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Legal translation in the UAE
UAE courts, notaries and ministries ask for a legal translation by a translator registered with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We arrange that, and we also prepare working English copies that keep the original layout.
- Legal translation by MoJ-registered translators
- Working English copies that keep the original layout
- We check what the receiving authority needs first
Which translation do I need?
Pick where the document is going to see the translation that authority asks for.
Any document that is not in Arabic needs a legal translation into Arabic before it is uploaded to a Dubai Courts execution application. The translator must be registered with the MoJ.
- Language
- Arabic
- Translator
- MoJ-registered legal translator
- Cost
- Sits outside the court fee
Each authority sets its own rules and can change them, so we confirm the requirement with the receiving authority before any translation starts.
Legal translation, in brief.
Legal translation in the UAE is a legally certified translation made by a translator registered with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Courts, notaries and ministries ask for it when a document is not in the language they work in, which is usually Arabic.
You need it for court filings, notarised deeds, powers of attorney, wills and attestation of documents in other languages. My Eloah Business Hub arranges the legal translation with an MoJ-registered translator, and separately prepares working English copies for your own use.
- Who translates
- A legal translator registered with the MoJ
- Usual language
- Into Arabic, or a bilingual Arabic and English text
- Our fee
- Quoted per document on WhatsApp
- Translator's fee
- Commercial, passed on at actual cost
Who asks for a legal translation.
These are the rules each authority applies. The receiving authority has the final say, so we confirm with it before work starts.
| Where the document goes | What is required | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Courts execution application | Legal translation of any document that is not in Arabic, by an MoJ-registered translator | Arabic |
| Dubai Courts Smart Electronic Notary | All documents legally translated and attested by the MoJ | Arabic |
| Power of attorney | Arabic legal translation if the text is not bilingual | Arabic or bilingual |
| MOFA attestation | Legally certified translation if the original is not in Arabic or English | Arabic or English |
| Dubai Courts will | MoJ sworn translation | Arabic or bilingual |
| Abu Dhabi (ADJD) bespoke will | Translation by an MoJ-licensed sworn translator. The Arabic governs if the two texts differ | Bilingual |
| Foreign corporate shareholder documents | Attestation chain plus MoJ-attested translation | Arabic |
| Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) company filings | Certified translation of anything in another language | English |
| Bank account opening | Official translation of documents not in Arabic or English | Arabic or English |
DIFC Courts wills are in English only, and translators are not allowed at the signing appointment.
What makes a translator a legal translator.
Legal translators register with the Ministry of Justice. The registration conditions below come from the MoJ service list.
Registered with the MoJ
Registration costs AED 3,000 and takes 65 days. The translator needs a certificate recognised in the UAE, a health certificate and occupational error insurance.
Five years for expatriates
An expatriate translator needs five years of experience. Adding a language needs Ministry of Higher Education equivalency and five years in that language.
Insured and renewed on time
Renewal needs three-year professional error insurance, an office licence and lease, and a good conduct certificate. It must be done within 90 days of expiry.
Legal translation and a working English copy.
These are separate services. Tell us where the document is going and we will say which one you need.
| Legal translation | Working English copy | |
|---|---|---|
| Who produces it | An MoJ-registered legal translator, arranged by us | My Eloah Business Hub |
| Languages | Into Arabic or bilingual, as the authority requires | Any language into English only |
| Use it for | Courts, notaries, ministries, wills, attestation | Reading, internal review, checking what a document says |
| Legal status | Legally certified translation | No certification and no translator's stamp |
| Layout | As the translator sets it out | Same pages, tables, logos, headers and footers as the original |
| Numbers and codes | Translator's responsibility | Copied exactly as they appear in the original |
| Price | Translator's fee at actual cost | Quoted on WhatsApp |
In a working English copy, text that is already in English is reproduced exactly as written. Names stay in their original form unless an established English version exists.
Where translations go wrong.
Most problems come from using the wrong kind of translation or from two language versions that do not match.
Translation by a non-MoJ translator
A missing or non-MoJ Arabic translation is a known reason for a will to be turned back at ADJD and Dubai Courts.
English and Arabic say different things
Where the two columns differ, the Arabic governs. The notary reads the Arabic text.
Common-law wording lost in Arabic
Terms such as express trusts, life interests and residuary estate have no clean Arabic equivalent, and translation can change their effect.
A working copy used for filing
A working English copy carries no legal translator's stamp. Do not file it where an authority asks for a legal translation.
What to send us.
Six things let us tell you which translation you need and what comes after it.
Six steps to a usable translation.
The order matters, because the receiving authority decides which kind of translation it will accept.
Start on WhatsApp →Send the document
Share the file on WhatsApp and tell us where it is going.
We confirm the requirement
We check whether the authority needs a legal translation into Arabic, a bilingual text or only an English copy.
You receive a quote
A legal translator's fee is passed on at actual cost, and our own fee is confirmed before work starts.
The translation is prepared
A legal translation goes to an MoJ-registered translator, and a working English copy is prepared by us.
We check the result
We compare page count, tables, names and figures against the original.
Delivery and next step
You receive the translation, and we tell you if notarisation or attestation follows.
Legal translation, answered.
Ask anything else on WhatsApp and we will answer for your company.
What is legal translation in the UAE?
It is a legally certified translation made by a translator registered with the Ministry of Justice. Courts, notaries and ministries ask for it when a document is not in the language they accept, which is usually Arabic.
Who can do a legal translation in the UAE?
A legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice. Registration needs a certificate recognised in the UAE, five years of experience for expatriates, a health certificate and occupational error insurance.
Do I need to translate an English document into Arabic?
It depends on where it is going. MOFA attests originals in Arabic or English, while Dubai Courts filings and the Smart Electronic Notary need documents legally translated into Arabic.
Does a power of attorney need Arabic translation?
Yes, unless it is already in Arabic or bilingual. An English-only power of attorney needs an MoJ-attested Arabic translation.
How much does legal translation cost in the UAE?
Legal translation fees are commercial and set by the translator, so there is no government price. For a will we budget AED 500 to 1,500 and charge the actual cost. Message us on WhatsApp for a quote on other documents.
Is the My Eloah English translation a certified legal translation?
No. Our working English copy keeps the original layout and is for reading and internal use. Where an authority asks for a legal translation, we arrange one with an MoJ-registered translator.
Which languages can you translate from?
Working English copies can be made from any written language, including right-to-left languages such as Arabic, Urdu, Persian and Hebrew. The output is always English.
Can you translate a bank statement?
Yes, as a working English copy. Every amount, balance, date, account number and reference code is copied exactly as shown, and any running balance that does not add up is flagged.
Send the document, we will tell you what it needs
Message My Eloah Business Hub on WhatsApp with the file and the name of the authority that will receive it.