If you need translations accepted by any of the bodies below, this is the practical reference. We process hundreds of submissions each month — these are the requirements that actually work.
🏛️ UAE Federal Authorities
Authorities operating across all 7 emirates
Ministry of Justice
MOJ — وزارة العدل
The federal authority that maintains the register of sworn translators in the UAE. Every "MOJ-certified" translation in the country starts here.
Translation requirement: All court documents, sworn affidavits, and judicial proceedings must be translated by an MOJ-sworn translator. The translator's personal stamp is mandatory.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MoFA — وزارة الخارجية
Responsible for attestation of UAE documents going abroad and foreign documents being legalized for UAE use. The final stamp in many attestation chains.
Translation requirement: Translations destined for use outside the UAE require MoFA attestation after being produced by an MOJ-sworn translator.
Ministry of Education
MOE — وزارة التربية والتعليم
Handles equivalency for foreign academic credentials — the prerequisite for working in any regulated profession in the UAE that requires a degree.
Translation requirement: Original degree must be apostilled or embassy-attested in country of issue. Then translated by MOJ-sworn translator.
See full equivalency guide.
Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratization
MOHRE — وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين
Issues work permits, professional licenses, and oversees employment regulations.
Translation requirement: Employment contracts, professional certificates, and equivalency documents must be MOJ-translated. MOE equivalency typically required first for skilled positions.
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security
ICA — الهيئة الاتحادية للهوية والجنسية
Issues federal Emirates ID, residence visas, and citizenship documents for emirates outside Dubai.
Translation requirement: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and family documents for residency must be MOJ-translated and apostille/embassy attested.
Ministry of Health & Prevention
MOHAP — وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع
Federal health regulator outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Translation requirement: Medical degrees, residency certificates, and clinical experience documents must be apostilled and MOJ-translated.
🏙️ Dubai Authorities
Dubai-specific authorities
General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (Dubai)
GDRFA — الإدارة العامة للإقامة وشؤون الأجانب
Issues all Dubai residency visas, including investor visas, employment visas, family sponsorship, and Golden Visas.
Translation requirement: All foreign documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, bank statements, education documents) must be apostilled/embassy-attested then MOJ-translated.
Roads & Transport Authority
RTA — هيئة الطرق والمواصلات
Driving licenses, vehicle registration, traffic services in Dubai.
Translation requirement: Foreign driving licenses must be MOJ-translated for the Golden Chance program. Vehicle ownership documents require certified translation.
Driving license guide.
Dubai Health Authority
DHA — هيئة الصحة بدبي
Regulates all healthcare professionals practicing in Dubai.
Translation requirement: Medical degrees, clinical experience, and professional certifications must be apostilled and MOJ-translated for DHA licensing exam eligibility.
Dubai Department of Economic Development
DED Dubai — اقتصادية دبي
Issues mainland Dubai trade licenses and oversees commercial activities outside free zones.
Translation requirement: Foreign Articles of Association, board resolutions, parent-company trade licenses must be MOJ-translated and (usually) MoFA-attested.
Company documents guide.
Knowledge & Human Development Authority
KHDA — هيئة المعرفة والتنمية البشرية
Regulates Dubai's private schools and higher education institutions.
Translation requirement: Foreign school records, prior academic certificates, and transcripts must be MOJ-translated for student enrollment in Dubai private schools.
Dubai International Financial Centre
DIFC
Common-law financial free zone with its own courts (DIFC Courts) and regulator (DFSA).
Translation requirement: Often accepts English-only documents (common-law jurisdiction). Bilingual translation may be required for cross-jurisdictional documents.
🕌 Abu Dhabi Authorities
Abu Dhabi-specific authorities
Abu Dhabi Police
ADP — شرطة أبوظبي
Driving licenses, vehicle registration, traffic, and police clearance certificates in Abu Dhabi.
Translation requirement: Foreign driving licenses, accident reports, and police clearance certificates must be MOJ-translated for ADP submission.
Department of Health Abu Dhabi
HAAD / DOH
Regulates all healthcare professionals practicing in Abu Dhabi.
Translation requirement: Medical degrees, residency certificates, and professional licenses must be apostilled and MOJ-translated for HAAD/DOH licensing.
Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development
DED Abu Dhabi — اقتصادية أبوظبي
Issues mainland Abu Dhabi trade licenses.
Translation requirement: Same as Dubai DED — Foreign corporate documents need MOJ translation + (usually) MoFA attestation.
Abu Dhabi Global Market
ADGM
Common-law financial free zone with its own courts and regulator (FSRA).
Translation requirement: Generally accepts English documents. Notarized/apostilled originals required for certain corporate actions.
Abu Dhabi Judicial Department
ADJD — دائرة القضاء أبوظبي
Abu Dhabi's local court system (federal courts handle some matters in parallel).
Translation requirement: All court submissions must be Arabic. Foreign evidence, contracts, and judgments must be MOJ-sworn-translated. Court interpreters required for non-Arabic-speaking parties — must be MOJ-registered.
🌍 Major Embassies in the UAE
Major embassies that frequently require document translations
Embassy of Egypt
Abu Dhabi
Frequent translations: birth/marriage cert renewals, military exemption, study abroad documents.
Embassy of India
Abu Dhabi
High volume: PCC, education attestation, OCI applications, marriage certificates.
Embassy of Pakistan
Abu Dhabi
Common: NICOP, NADRA documents, education attestation, marriage registration.
British Embassy
Abu Dhabi
Common: marriage notice, life certificates, certified copies for UK use.
Embassy of the United States
Abu Dhabi
Common: notarial services, FBI background checks, US passport renewals (separate from translation).
Embassy of the Philippines
Abu Dhabi
High volume: NBI clearance, marriage contracts, employment verification documents.
Embassy of France
Abu Dhabi
Apostille services for documents going to France; French-Arabic translations frequent.
Embassy of Germany
Abu Dhabi
Apostille + German-Arabic certified translations for visa, marriage, business.
Embassy of Italy
Abu Dhabi
Italian-Arabic-English translations for visa, citizenship, university applications.
Embassy of Spain
Abu Dhabi
Spanish-Arabic and Spanish-English translations for visa and education matters.
Embassy of Russia
Abu Dhabi
Common: Russian-Arabic translations for marriage, education, business.
Embassy of China
Abu Dhabi
High volume: Chinese-Arabic and Chinese-English business and personal translations.
Embassy of Lebanon
Abu Dhabi
Common: Lebanese ID, marriage registration, education documents.
Embassy of Jordan
Abu Dhabi
Common: Jordanian civil status, education, employment documents.
Embassy of Syria
Abu Dhabi
Common: Syrian civil status, education attestation.
Embassy of Sudan
Abu Dhabi
Common: Sudanese marriage, birth, education documents.
Embassy of Yemen
Abu Dhabi
Civil status documents, education certificates.
Embassy of Nigeria
Abu Dhabi
NPC certificates, education attestation, marriage certificates.
Embassy of Bangladesh
Abu Dhabi
High volume: education attestation, marriage, employment documents.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Abu Dhabi
Education, marriage, employment-related documents.
Embassy of Indonesia
Abu Dhabi
Indonesian-Arabic and Indonesian-English for marriage, education, employment.
Embassy of Turkey
Abu Dhabi
Turkish-Arabic and Turkish-English translations frequent.
Embassy of Iran
Abu Dhabi
Persian-Arabic translations for civil status, education.
Embassy of Canada
Abu Dhabi
Visa and immigration documents, often requiring certified translation.
Embassy of Australia
Abu Dhabi
Visa documents, AHPRA medical, education attestation.
This directory is being expanded. Embassy contact details, hours, and detailed attestation procedures are added as we collect verified information. Email info@swlt.ae if you'd like us to add or update an entry.