Dubai Courts guides
Notary public translation certification for Dubai Courts and the notary
Notary public translation certification is the step where a translation becomes part of a notarised document. In Dubai the notary works in Arabic, so an English POA, declaration or consent needs an Arabic version by a certified translator before the notary can attest it, and the notary's fee for including that translation is set per page. Court filings follow the same logic: the court reads Arabic.
NotaryPublicInDubai.com prepares the Arabic for documents that end at a Dubai Courts notary or in a court file. We have the translation done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, check it against the original line by line, and then book the notary. This page explains when Arabic is needed, which kind of translation paper you need, and what it costs.
Three moments when the court process needs Arabic
1. At the notary.
The document you sign, such as a POA, an affidavit or a consent, is attested in Arabic. If you want English too, the Arabic and English sit side by side and you sign both. The translator's work becomes part of the notarised instrument, which is why the notary charges a page fee for it.
2. In the court file.
When a lawyer files a claim or a defence, supporting papers in English or another language usually need an Arabic legal translation. A foreign contract, a bank statement or a medical report is translated so the judge can read it.
3. At the signing itself.
Sometimes the document is already in Arabic and English, but the person signing reads neither well. Then the question is not translation but interpretation: someone must explain aloud, in the signer's language, what the notary reads out. The federal notary law requires an interpreter from the Ministry's Interpreter Register when the notary does not know the signer's language.
Side by side
Which translation paper do you need?
People say "certified translation", "notarized translation" and "legal translation" as if they were one thing. At the court and the notary they are three different papers.
| Paper | Who produces it | What it proves | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal translation | A legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, with their stamp | That a registered translator made the translation | Supporting documents for a court case or a Dubai Courts POA application |
| Notarised translation in the instrument | The translator, then the notary attests the instrument that includes it | That the translation is part of the attested document, signed by the parties | A bilingual POA, affidavit or consent |
| Translation attested for use abroad | The translation, followed by MOFAIC attestation | That the signatures and seals are authentic | A UAE document sent to another country |
For the court file you usually need the first. For a POA or affidavit you need the second. If the receiving body is outside the UAE, add the third step. MOFAIC accepts an original in Arabic or English, or one accompanied by a legally certified translation.
Dubai Courts guides
Also in Dubai Courts guides
Step by step
A bilingual POA, prepared properly
Most POAs we prepare for court matters are bilingual. The work is not just translating; it is making sure both languages give the agent exactly the same powers.
English draft first.
We agree the powers with you, or take them from your lawyer.
Arabic by a registered legal translator.
Legal terms are translated with their UAE legal meaning. "Special power of attorney" becomes a special agency; "revoke" becomes the dismissal of the agent.
Line by line check.
Names against passports, ID numbers against Emirates IDs, dates, amounts, case numbers, and each power.
Your approval of both versions side by side.
Notary booking.
You sign both versions before the notary, who attests the instrument and charges the translation page fee.
A mismatch between the English and the Arabic is not a small thing. The Arabic is the text the notary attests and the court reads. If the English gives a power that the Arabic does not, the agent does not have it. Our page on the special POA for a court case lists the powers that most often go missing.
Translating documents for a court case
For the court file, your lawyer decides which documents to submit. We take the list, have each document translated by a registered legal translator, and return the originals with stamped Arabic translations. Tips that save time:
- Send clear copies of every page, including stamps and handwritten notes. A translator cannot translate what they cannot read.
- Tell us the spelling of names in Arabic if they already appear in an Arabic document, such as a residence visa or a previous judgment. Consistent spelling across the file avoids questions.
- Foreign documents issued abroad usually need their attestation chain completed before translation, so the stamps are translated too.
- If a document is long, ask your lawyer whether a full translation or a translation of the relevant parts is needed.
In short
Government translation services in Dubai, and private translators
Some people look for a government translation office. In practice, legal translation for Dubai Courts and the notary is done by legal translators registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, who work privately. The Ministry keeps the register. The court and the notary do not translate your documents for you.
Fees
Cost
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Legal translation | From AED 50 per page |
| Translation coordination, added to a notary or court document we prepare | From AED 350 |
| Federal fee, notarising a translation included in the instrument | AED 50 per page |
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.
The translator's own charge and the notary's translation fee are two different lines. The first pays for the translation; the second is the government fee for including it in the notarised instrument. Our fees page shows the notary fee for each document type.
How we help
How we help
We look at where the document is going: the notary, the court file, or a foreign authority. From that we decide which translation paper you need, have the translation made by a registered legal translator, and check it against the original ourselves. For bilingual POAs we send both versions for your approval before booking the notary. For a court file we hand the stamped translations to you or your lawyer. You check and sign; the translator certifies the translation, and the notary attests the instrument. Our office is in Business Bay, so legal translation in Business Bay and nearby areas can be collected and returned by courier.
Questions
Questions about translation for the notary and court
Is a notary translation the same as a certified translation?
Not quite. A registered legal translator certifies their translation with their stamp. A notary then attests an instrument that includes the translation. For a POA you normally need both steps; for a court exhibit, the translator's certification is usually enough.
Can I translate my own document for the notary?
No. Dubai law asks for a translation by a certified translator, and the Dubai Courts POA service asks for a Ministry of Justice approved legal translation.
Do I need Arabic if the notary speaks English?
Yes, for the instrument itself. The instrument is in Arabic whatever language the conversation is in. Speaking English at the counter does not change the language of the document.
What if I do not understand Arabic or English?
Tell us when you book. An interpreter from the Ministry's Interpreter Register interprets at the signing, as the federal notary law requires.
How much does notarising a translation cost?
The federal fee is AED 50 per page of the instrument. The translator's charge is separate and starts from AED 50 per page with us.
Can a translated document from Dubai be used abroad?
Yes. It goes to MOFAIC for attestation, and then through whatever step the other country asks for. Because the UAE has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, no apostille is issued here.
Contact
Send your document for translation
Send clear copies and tell us whether the document is for the notary, the court or use abroad. Call or WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935, or email support@notarypublicindubai.com with the files. We reply with the page count and your price. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time). For how the rest of the Dubai Courts notary process works, see our Dubai Courts notary guide.
Sources for this page
- Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai, Article 27: https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2013/Law%20No.%20(4)%20of%202013%20Concerning%20Notaries%20Public%20in%20the%20Emirate%20of%20Dubai.html
- Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession, Articles 5 and 8: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563
- Dubai Courts, Power of Attorneys Ratification service page, translation condition (archived 16 March 2023): https://web.archive.org/web/20230316055912/https://www.dc.gov.ae/PublicServices/GessServiceDetails.aspx?lang=en&ServiceCode=G4
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees, item 11: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491
- MOFAIC attestation service: https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation
- HCCH Apostille Convention status table: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41