies the exact fees they must pay to have important trade and personal documents officially attested, which is often a requirement for conducting international transactions. The new fee structure aims to streamline the process and generate revenue for the government. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Arts. 1-2)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The Resolution applies to the attestation of documents, bills, and certificates of origin provided by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, either directly or through the Ministry's representative delegations abroad. It regulates the fees charged for these consular services, with the purpose of standardizing and updating the fee structure. The Resolution has nationwide application across the UAE. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Arts. 1-2)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The Resolution provides the following key definitions:
- The State: United Arab Emirates
- The Ministry: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- The Minister: Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- Representative Delegations: Embassies, consulates, and representative offices of the UAE abroad
- Local Customs: The customs department, authority, corporation, or entity in each Emirate
- Persons: Natural or legal persons
(Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The main obligations under this Resolution are: 1. The Ministry must collect a fixed fee of AED 150 for attesting invoices with a value of AED 10,000 or more for imports into the UAE, either at its representative delegations abroad, its offices, through UAE banks, or through local customs. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 2(1)) 2. The Ministry must collect specific fees for attesting other types of documents, as per the schedule provided in the Resolution. The fees range from AED 150 to AED 2,000 depending on the document type. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 2(2))
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The Resolution imposes an administrative penalty of AED 500 on persons who fail to have certificates of origin and invoices for imported commodities attested within 14 days of the goods entering the UAE. This penalty accumulates with each violation, and the proceeds are transferred to the UAE's treasury. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 3(1))
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The Resolution specifies the following fees: 1. AED 150 for attesting invoices with a value of AED 10,000 or more for imports into the UAE. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 2(1)) 2. AED 2,000 for attesting commercial documents. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 2(2)) 3. AED 150 for attesting personal status documents, copies of attested certificates and invoices, and certificates of origin or manifests. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 2(2))
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
This Resolution repeals the following previous Cabinet Resolutions: a. Cabinet Resolution No. (4) of 2005, Establishing certain Fees for Transactions Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Delegations Representing the State Abroad. b. Cabinet Resolution No. (1) of 2006, Amending the Fees of certain Consular Transactions and Services Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Delegations Representing the State Abroad. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 8)
When did this law come into effect?
This Resolution was published in the Official Gazette and came into effect on 1 February 2023. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 2022, Art. 9)
Source Documents
This article analyses Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Attestation Fees of Documents, Bills and Certificates of Origin Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.