Interpreter at a UAE Notary Appointment: What to Know

Notarial work across the UAE is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 regulating the notary profession, which replaced Federal Law No. 4 of 2013, together with its implementing regulation, Cabinet Resolution No. 16 of 2024. Two rules matter for a signatory who does not read Arabic:

• Language of the instrument. A notarial instrument is drawn up in Arabic. It may be drawn up in a foreign language only in the circumstances and on the conditions set by a ministerial resolution.
  
• The interpreter. Where the notary is not familiar with the language of the persons concerned, the notary engages an interpreter whose name is on the Ministry's register, and the interpreter signs at the end of the instrument.

Dubai has its own notary law, applied by Dubai Courts and the private notaries it licenses, and it contains a similar rule: when the notary does not speak a party's language, communication goes through a translator who signs the instrument file. In Abu Dhabi, the Judicial Department runs an English Notary Bureau for instruments drawn up in English. That helps English speakers, but a signatory who reads neither Arabic nor English still needs an interpreter.

Each notary office applies its own practice on top of the law. Before the appointment, ask which interpreter credentials it accepts and whether the interpreter must be present in person. For an overview of where to notarise, see our notary public guide for the UAE.

Approach	How it works	When it suits
Bilingual instrument	Arabic and English (or another language) in two columns, translated by a licensed legal translator before the appointment	Powers of attorney, declarations and resolutions that will be used again in the UAE
Arabic instrument + interpreter	The signatory hears the Arabic text interpreted at the appointment	Short documents, or where the office drafts the instrument itself
Foreign-language original + legal translation	The foreign text is translated into Arabic and both are presented	Documents drafted abroad or by foreign counsel; check the office accepts it first

Even with a bilingual draft, the interpreter still matters: the notary may ask questions, read clauses aloud or change wording at the desk, and every change has to be understood before signing. A bilingual format for powers of attorney is described on our bilingual power of attorney page.

The law points to an interpreter on the Ministry's register, so a relative, colleague or the buyer's agent who "speaks both languages" is not the right choice, even if the notary office would otherwise let them stand in. The interpreter should be neutral: not a party, not a beneficiary and not the person receiving the power of attorney. The interpreter conveys what is said; they do not advise, explain the deal or answer the notary's questions for you.

Things to send the interpreter before the appointment:

• The final draft, so that names, amounts and legal terms are not heard for the first time at the desk.
  
• Passport and Emirates ID copies, so that the Arabic spelling of names can be checked against your records.
  
• Any related documents the instrument refers to (title deed, trade licence, earlier power of attorney).
  
• Your preferred language and any dialect, so the right interpreter is booked.

Dubai Courts have offered remote notarisation since 2020, and other notary offices offer video sessions for many transactions. When the signatory needs an interpreter, plan the call as a three-way session: the notary, the signatory and the interpreter. Ask the office in advance whether the interpreter can join the same video session from a different location and how the interpreter signs. A stable connection, a quiet room and the draft open on screen do more for a remote appointment than anything else. Our article on remote hearing interpretation covers the technical side of interpreting by video.

Most failed notary appointments with a non-Arabic speaker come down to a few avoidable problems:

• No interpreter booked, so the appointment is postponed.
  
• Names spelled differently in the Arabic draft, the passport and the Emirates ID. See name spelling mismatches between documents.
  
• A translation that does not match the final draft because clauses changed after it was translated.
  
• A translated attachment the notary will not accept. Our article on why notaries reject translated documents lists the common causes.

Often, yes. A bilingual draft helps, but the notary may still read clauses aloud, ask questions or amend the text, and you have to understand each exchange. Ask the notary office in advance whether it requires an interpreter in your case.

Not as a general rule. The federal notary law refers to an interpreter on the Ministry's register, who signs the instrument. A neutral, registered interpreter also protects the document if it is challenged later.

Many offices allow this, but practice differs. Confirm with the notary office before the session how the interpreter joins and signs.

Not necessarily. The translator prepares the written bilingual text before the appointment; the interpreter conveys the spoken exchange at the appointment. One licensed professional can do both if the office accepts it.

No. We translate the documents and provide the interpreter. The notarisation itself is done by the notary. The difference between the three steps is explained in certified vs notarised vs attested translation.

We prepare bilingual drafts of powers of attorney, declarations, sale and gift documents and company resolutions, check the Arabic spelling of every name against your IDs, and provide a legal translator to interpret at the appointment, in person or by video. Ask the notary office beforehand which interpreter credentials it requires, and we will match the booking to it.

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 draft, the appointment date and the language you need. 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.