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Guide: Translation ยท 4 minute read
Sworn Translator in the UAE: Who Translates Documents for Courts and Ministries
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A sworn translator UAE search points to one thing: in practice, a sworn translator is a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. Translations for official use are done by that translator. We draft your document and check every clause, we prepare the Arabic text through a legal translator, and our in-house notary public notarises it in person at our Battuta Gate office, online or on a home visit.
WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790 with a photo of your document and tell us where it will be used.
The catch most people miss: "sworn", "certified" and "legal" translation are words people use for the same job. What matters is who signed the translation, and whether the receiving office accepts it. Ask that office first.
What a Sworn Translator UAE Search Really Means
UAE rules speak of a legal translator, not a "sworn" one. The fact that matters is this: translations for official use are done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. If your document is going to a court, a ministry or a notary, use that kind of translator.
A translator translates. A translator does not notarise, attest or check that your original is genuine. Those are other steps, done by other people.
Side by side
Legal Translator, Certified Translation and Sworn Translation
| Term you may see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Sworn translation | A translation signed and stamped by a translator the authority accepts |
| Certified translation UAE | A translation signed by a legal translator, so an office can rely on it |
| Legal translator Dubai | The person who does the translation for official use |
| Sworn English translation | An Arabic document translated into English in the same way |
Do not worry about the label of a sworn translator UAE offices ask for. Check what the receiving office asks for, then match it.
Which Documents Need a Sworn Translator
You usually need one when a document in another language goes to a court, a ministry, an embassy or a notary. Common examples are:
Birth, marriage and degree certificates. See our page on birth certificate translation in Dubai.
Contracts and company documents.
Powers of attorney and affidavits.
Foreign documents that are used in a UAE office.
In Dubai, a notarised instrument is in Arabic, or comes with a certified Arabic translation signed with it. This is Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013, Article 27, on the Dubai Legislation Portal. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's English Notary Services Bureau accepts English documents without a translation for the services it lists, mostly company powers of attorney and resolutions.
How the Translation Is Then Notarised or Attested
The order depends on where the document goes:
01
A legal translator prepares the Arabic text.
02
You sign before our in-house notary public, who checks your ID, capacity and consent and applies the seal.
03
If the document goes abroad, MOFAIC attests it, then the destination embassy or consulate in the UAE. See the MOFAIC attestation page. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
The federal notary fee for notarising a translation in the instrument is AED 50 per page. MOFAIC fees are AED 150 for personal documents and AED 2,000 for commercial documents.
Checking the Sworn Translator UAE Offices Accept Before You Pay
Ask these questions before you agree to a price:
- Is the translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice?
- Will the translation carry a signature and stamp?
- Does the translation match names and dates in your passport or Emirates ID?
- Does the receiving office accept this kind of translation?
If any answer is unclear, ask for it in writing. Read more about legal translation services in Dubai and what notarised document requirements the notary checks.
Prices
Fees
| Item | Our service price |
|---|---|
| Legal translation | from AED 50 per page |
| Translation coordination | from AED 350 |
| Drafting or typing add-on | from AED 200 |
| Power of attorney | from AED 1,500 |
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
If your question is not here, ask it on WhatsApp. Tell us what the document is for and who will sign it.
What is a sworn translator in the UAE?
It is a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice who translates documents for official use. People also call the work sworn or certified translation. The label matters less than who signs it and whether the office accepts it.
What is a certified translation in the UAE?
A certified translation is a translation signed and stamped by a legal translator so that a court, ministry or notary can rely on it. It does not prove that your original is genuine. Ask the receiving office what it needs.
Who can translate documents for Dubai Courts?
Translations for official use are done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. Ask Dubai Courts if it names a particular form. If you have a dispute in court, you need a practising advocate. We prepare documents; we do not represent people in court.
Does a sworn translation need to be notarised?
Often yes, if it goes with a notarised instrument. In Dubai, a notarised instrument is in Arabic, or comes with a certified Arabic translation signed with it. Tell us what the document is for and we will say what it needs.
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Next Step
Call or WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790, or email support@notariolawyersuae.com. Tell us what the document is for and who will sign it, and we will reply with what it needs and a starting price. Our office is on the 10th floor, Battuta Gate offices, Dubai. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
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