Arabic is the official language of the UAE. It is written into Article 7 of the Constitution, and it is the language of UAE law, courts and government administration. A document in another language, however clear it is, cannot simply be acted on by an official body until it exists in Arabic in a form that body can rely on without checking it against the original itself.
What the authorities actually ask for
For the courts, the official portal is explicit: documents presented to UAE courts must be in Arabic, or translated into Arabic by a legal translator approved by the UAE Ministry of Justice (u.ae, civil cases). Notarial instruments are drafted in Arabic too, under the Federal Decree-Law Regulating the Notary Profession, with a foreign language allowed only under conditions set by the Minister. Other departments and banks apply the same logic in practice: the Arabic version is what goes on file.
Why a self-translation or a bilingual friend is not enough
A department cannot take responsibility for a translation it has no way to verify. The stamp of a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice closes that gap: it shows the translation was made by an authorised person under Federal Decree-Law No. (22) of 2022, and can be relied on as accurate. Without it, the department would be trusting an unverified document, which is why unstamped translations are returned regardless of quality.
Where this comes up most often
- Visa and residency files, where certificates and financial documents need Arabic versions
- Property transactions at the Land Department
- Company formation and licensing, on the mainland or in a free zone
- Court cases, the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre and the Notary Public
- Bank accounts, mortgages and insurance claims
- School and university admissions, and professional licensing
Documents issued abroad need one more step
A certificate, judgment or company document issued outside the UAE usually has to be attested before an Arabic translation will be accepted: in the issuing country, by the UAE embassy there, and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which certifies the authenticity of signatures and seals. The translation is then done last, so it reproduces the stamps. Our guide Attestation or translation first? explains the order.
It works in the other direction too
When a UAE document, such as a trade licence, a court judgment or a certificate, is used abroad, the receiving country cannot act on the Arabic original either. A certified translation into its language is what lets it proceed, often alongside attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that country’s embassy.
How to check the translator
The Ministry of Justice publishes a search of registered legal translators by name and number. Our legal translator, Ahmed Muhammad Sabar, has been registered since 2008 under number 302, for Arabic and English.
Questions we hear
My document is already bilingual. Do I still need a translation?
Often yes, if the Arabic side was not prepared by a registered legal translator. We can check the existing Arabic against the original and tell you whether it can be certified as it is.
Which languages do you certify?
Arabic and English are handled in-house. French, Russian, Turkish, Portuguese, Georgian, Kyrgyz and others are handled through translators we have worked with before.
How fast can it be done?
Most short documents are ready the same day; more than 20 pages can be handled within a day when urgent.
Send the document
Send your document on WhatsApp to +971 54 588 5472 and tell us where it is being submitted, and we will confirm what is required and quote within 10 minutes. Related: Certified translation services · Document attestation · PRO and visa services