English Translation of Court Claims in the UAE: 2026 Rules
The Short Answer
Arabic remains the language of the UAE’s onshore courts. But when you sue a defendant whose native language is not Arabic in a civil or commercial case, you, the claimant, must also serve a certified English translation of the proceedings, unless the parties agreed on another language. This comes from Federal Decree-Law 42/2022 on Civil Procedure. Abu Dhabi introduced a similar rule earlier, in November 2018. It does not replace the Arabic filing: the court still works from the Arabic text, so a claim against a foreign party is often filed with two translations.
Smart World Legal Translation (SWLT) is an MOJ-licensed translation office in Abu Dhabi that translates claims, pleadings and evidence between Arabic and English, from AED 80 per 200-word page (excl. 5% VAT).
What the Rules Say
Federal Decree-Law 42/2022 (Civil Procedure)
Arabic is the court language; parties and witnesses who do not speak Arabic are heard through a sworn interpreter. Where the defendant’s native language is not Arabic, the claimant serves a certified English translation of the proceedings, unless the parties agreed otherwise. The rule does not cover labour claims brought by workers or personal status cases. The head of the federal or local judicial authority may also designate English for certain tribunals or cases.
Abu Dhabi, 2018
ADJD Administrative Circular 30 of 2018 required claimants in civil and commercial cases to translate the summons, statement of claim and supporting evidence into English for defendants who do not speak Arabic. It did not apply to criminal, misdemeanour or labour cases.
Abu Dhabi, 2023
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Council exempted English bank statements and invoices that contain only figures from translation (Circular 8 of 2023). Narrative text still needs translating.
Who Translates What
| Document | Arabic (for the court) | English (for the defendant) |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of claim and summons | Filed in Arabic | Certified translation served by the claimant |
| Claimant’s evidence in English | Certified Arabic translation | Original English already serves |
| Claimant’s evidence in another language | Certified Arabic translation | Certified English translation |
| Defendant’s defence and evidence | Certified Arabic translation | Defendant’s own choice |
| Judgment | Issued in Arabic | Translate if needed for enforcement or reporting abroad |
Where English is not the defendant’s language either, the rule still points to English. If the defendant needs another language to follow the case, that translation is a practical choice, not a legal requirement.
Planning a Claim Against a Foreign Party
Because the claimant pays for both versions, budget for translation at the start:
- Draft once, translate in parallel. The Arabic claim and the English translation should be prepared together so the numbering, dates and amounts match.
- Keep terms consistent. Contract names, party names and defined terms should be identical in the Arabic filing, the English translation and the exhibits.
- Check the contract. If it has a language clause or the parties agreed a language, the English rule may not apply.
- Interpreters for hearings. A non-Arabic-speaking party or witness is heard through a sworn interpreter. For remote sessions, see remote court hearing interpretation.
Litigating in the DIFC or ADGM courts instead? Those courts work in English, and the translation logic reverses. See onshore courts vs DIFC and ADGM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a UAE onshore court case be conducted entirely in English?
Not as a general rule. Arabic is the court language. English can be designated for certain tribunals or cases by the head of the judicial authority, and the claimant must provide English translations for non-Arabic-speaking defendants, but the Arabic file remains the official record.
Who pays for the English translation?
The claimant serves it, so the claimant pays at the start. Whether costs are recovered later depends on the judgment.
Does the English rule apply to labour cases?
Not to labour claims brought by workers under the Civil Procedure Law, and the 2018 Abu Dhabi rule excluded labour cases too.
How fast can you translate a claim and exhibits?
A claim of a few pages is usually ready the same day or within 24 hours. Large bundles are scheduled with the filing date. From AED 80 per 200-word page for Arabic and English, AED 100 for French, AED 150 for German, Italian or Turkish, and AED 250 for other languages such as Chinese, Russian or Urdu (all excl. 5% VAT). Urgent work is priced on request, and large files receive discounts.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about court translation and is not legal advice. Court practice changes; confirm current requirements with your lawyer or the court, such as the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
Translate Your Claim in Both Directions
Send the draft claim and exhibits with the filing date, and we will quote for the Arabic and English versions together. Smart World Legal Translation is led by Dr. Hani Elimam (MOJ-licensed translator, AIIC member), has translated legal documents since 2014 and is rated 4.8/5 on Google. Send your documents on WhatsApp (+971 54 360 8305), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.