People often ask us for a “notarized translation” when what the receiving authority actually requires is a certified legal translation. The terms get used interchangeably, but in the UAE they describe different things, done by different people, for different purposes. Sending the wrong one to Dubai Courts, the Land Department or a bank usually means starting again, and paying twice.
Certified translation
A certified translation is made and stamped by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. The stamp confirms that the translator is authorised and that the translation is a true rendering of the original. The profession is regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. (22) of 2022 Regulating the Translation Profession, in force since January 2023.
This is the standard most UAE authorities ask for. The official government portal is explicit about the courts: documents presented to UAE courts must be in Arabic, or translated into Arabic by a legal translator approved by the Ministry of Justice (u.ae, civil cases). The Rental Disputes Settlement Centre, the Land Department, banks, universities and immigration work the same way in practice.
Notarized translation
Notarization is a separate act by a Notary Public, and it does not certify that a translation is accurate. A notary authenticates a signature, a deed or a copy. Under the current Federal Decree-Law Regulating the Notary Profession (No. 20 of 2022), instruments drafted by a notary are in Arabic, and may be drafted in a foreign language only under conditions set by a ministerial resolution.
That is why some procedures need both. A typical example is a power of attorney: the notary authenticates the signature, and the text has to exist in Arabic, often laid out side by side with the second language on the same page. The translation part of that job is still done by a Ministry of Justice legal translator.
Legal translation
“Legal translation” describes the content, not the stamp. It means translating material with legal effect, such as contracts, judgments, statutes, wills and sworn statements, precisely enough that the meaning holds up in both languages. A defined term has to stay the same term on every page, and “shall” cannot quietly become “may”.
A legal translation going to a UAE authority should also be a certified translation. The two words answer different questions: one is about subject matter, the other is about who is allowed to sign off on it.
Which one do you need?
- Court, Rental Disputes Centre, Land Department, ministries: a certified Arabic translation by a Ministry of Justice legal translator.
- Power of attorney or a deed at the Notary Public: the notary’s authentication, with the Arabic text or a bilingual layout prepared by a legal translator.
- Document issued abroad: usually attestation first (the issuing country, the UAE embassy there, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and the certified translation last, so it can reproduce the stamps. Our guide Attestation or translation first? walks through the order.
- Embassy, foreign university or foreign court: ask them. Some want the translation itself attested as well.
How to check a translator
The Ministry of Justice publishes a search of registered legal translators and translation offices, by name and registration number. Our legal translator, Ahmed Muhammad Sabar, has been registered with the Ministry since 2008 under number 302, for Arabic and English.
Questions we hear
Can a notary certify my translation instead?
No. A notary authenticates signatures and deeds; the accuracy of a translation is certified by a registered legal translator. Some files need both, in the right order.
Is a translation from a sworn translator abroad accepted in the UAE?
Usually not on its own. UAE authorities expect a translation by a translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. If the document comes from abroad, check whether it also needs attestation before translation.
Do I need to bring the original?
Usually not for the translation itself: a clear scan or photo is enough. Some authorities and the notary will want to see the original when you submit, so keep it with you.
Send it and ask
The safest approach is not to guess which term applies. Tell us what the document is and exactly where you are submitting it, and we will tell you which stamp, or combination of stamps, it needs before any work starts. Where attestation is needed too, we handle that step in the same office.
Send your document on WhatsApp to +971 54 588 5472 and you will have the answer for your case and a quote within 10 minutes. Related: Certified translation services · Power of attorney translation · Document attestation