Inheritance Translation Rules: UAE Courts, ADJD and DLD
The Short Answer
When someone dies leaving assets in the UAE, the family’s lawyer will ask for a folder of documents. Whether each one needs a legal translation depends on who will read it, and the rules are not the same at every counter.
For the onshore courts and for the Dubai Land Department, any document not in Arabic needs a certified legal translation, and any document issued outside the UAE also needs attestation. The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court is the main exception: it works in Arabic and English, and expatriates are exempt from translating English documents into Arabic there. The DIFC Courts work in English.
This article sets out the rule at each authority. For the list of documents families usually gather and the step-by-step, see foreign probate and inheritance document translation. It is general information, not legal advice.
The Rule at a Glance
| Authority | Working language | English documents | Third-language documents | Issued abroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onshore courts (general) | Arabic | Translate into Arabic | Translate into Arabic | MOFA attestation |
| Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court | Arabic and English | Expats exempt from translating into Arabic | Translate | Attestation |
| Dubai Land Department | Arabic | Certified legal translation | Certified legal translation | Attestation |
| DIFC Courts | English | No translation | May be asked to translate | May be asked to authenticate |
Onshore Courts
Arabic is the language of the courts. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department’s services guide puts it plainly: documents must be translated into Arabic by an office certified by the Ministry of Justice, and documents issued outside the country must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022, courts do not accept translations by translators who are not registered in the Ministry of Justice’s list.
For how onshore courts differ from the DIFC and ADGM courts on language, see onshore vs DIFC and ADGM court translation.
Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court (Non-Muslims)
Forms and proceedings are bilingual, in Arabic and English. The court’s regulations exempt expatriates from translating documents from English into Arabic, and the department’s translation section can translate documents for a fee.
What the exemption does not cover:
- Documents in a third language — French, Russian, Hindi, Tagalog and so on — still need translating.
- It is a rule of this court. The same English documents may still need Arabic when the estate moves on to a bank, a land department or a company registrar.
Dubai Land Department
For registering inherited property, the department requires the inheritance certificate issued by the court, and states that documents in a language other than Arabic must be provided with a certified legal translation, and that foreign documents must be attested.
Property files also carry title deeds and sale contracts. Deeds issued in the UAE are usually already in Arabic or bilingual; for what a deed translation must keep, see title deed translation.
DIFC Courts
Everything is in English; the probate order itself is issued in English and Arabic. For a death abroad, the registry may ask for documents to be authenticated and translated. Registration of DIFC wills is covered in our guide to DIFC and ADJD wills.
What Makes a Translation Acceptable Everywhere
- It is made by a translator or translation house registered with the Ministry of Justice, as the law regulating the translation profession requires.
- It carries the translator’s name and registration number and the translation house’s name.
- It is complete — including stamps, seals, marginal notes and the back of the page.
- Names are spelled consistently across every document in the file. One heir whose name appears in three different Arabic spellings can hold up the whole file.
- Dates, registration numbers and amounts are reproduced exactly.
One File, One Spelling
Estate files move between authorities: court, land department, bank. Translating them as one batch, with one agreed list of names, means each authority sees the same spelling. See name spelling mismatches between documents for how to fix a mismatch that already exists. Heirs abroad who appoint someone to act for them should read power of attorney from heirs abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to translate English documents for the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court?
Expatriates are exempt from translating English documents into Arabic there. Documents in a third language still need translating.
Does the Dubai Land Department accept English documents for inherited property?
It states that documents in a language other than Arabic must come with a certified legal translation, and that foreign documents must be attested.
Who can translate inheritance documents?
A translator or translation house registered with the Ministry of Justice; courts and authorities do not accept translations by anyone else.
How much does it cost?
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. See our pricing page.
How SWLT Helps
We translate inheritance files as a set, with a single list of names agreed with the family at the start, so that the court, the land department and the bank all see the same spelling. Smart World Legal Translation (SWLT) is an MOJ-licensed legal translation office in Abu Dhabi, led by Dr. Hani Elimam, an MOJ-licensed translator. For the legal steps of the estate itself, see the UAE will drafting service at Smart Legal Services.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about the translation side of wills and inheritance in the UAE. It is not legal advice. Laws, registry rules and fees change; confirm current requirements with the registry or authority concerned and take advice from a lawyer on your own situation.
Get the Estate File Translated as One Set
Tell us which authority will receive the file and send scans of the documents. 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 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.