Arbitration Hearing Interpreters in the UAE: A Guide

Framework	Default language rule	Translations
UAE Arbitration Law (Federal Law 6 of 2018), onshore seats	Arabic, unless the parties agree otherwise (Art. 29(1)); the language then applies to written statements, hearings and the award (Art. 29(2))	The tribunal may order written materials to be translated, subject to the law regulating the translation profession (Art. 29(3))
DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022	The language of the arbitration agreement is the initial language; the tribunal finally decides if the parties have not agreed (Art. 21)	The tribunal may order translations of documents in other languages, and may order them to be certified (Art. 21.4)
arbitrateAD Rules 2024 (Abu Dhabi)	No Arabic default. Failing agreement, the centre fixes an initial language and the tribunal then decides	As directed by the tribunal
DIFC Arbitration Law and ADGM Arbitration Regulations	Parties are free to agree; otherwise the tribunal determines	ADGM: the tribunal may order documentary evidence to be translated

Two changes matter for older contracts. Dubai Decree No. 34 of 2021 dissolved the DIFC Arbitration Institute, so DIFC-LCIA clauses are now administered by the **Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)**. And in Abu Dhabi, **arbitrateAD** replaced the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre, whose rules defaulted to Arabic, from 1 February 2024. If your clause is silent on language, expect an early procedural fight about it — and budget for translation whichever way it goes.

Witness and expert evidence: usually consecutive

The witness answers in their language, pauses, and the interpreter renders the answer in full. It doubles the time, but every question and answer is complete and on the record, and counsel can control the pace of cross-examination. Build the extra time into the hearing timetable from the start.

Openings, closings and bilingual hearings: often simultaneous

When the tribunal, counsel or parties do not share one language, interpreters work from a booth and listeners use headsets, so submissions run at normal speed. Simultaneous interpreting needs a team of at least two interpreters per language direction and proper equipment; see how interpreting teams are sized and interpretation equipment rental.

A party who follows the hearing silently

A party representative who does not speak the hearing language can follow through whispered or headset interpreting, without that interpretation going on the record.

Arbitration laws and rules say little about who engages the interpreter. Under the DIAC Rules, the parties organise the hearing and bear its costs unless the tribunal directs otherwise, and the tribunal decides what record is kept and how that cost is shared. In practice, the procedural order usually settles the details. Points worth agreeing early:

• One neutral interpreter or team for witness evidence, engaged jointly or approved by the tribunal, rather than each side bringing its own.
  
• A check interpreter. Parties often sit their own interpreter beside counsel to flag disputed renderings; challenges are raised through counsel, not by interrupting the witness.
  
• The interpreter’s declaration. Many tribunals ask the interpreter to confirm impartiality and accuracy before the witness is heard.
  
• How disputed renderings are resolved, for example by replaying the audio and noting the agreed version in the transcript.

Where a court reporter produces a live transcript, interpreted evidence appears in the language of the arbitration: the record captures the interpreter’s English or Arabic. That is why most tribunals also keep an audio recording of the original-language testimony, so a disputed answer can be checked. Ask for the recording in the procedural order, and make sure the interpreters are told in advance that they are being transcribed — the pace changes.

Documentary evidence in a language other than the arbitration’s language is usually translated in full or in the relevant parts, as the tribunal orders, and the tribunal may require certified translations. Agree early whether partial translations are acceptable, who prepares them, and how objections to a translation are handled. Consistency matters as much as accuracy: the same contract term must be rendered the same way in the witness statements, the exhibits and the interpreters’ glossary, or the other side will exploit the differences. Our article on translating arbitration awards for enforcement covers what happens once the award is issued.

The DIAC Rules allow hearings by telephone or video, and since the 2023 amendments (Federal Decree-Law No. 15 of 2023) the UAE Arbitration Law expressly allows the parties to agree to conduct the arbitration through modern technology. Remote interpreting works, but it needs a separate audio channel for the interpreters, a test session before the hearing day, and a rule that only one person speaks at a time. Our guide to remote hearing interpretation explains the set-up.

1. Send the pleadings, witness statements, expert reports and the list of issues at least a week before the hearing, under the confidentiality terms that bind the hearing.
   
2. Share an agreed bilingual glossary of contract terms, project names, technical vocabulary and party names.
   
3. Give the order of witnesses and the language each will testify in, so the right interpreters are on duty.
   
4. Tell the interpreters if a witness reads from a document, so they have the text in front of them.
   
5. Brief witnesses: short answers, wait for the interpretation, address the tribunal and not the interpreter.

Only under the UAE Arbitration Law for onshore seats, and only if the parties have not agreed another language. DIAC uses the language of the arbitration agreement as the initial language, and the arbitrateAD, DIFC and ADGM regimes have no Arabic default.

Yes. The witness testifies in the language they are most comfortable in and an interpreter renders the evidence into the language of the arbitration. Tribunals generally prefer this to a witness struggling in a second language.

Usually, in full or in the relevant parts, as the tribunal orders. Under the DIAC Rules the tribunal can also require the translations to be certified.

Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available. Interpreting for a hearing is quoted per day for the team and mode needed.

We provide Arabic⇄English legal translation for pleadings, witness statements and exhibits, and consecutive and simultaneous interpreting for hearings in person or online, with a shared glossary across both. We hold exclusive interpretation contracts with the UAE Federal Courts and the Federal Public Prosecution. For language rules in state courts, see onshore courts vs DIFC and ADGM.

This article is general information about the translation and document side of the matter. It is not legal advice. Laws, procedures and fees change; confirm current requirements with the court or authority concerned and take advice from a lawyer on your own case.

Send us the hearing dates, the seat and institution, the languages of each witness, and the bundle index. Smart World Legal Translation – Sole Proprietorship L.L.C. (SWLT) is a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translation company in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, led by Dr. Hani Elimam. Our federal accreditation is accepted across the UAE, including by Dubai Courts, and we hold exclusive interpretation contracts with the UAE Federal Courts and the Federal Public Prosecution. Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available. Send your documents on WhatsApp (+971 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.