Interpreter Code of Ethics for Courts and Hospitals

UAE law on the translation profession (Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022) also covers oral translation and requires registered translators to work accurately and faithfully, without changing the content, and to keep information confidential. Check the current text and any instructions from the court or authority you work for.

Accuracy means conveying the full meaning, including what the speaker would rather you smoothed over. The NAJIT code says hedges, false starts and repetitions should be conveyed, and that the register, style and tone should be kept.

• Do not clean up testimony. If a witness says "I… I think it was maybe Tuesday", the court must hear the hesitation, not a confident "It was Tuesday".
• Do not soften or sharpen. An insult is interpreted as an insult; a vague answer stays vague.
• Do not explain. If a term needs explaining, ask the court or the doctor whether you may clarify, and say that you are speaking as the interpreter.
• Do not guess. If you did not hear or understand, ask for a repetition. Guessing is the most dangerous habit an interpreter can have.
• Use the first person. Say "I was at home", not "He says he was at home". NAJIT's code asks interpreters to use the same grammatical person as the speaker.

Every interpreter makes mistakes. The ethical duty is to correct them. AIIC asks interpreters to point out and rectify errors immediately; NAJIT says errors should be corrected for the record as soon as possible. In practice, say briefly: "Interpreter's correction: the amount was twenty-five thousand, not fifteen thousand." Do it even if nobody noticed, and even if it is uncomfortable.

An interpreter serves the communication, not one side. Impartiality is also about appearances: a party who sees the interpreter chatting with the other side in the corridor may lose confidence in the whole process.

• Declare conflicts before you start. You know a party personally, you have worked for one side in the same matter, or you have a financial interest: tell the court, the hospital or the client, and let them decide.
• Avoid unnecessary contact with parties and witnesses before and during breaks.
• Do not interpret for family or friends in a hearing or a serious medical appointment. The IMIA code says to decline when family or close personal relationships affect impartiality.
• Keep your face neutral. Reactions, nods or smiles while interpreting can be read as taking sides.

What you hear in a hearing room, a police station or a consultation is not yours to share. That includes names, health details, the facts of a case and commercial information. Do not discuss assignments with friends or on social media, store notes securely and destroy them when the job is done unless the client asks otherwise, and do not paste confidential material into public AI tools. The AIIC code adds that interpreters must never derive personal gain from confidential information.

For what interpreting at a police station or the prosecution involves in practice, see our article on interpreters at the police and public prosecution.

In court and at the police

You do not advise anyone, explain the law, or tell a defendant what to say. If a party asks you "Should I sign this?", interpret the question to the judge, officer or lawyer, or say you cannot advise. NAJIT's Canon 4 is explicit: interpreters do not give legal advice.

In hospitals and clinics

You do not give medical opinions, reassure a patient that "it will be fine", or decide what the patient needs to know. IMIA allows interpreters to explain a cultural difference when it is necessary for communication, using professional judgement, but not to counsel patients. See our guide to hospital interpreters and patient consent.

When you must step out of the role

Sometimes you must speak for yourself: to ask for a repetition, flag a possible misunderstanding, or report that you are too tired to continue. Make clear that you are speaking as the interpreter, keep it short, and interpret what you said to the other party so nobody is left out.

There is no single worldwide code. Professional bodies publish their own, such as AIIC for conference interpreters, NAJIT for court interpreters and IMIA for medical interpreters. They share the same core: accuracy, impartiality, confidentiality, staying within the role and competence.

No. The interpreter interprets what the judge, prosecutor or lawyer says. Explaining the law or advising a party is outside the role; if something is unclear, the interpreter can say so to the court.

Yes. Both AIIC and NAJIT ask interpreters to correct errors as soon as they become aware of them, briefly and on the record.

It is widely discouraged in serious matters, because a relative may not be impartial or accurate. The IMIA code says interpreters should decline when family or close relationships affect impartiality.

UAE law on the translation profession requires registered translators to keep information confidential, and professional codes require it of all interpreters. Courts, hospitals and clients may impose further rules or NDAs.

Read the codes themselves, and train with experienced interpreters. Ethics and impartiality are a module of our court interpreting course.

Our court interpreting course covers interpreter ethics and impartiality, UAE court procedure and the interpreter's role, witness examination and sight translation. If you need a professional interpreter for a hearing or an appointment, see our court interpreter and medical interpreter services.

This article is general guidance on interpreting practice and training. It is not legal or medical advice. Professional codes, court rules and authority requirements change; check the current text of any code you rely on and confirm requirements with the court, hospital or authority concerned.

Ask about the court interpreting course, or send us the details of a hearing or appointment that needs an interpreter. 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. Our interpreting courses are led by Dr. Hani Elimam, a member of AIIC (the International Association of Conference Interpreters) and a UAE Ministry of Justice sworn translator, who holds a Master's in Interpreting and Translation from the American University of Sharjah and a PhD in Language and Management. Course fees, format and dates are confirmed on request before you enrol. The SWLT certificate of completion records your training; it is not a government licence or court accreditation. Message us on WhatsApp (+971 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.