Foreign Probate & Inheritance Translation in the UAE (2026)
The Short Answer
To use a foreign grant of probate, letters of administration, death certificate or will to deal with assets in the UAE, the documents normally need to be attested in the country that issued them, attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and translated into Arabic by a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The certified Arabic set is then filed with the UAE court that issues the inheritance order, and later with the banks, the land department or the company registry holding the assets.
Smart World Legal Translation (SWLT) is an MOJ-licensed translation office in Abu Dhabi that translates estate and inheritance files from 50+ languages, from AED 80 per 200-word page (excl. 5% VAT). This guide covers the after-death side of succession. For registering a will while you are alive, see our will and testament translation guide.
Why UAE Assets Stay Frozen Without the Right Documents
When a bank in the UAE is told that an account holder has died, it normally freezes the account until a court order identifies the heirs and their shares. The land department and company registries behave the same way. Three facts explain why translation matters at this stage:
- Onshore courts work in Arabic. The Federal Civil Procedure Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022) makes Arabic the language of the courts, so a foreign probate grant, will or death certificate is read through a certified Arabic translation.
- A foreign grant is not automatically enforceable. A probate order issued abroad is usually checked by a UAE court before banks act on it, and the family or their lawyer applies for a UAE inheritance order. The documents behind that application must be attested and translated.
- Non-Muslim estates now follow their own rules. Since 1 February 2023, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status lets non-Muslim expatriates’ estates follow civil rules (a registered will, or a default split between spouse and children). Which rule applies depends on the facts, so the court needs complete, accurate documents to decide.
The Documents Families Usually Need Translated
| Document | Usually issued by | Attestation before translation | Typically filed with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death certificate | Civil registry where the death occurred | Home-country foreign ministry, UAE embassy, then MOFA | UAE court, banks, GDRFA / ICP |
| Grant of probate or letters of administration | Foreign probate court | Court seal, foreign ministry, UAE embassy, then MOFA | UAE court handling the inheritance application |
| Foreign will | Notary or solicitor abroad | Notarised, foreign ministry, UAE embassy, then MOFA | UAE court, alongside the probate grant |
| Proof of heirs (marriage and birth certificates) | Civil registries | Same chain as above | UAE court, to prove the relationship to the deceased |
| Power of attorney from heirs abroad | Notary abroad | Notarised, foreign ministry, UAE embassy, then MOFA | UAE lawyer, banks, land department |
| UAE inheritance order | UAE court (already in Arabic) | None for use in the UAE | Translated into English or another language for use abroad |
MOFA attests personal documents for AED 150 each and commercial documents for AED 2,000 each; check the current fees on the MOFA website. Countries that joined the Apostille Convention follow a different route, explained in our apostille vs attestation guide.
Step by Step: From Foreign Documents to Released Assets
1. Collect originals and certified copies
Ask the foreign probate registry for sealed copies of the grant and the will, and get several certified copies of the death certificate. Banks and courts often keep one each.
2. Attest them in the issuing country
Each document goes through the local foreign ministry and the UAE embassy or consulate there. The order matters: a translation made before attestation will not show the attestation stamps and often has to be redone.
3. Attest them at MOFA in the UAE
MOFA verifies the embassy stamp. Our MOFA attestation guide walks through the process.
4. Translate the full set into Arabic
An MOJ-licensed translator translates every page, including seals, marginal notes and attestation stamps, and keeps names and asset descriptions identical across all documents. See our death certificate translation page.
5. File the inheritance application
Your lawyer files the certified Arabic set with the competent court (Dubai Courts, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department or the federal courts, or the DIFC Courts where a DIFC will applies) and obtains the inheritance order that banks and registries act on.
Mistakes That Delay Estate Files
Most delays come from a few avoidable problems:
- Name mismatches. The deceased’s name on the passport, death certificate and probate grant must be transliterated the same way in Arabic. A different spelling can mean a second application.
- Translating before attestation. The Arabic translation must cover the attestation stamps, so translate last.
- Leaving out pages. Schedules of assets, codicils and the back of certificates are part of the document and must be translated too.
- Loose asset descriptions. Title deed numbers, plot numbers, account numbers and company names must match the UAE records exactly, or the bank or registry will query them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a UAE bank release funds on a foreign grant of probate?
Usually not on its own. Banks normally ask for a UAE court order identifying the heirs. The foreign grant, will and death certificate support that application once they are attested and translated into Arabic.
Is a will registered with the DIFC Courts treated differently?
Yes. A DIFC-registered will is probated through the DIFC Courts, which work in English. Arabic translations are still needed for onshore steps, such as transferring property or presenting documents to authorities that work in Arabic.
Do heirs need to travel to the UAE?
Not always. Heirs abroad can sign a power of attorney for a UAE lawyer, attest it, and have it translated into Arabic. See our power of attorney translation page.
How long does translation take?
A death certificate is usually ready within 24 hours. A full probate file of 20 to 40 pages typically takes two to three working days. Urgent work is priced on request.
How much does it cost?
From AED 80 per 200-word page for Arabic and English (excl. 5% VAT). Other languages are priced by language pair, with discounts for large files.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about translating inheritance documents and is not legal advice. Succession rules depend on the deceased’s religion, nationality, any registered will and the assets involved. Ask a UAE lawyer which court and procedure apply to your case.
Get Your Estate Documents Translated
Send scans of the file for a confidential review and a free quote. 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, see our court document translation service, or use our contact page.