How to Translate Board Resolutions in the UAE: 2026 Attestation and Translation Guide
The Short Answer
To use a board or shareholder resolution in the UAE, a resolution issued abroad must first be notarised and legalised up to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and then translated into Arabic by a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ). A resolution signed inside the UAE skips the foreign legalisation but usually still needs an Arabic or bilingual version for the authority, the notary or the bank.
Smart World Legal Translation (SWLT) translates corporate resolutions from 50+ languages under MOJ licence No. 665, from AED 60 per 200-word page. This guide explains when a resolution needs certified translation, the order of steps, and the mistakes that most often send a file back.
When Does a Company Need a Translated Board Resolution?
UAE economic departments, free zone authorities, notaries and banks ask for a resolution whenever a company makes a decision that a third party has to rely on. The most common cases are:
- Setting up a branch or subsidiary: the parent company authorises the new entity and appoints its manager.
- Opening or changing a corporate bank account: the resolution names the authorised signatories and their limits. See our guide to opening a corporate bank account in the UAE.
- Granting or revoking a power of attorney: a manager or lawyer is authorised to sign leases, deal with ministries or act in litigation.
- Share transfers and capital changes: shareholders approve a transfer, a capital increase or an amendment to the Memorandum of Association.
- Changing the manager or authorised signatory on the trade licence.
Step by Step: From Signed Resolution to Accepted Translation
1. Check where the resolution was issued
A resolution signed abroad by a foreign parent company follows the legalisation chain below. A resolution signed in the UAE by a mainland company goes straight to translation or bilingual drafting. Companies in ADGM and DIFC work in English, but need an Arabic translation when they use the resolution onshore.
2. Complete the attestation chain first (foreign resolutions)
The usual order is: notarisation in the country of origin, then that country's foreign ministry, then the UAE embassy or consulate there, and finally MOFA in the UAE. MOFA currently publishes a fee of AED 2,000 per commercial document (AED 150 for personal documents); check the current figure in our MOFA attestation guide. Countries that use the apostille follow a different route, explained in apostille vs attestation.
3. Translate after the last stamp
The certified translation must cover the resolution and every stamp and certificate attached to it. A translation made before MOFA attestation usually has to be redone, so translate last.
4. Send clear scans and the reference spellings
Send a sharp PDF of every page, the trade licence and the passports of the people named. The Arabic company name must match the Arabic name on the trade licence, and personal names must match passports and Emirates IDs.
5. Certification by an MOJ-licensed translator
The translation is checked, stamped and signed by the licensed legal translator and attached to the source document, so the receiving officer can trace the full chain.
Foreign, Mainland and ADGM/DIFC Resolutions Compared
| Resolution of a foreign parent company | UAE mainland company resolution | ADGM / DIFC company resolution | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual language | Any language (English, Chinese, Russian, French…) | Arabic or bilingual Arabic–English | English |
| Attestation before translation | Origin notary → origin foreign ministry → UAE embassy → UAE MOFA | None; signed by the authorised partners or managers in the UAE | Per ADGM or DIFC registrar rules |
| Translation needed | MOJ-certified Arabic translation for mainland authorities and banks | Arabic or bilingual version for non-Arabic signatories, notary and authorities | MOJ-certified Arabic translation when used onshore |
| SWLT price | From AED 60 per 200-word page; quote per document | From AED 60 per 200-word page | From AED 60 per 200-word page |
For the full list of company documents we translate for setup and renewals, see company documents translation.
Terms That Must Be Translated Exactly
Resolutions use precise corporate terms, and a loose Arabic equivalent can change who is authorised to do what. These are the terms we check most carefully:
- Quorum and unanimous written consent: the validity of the decision depends on them.
- Jointly vs severally (or jointly and severally): whether signatories must sign together or may sign alone. Getting this wrong changes bank mandates.
- Articles of Association vs Memorandum of Association: the UAE trade licence uses specific Arabic names for each.
- Company names, licence numbers and capital figures: copied exactly from the trade licence, never re-translated.
Resolutions Signed Before a UAE Notary
Some decisions, such as share transfers and certain powers of attorney, are signed before a UAE notary. The notary works in Arabic, so foreign signatories usually sign a bilingual document. SWLT prepares the Arabic or bilingual text; the notarisation itself is carried out by the notary, not by SWLT. Read more in our guide to notary document preparation.
Common Mistakes That Stall Corporate Files
Most delays come from avoidable paperwork problems:
- Translating before MOFA attestation: the translation does not cover the final stamps and must be redone.
- Arabic company name differs from the trade licence: the authority or bank treats it as a different company.
- Signatory names spelled differently from passports and Emirates IDs.
- Missing pages or annexes: the translation must cover the whole document, including certificates attached by the notary.
- Unstamped or machine translation: UAE authorities accept translations stamped by an MOJ-licensed translator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign board resolution be translated before the UAE MOFA stamp?
For internal review, yes. For submission to a UAE authority, court, notary or bank, translate after MOFA attestation so the translation includes the stamps.
How much does a board resolution translation cost?
SWLT translation starts from AED 60 per 200-word page, with a 20% surcharge for urgent same-day work. Government attestation fees, such as MOFA's published AED 2,000 for commercial documents, are paid separately to the authority.
How fast can it be done?
A one- to three-page resolution in English–Arabic is usually ready the same day or within 24 hours once we receive clear scans.
Can you translate resolutions written in Chinese, Russian or French straight into Arabic?
Yes. We translate from 50+ languages directly into Arabic, without going through English.
Does SWLT attest or notarise the resolution?
No. We provide the certified translation and bilingual drafting. Attestation is done by the foreign ministries and embassies, and notarisation by the notary.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about document translation and is not legal advice. Attestation rules and government fees are set by the authorities and can change; confirm them with the receiving authority, and consult a lawyer on the corporate decision itself.
Get Your Board Resolution Translated
Send your resolution and trade licence for a free quote. Smart World Legal Translation is led by Dr. Hani Elimam (MOJ licence No. 665), rated 4.8/5 on Google, and translates corporate documents from 50+ languages from AED 60 per page. Send your documents on WhatsApp or use our contact page.