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Legal Translation Services in Dubai
Only a Ministry of Justice licensed translator produces a translation authorities accept. Accuracy is not the test — the licence is.
The short version
- Only a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice can produce a translation that authorities and courts accept.
- Translation comes after attestation, never before. Translate first and you pay twice.
- A fluent bilingual colleague, an agency without MOJ licensing, or machine translation are all worthless for official purposes — however accurate.
- Pricing is per page and varies by document type and language pair.
Legal translation is one of those services where the quality of the language is almost beside the point. What authorities check is whether the translator holds the right licence and whether the stamp is on the document.
What makes a translation "legal"
| Ordinary translation | Legal translation | |
|---|---|---|
| Produced by | Anyone fluent | MOJ-licensed translator |
| Carries a stamp and licence number | No | Yes |
| Accepted by courts and authorities | No | Yes |
| Usable for visa and licence files | No | Yes |
| Cost | Low | Per page, document dependent |
Someone has a document translated cheaply, submits it, and it is rejected — not because the translation was wrong, but because the translator was not licensed. The whole cost is lost and the timeline restarts.
Order matters: attest, then translate
A legal translation reproduces everything on the document, including the attestation stamps and seals. If you translate before those stamps exist, the translation is incomplete and has to be redone.
Complete the attestation chain
Issuing authority, home country MOFA, UAE Embassy, UAE MOFA. See the attestation chain explained.
Then translate
The MOJ-licensed translator renders the document and every stamp on it into Arabic.
Submit both together
Original plus certified translation. Authorities generally want to see both.
What we translate
| Document | Typically needed for |
|---|---|
| Marriage certificate | Spouse sponsorship |
| Birth certificate | Child sponsorship |
| Degree and transcripts | Employment, licensing, equivalency |
| Memorandum of Association | Company formation and amendments |
| Powers of attorney | Legal representation, property |
| Contracts and agreements | Court filings, commercial registration |
| Court judgments | Enforcement, family matters |
| Police clearance | Certain visas and professions |
| Medical reports | Insurance, humanitarian applications |
What it costs and how long
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Page count | Priced per page — the primary driver |
| Document type | Technical and legal texts cost more than standard certificates |
| Language pair | Less common source languages cost more |
| Turnaround | Standard 1–3 working days; same-day available at a premium |
| Send the document and we quote exactly rather than by estimate — page count is only meaningful once we can see it. | |
Where translations get rejected
- Translator not MOJ-licensed — the most common cause, and entirely avoidable
- Translated before attestation, so the stamps are missing from the translation
- Name spellings inconsistent with the passport — the translator follows the source document, so if the source is wrong, the translation is faithfully wrong
- Partial translation — stamps, seals and marginal notes omitted
- Original not presented alongside the translation
- Translation too old — some authorities want a recent one
If your name is rendered differently across your passport and your source document, tell the translator before they start. They translate what is in front of them — flagging the discrepancy early is what prevents a mismatch downstream.
Legal translation questions
What makes a translation legally valid in the UAE?
It must be produced by a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice and carry their stamp and licence number. Accuracy alone is not sufficient — an unlicensed translation is rejected regardless of quality.
Should I translate before or after attestation?
After. A legal translation reproduces every stamp and seal on the document, so translating before attestation produces an incomplete translation that has to be redone at full cost.
Can my bilingual friend translate my documents?
Not for official purposes. Authorities and courts check the translator's MOJ licence, not the fluency of the translation. The same applies to unlicensed agencies and machine translation.
How much does legal translation cost in Dubai?
Priced per page, varying by document type and language pair. Technical and legal texts cost more than standard certificates, and less common source languages cost more. Send the document for an exact quote.
How long does legal translation take?
One to three working days for standard documents, with same-day turnaround available at a premium for shorter texts.
Do I need to submit the original as well?
Generally yes. Authorities want to see the attested original alongside the certified translation, not the translation on its own.
Hand it over
Send the document. We will tell you where you stand.
Government fees passed through at cost, our service fee fixed and agreed before we start, and updates on WhatsApp until the file closes.
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Main service page →MOFA Attestation
The final UAE stamp that completes an overseas document.
View service →Degree Certificate Attestation
The full chain plus MOHRE equivalency — sequenced so nothing is wasted.
View service →Marriage Certificate Attestation
Required before any spouse sponsorship. Start it before you fly.
View service →Birth Certificate Attestation
Required for child sponsorship — and both parents must be named on it.
View service →Document Attestation
Degree, marriage and birth certificates, sequenced correctly.
Main service →