Quick answer
When do you need a certified legal translation in the UAE? Founders' guide to court rules, MOFAIC attestation, bilingual contracts, and MOJ translator licensing.
You need a certified legal translation in the UAE whenever a foreign-language document is presented to a UAE court, government authority, or notary, because Arabic is the constitutional language of the federation and only translations produced by a Ministry of Justice (MOJ) licensed translator are legally valid. This rule applies to contracts, judgments, certificates, corporate papers, and powers of attorney, with very narrow exceptions in specific Abu Dhabi court procedures.
For founders and SMBs, this is not a paperwork formality. A non-compliant translation can stall a court filing, void a property transfer, or block a trade licence. Below, we set out exactly when certification is required, what it costs, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Key Takeaways
- Article 7 of the UAE Constitution and Article 5 of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 require Arabic translations of foreign-language documents used officially or in court.
- Only MOJ-licensed translators can produce a legally valid certified legal translation in the UAE; foreign sworn translations are not accepted.
- MOFAIC charges AED 150 per personal document and AED 2,000 per commercial document for attestation, excluding translation and prior legalisation fees.
- The UAE is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so consular legalisation through MOFAIC is mandatory.
- In bilingual Arabic-English contracts, the Arabic version prevails in UAE legal interpretation.
When a Certified Legal Translation in the UAE Is Mandatory
Under Article 7 of the UAE Constitution, Arabic is the official language of the federation. Consequently, any foreign-language document submitted for official use must be accompanied by an Arabic translation produced by an MOJ-licensed translator. This is the baseline rule, and almost every other requirement flows from it.
Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 on Civil Procedures reinforces this for litigation. Article 5 confirms Arabic as the language of UAE courts, so all foreign-language evidence, contracts, judgments, and notices must be translated by an MOJ-certified translator before filing. Notably, the rule covers exhibits attached to a claim, not just the pleadings themselves.
Court Filings and Evidence
If you sue or defend a claim in Dubai, Sharjah, or the federal courts, every English or non-Arabic exhibit needs certification. For example, an invoice trail, a WhatsApp transcript, or a foreign judgment relied on as evidence must come through an MOJ-licensed translator. Otherwise, the registry can refuse the bundle.
However, there is one narrow exception. Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Circular No. 8 of 2023 allows English-language financial documents to be submitted to court-appointed experts in their original form, but only at the expert review stage in Abu Dhabi courts. For everything else, including the underlying pleadings, Arabic is still required.
Corporate, Commercial, and Real Estate Use
Beyond litigation, certified translation is mandatory in several day-to-day scenarios:
- Share purchase agreements, MoUs, and shareholder resolutions filed with the DED, DMCC, or other free-zone registries.
- Powers of attorney used for property transfers, which must be translated into Arabic and notarised before submission to a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre under Dubai Land Department procedures.
- Wills, board resolutions, parent-company corporate documents, and foreign certificates of good standing presented to UAE authorities.
- Employment documents and disciplinary files referenced before MOHRE or labour courts.
If you are setting up or restructuring, this often intersects with company formation and corporate structuring workstreams, where the Arabic versions of constitutional documents must match the English originals exactly.
Who Can Produce a Legally Valid Translation
The short answer: only a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice. The licence is personal to the translator, not the agency, and each certified file carries the translator’s stamp, signature, and licence number. You can request the licence number and verify it against the MOJ register before instructing.
Why Foreign Sworn Translations Are Not Enough
Foreign sworn or court-certified translations from countries such as France, Germany, and Spain are not accepted in the UAE. Even an apostilled, notarised translation produced abroad must be re-translated locally by an MOJ-approved translator. Furthermore, this applies to translations done by in-house counsel, freelance bilingual staff, or general translation agencies without MOJ licensing.
Certified vs Notarised vs Sworn
These terms are often confused, so the table below summarises how each is treated under UAE practice.
| Type | Who Produces It | Accepted by UAE Courts and Authorities? | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified legal translation (UAE) | MOJ-licensed translator with stamp and licence number | Yes, this is the default standard | Court filings, contracts, corporate papers, certificates |
| Notarised translation | MOJ-licensed translator, then notarised by a UAE Notary Public | Yes, required where a notary attestation is specifically requested | Powers of attorney, declarations, some real estate filings |
| Sworn translation (foreign) | Sworn translator under foreign law (e.g. France, Spain) | No, must be re-translated locally | Not valid in UAE without MOJ re-translation |
| General/agency translation | Any commercial translator | No, for legal/official purposes | Internal use, marketing, informal reference |
Costs, Attestation, and the MOFAIC Process
Translation fees are separate from attestation. A typical workflow for a foreign document used in the UAE is: notarisation in the country of origin, legalisation by that country’s foreign ministry, attestation by the UAE Embassy there, then attestation by MOFAIC on arrival, followed by certified Arabic translation locally.
MOFAIC Attestation Fees
As of the latest 2026 guidance, MOFAIC charges AED 150 per personal document and AED 2,000 per commercial document for attestation. These figures exclude courier charges, prior embassy attestation in the country of origin, and the cost of certified legal translation itself. Commercial documents include incorporation certificates, board resolutions, and commercial agency contracts.
Importantly, the UAE has not acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention. Therefore, an apostille alone has no legal standing before UAE authorities, and full consular legalisation through MOFAIC remains the only route. The UAE Government portal sets out the consolidated process.
Translation Before or After Attestation?
Sequence matters. MOFA attestation requires documents to be in English or Arabic; documents in any other language must first undergo certified legal translation before the attestation process can begin. For English documents, attestation typically comes first and the certified Arabic translation follows once the document is in the UAE. Our team handles this end-to-end as part of attestation services alongside Legal Translation UAE.
Bilingual Contracts: Which Language Wins
Many SMBs operate bilingual contracts in Arabic and English. Although parties often agree that the English text “shall prevail”, UAE courts apply a stricter rule. In bilingual contracts, the Arabic version always prevails in UAE legal interpretation, regardless of any contrary clause, and the Arabic translation must be produced by an MOJ-certified legal translator.
As a result, the quality of the Arabic draft is not a back-office issue. It is the operative text. Before signature, a careful side-by-side review by counsel is essential, especially for indemnities, governing law, dispute resolution, and limitation of liability clauses. This often pairs with legal consultation and legal due diligence on the underlying transaction.
Powers of Attorney and Real Estate
Powers of attorney used in property ownership transfers must be translated into Arabic and notarised before submission to a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. A foreign POA, even apostilled, will be rejected without certified translation and consular legalisation. If you are issuing a UAE-side POA, our power of attorney drafting workflow combines bilingual drafting with notarisation in a single pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a certified Arabic translation for every document submitted to UAE courts?
Yes, every foreign-language document filed with a UAE court must be translated into Arabic by an MOJ-licensed translator. Article 5 of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 makes Arabic the language of the courts, covering pleadings, evidence, contracts, judgments, and notices. The only narrow exception is English-language financial documents at the expert review stage in Abu Dhabi courts under ADJD Circular No. 8 of 2023.
Is an apostille from my home country enough to use a document in the UAE?
No, an apostille alone has no legal standing in the UAE because the country has not acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention. You must complete full consular legalisation, including UAE Embassy attestation in the country of origin and MOFAIC attestation on arrival, followed by certified Arabic translation by an MOJ-licensed translator.
What is the difference between a certified, notarised, and sworn translation in the UAE?
A certified translation is produced by an MOJ-licensed translator and is the default UAE standard for legal use. A notarised translation adds a UAE Notary Public attestation on top of that certified translation, typically for powers of attorney or declarations. Foreign “sworn” translations from civil-law jurisdictions are not recognised and must be re-translated locally by an MOJ-approved translator.
How much does MOFA attestation cost for personal versus commercial documents?
MOFAIC charges AED 150 per personal document and AED 2,000 per commercial document for attestation. These fees exclude courier charges, prior embassy attestation in the country of origin, and the separate cost of certified legal translation, which is billed by the MOJ-licensed translator.
If my contract is bilingual in Arabic and English, which version prevails in a UAE court?
The Arabic version always prevails in UAE legal interpretation, even if the contract states that English shall govern. For that reason, the Arabic text must be produced by an MOJ-certified legal translator and reviewed carefully before signature, because it is the operative version a UAE court will rely on.
Do I need a certified translation to register a power of attorney with the Dubai Land Department?
Yes, any power of attorney used in property ownership transfers must be translated into Arabic by an MOJ-licensed translator and notarised before submission to a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. A foreign-language or uncertified POA will be rejected at intake.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or regulatory advice. Rules and fees in the UAE change frequently. Before acting on anything you read here, speak to a qualified advisor — we are happy to help.