Is a Translation Done Abroad Accepted in the UAE?
The Short Answer
Many people moving to the UAE have their documents translated at home before they travel — by a sworn translator in France or Germany, a notarised translator in India, a certified translator in the US. It feels efficient. For UAE courts, notaries and most government work, it usually means paying twice.
Under Article 3 of Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 regulating the translation profession, UAE courts accept a translated document only if it was translated by a translator or translation house listed by the Ministry of Justice, and authorities may not authenticate or certify translations made by anyone else. A translator abroad, however qualified, is not on that list.
This article explains what that means in practice, where a foreign translation may still be useful, and how to avoid a rejection.
What the Law Says
- Registration is required to practise. The translation profession may be practised in the UAE only by translators and translation houses registered in the Ministry of Justice list (Article 2).
- Courts accept listed translators’ work only. A court may not accept a translated document, bond or deed unless the translator or translation house is on the list, and authorities may not carry out authentication or certification on such translations (Article 3).
- Translators work from inside the State. Registration requires residence in the UAE, and a listed translator must carry out the work personally from within the country (Articles 5 and 13).
- One exception. A judicial authority may, where needed, use an unregistered translator, who must first take the legal oath (Article 2(2)). This is the court’s choice, not a route an applicant can use for their own documents.
The law does not mention translations made abroad by name, but the consequence is direct: a foreign translator is not on the Ministry of Justice list.
What Usually Happens in Practice
| Where the document is used | Translation made abroad | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| UAE courts (onshore) | Not accepted under Article 3 | Translate in the UAE by an MOJ-listed translator |
| Notary public | Usually rejected | Translate in the UAE before the appointment |
| Visa, residency, equivalency and other government files | Often rejected; the receiving authority decides | Ask the authority first, or translate in the UAE |
| DIFC and ADGM courts | English documents filed as they are | Other languages need a translation; check the court’s rules |
| Private bodies (banks, employers, schools) | Their own policy | Ask before relying on it |
Our articles on why notaries reject translated documents and why visa document translations get rejected show the same pattern from the receiving side.
What You Should Do at Home Instead
The useful work to do before you travel is attestation, not translation. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents issued abroad go through legalisation in the issuing country and at the UAE embassy there, then attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Translation is then done in the UAE.
- Get the original document, or an official certified copy, from the issuing authority.
- Legalise it in the issuing country (usually the foreign ministry) and at the UAE embassy or consulate there.
- Attest it at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs after arrival.
- Have it translated by an MOJ-licensed legal translator in the UAE.
See our embassy legalisation guide and certified vs notarised vs attested translation.
When a Foreign Translation Still Helps
- As a working reference. If the original is in a language such as Japanese or Portuguese, a home-country translation into English can help the UAE translator check names and terms, though it does not replace the UAE translation.
- For private use. An employer or landlord may accept it for its own records. That is their decision.
- Documents in English. Documents already issued in English do not need to be translated into English. Whether they need Arabic depends on the authority; courts and notaries work in Arabic.
Language Pairs Where This Comes Up Most
The question comes up often with French and German documents carrying a sworn translator’s seal, Russian documents with notarised translations, and Indian, Pakistani and Philippine documents translated into English at home. In each case the solution is the same: keep the foreign translation if it helps, attest the original, and have the original translated into Arabic in the UAE.
If your documents are in a language other than English, the UAE translation is usually made directly from that language into Arabic, not through English. Ask for a direct translation where the language is available; it avoids errors compounding across two translations.
Will a UAE court accept a sworn translation from my home country?
No. Article 3 of Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 limits the translations courts may accept to those made by translators and translation houses on the Ministry of Justice list.
Can I get my home-country translation attested by MOFA instead?
Attesting a translation does not make it a UAE-licensed translation, and authorities may not certify translations by unlisted translators. Attest the original document, then translate it in the UAE.
Do I need to translate English documents?
Not into English. Whether an Arabic translation is needed depends on where you use the document: courts and notaries work in Arabic, and some government services accept English.
How quickly can documents be translated in the UAE?
Standard personal documents can be translated the same day. Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available.
How SWLT Helps
We translate attested foreign documents into Arabic and English for courts, notaries and government authorities, directly from the source language wherever possible. If you already hold a translation made abroad, send it with the original and we will tell you whether anything in it helps. See our MOJ-licensed translators page.
Disclaimer
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.
Check Before You Pay Twice
Send us the original document, any existing translation, and the authority it is for. 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.