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 before it can be notarised. Your document is translated by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, and our in-house notary public notarises it in person, online or at a home visit, 24/7.
Send clear copies on WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935 and we reply with the page count and your price.
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Three moments when Arabic is needed
- At the notary. The POA, affidavit or consent is notarised in Arabic. If you want English too, both sit side by side and you sign both.
- In the court file. Supporting papers in English or another language usually need an Arabic legal translation, so the judge can read them.
- At the signing. If the document is already in Arabic and English but you read neither well, you need an interpreter. Someone explains aloud, in your language, what the notary reads out.
Side by side
Which translation paper do you need?
"Certified", "notarised" and "legal" translation are three different papers.
| Paper | Who produces it | What it shows | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal translation | A legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, with their stamp | 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 notarises the instrument that includes it | The translation is part of the notarised document, signed by the parties | A bilingual POA, affidavit or consent |
| Translation attested for use abroad | The translation, then MOFAIC attestation | The signatures and seals are authentic | A UAE document sent to another country |
For a 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. MOFAIC accepts an original in Arabic or English, or one with a legally certified translation.
Dubai Courts guides
Also in Dubai Courts guides
Step by step
A bilingual POA, step by step
The Arabic is the text the notary notarises and the court reads. If the English gives a power that the Arabic does not, the agent does not have it. So both languages must say the same thing.
English draft.
We agree the powers with you, or take them from your lawyer.
Arabic by a registered legal translator.
Legal terms carry their UAE legal meaning. A special power of attorney becomes a special agency, and revoke becomes dismissal of the agent.
Line by line check of names against passports, ID numbers against Emirates IDs, and dates, amounts, case numbers and each power.
Your approval of both versions side by side.
Notarisation.
You sign both versions and our in-house notary public notarises the instrument.
Our page on the special POA for a court case lists the powers that most often go missing.
Translating documents for a court case
Your lawyer decides which documents to submit. You send us the list, and each document is translated by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. You get back the originals with stamped Arabic translations. To save time:
- Send clear copies of every page, including stamps and handwritten notes.
- Complete the attestation chain on a foreign document before translation, so the stamps are translated too.
Legal translation for Dubai Courts and the notary is done by registered legal translators who work privately, and the Ministry keeps the register. The court and the notary do not translate your documents for you. If you are looking for legal translation in Business Bay, our office is there.
Fees
Cost
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Legal translation | From AED 50 per page |
| 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 charge and the notary's translation fee are two lines. Our fees page shows the notary fee for each document type.
How we help
How we help
You tell us where the document is going: the notary, the court file or a foreign authority. Your document is translated by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, and we check it against the original line by line. For a bilingual POA we send both versions for your approval, our in-house notary public notarises it, and we hand it to you.
You can sign in person at our Business Bay office, in an online session or at a home visit, 24/7. For the rest of the court process, see our Dubai Courts notary guide. Call or WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935, or email support@notarypublicindubai.com with the files.
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 notarises an instrument that includes it. 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.
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.
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. The UAE has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, so no apostille is issued here.
Contact
Send us your question
Tell us the document, who signs it and where it will be used. We reply with the route, the list of what to bring and your price.
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