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Official Document Translation & Legalisation Map

Interactive index of country-specific requirements for certified translations, sworn translations, apostilles, and consular legalization for official submissions worldwide.

Simple World Map Author: Al MacDonald Editor: Fritz Lekschas License: CC BY-SA 3.0 ID: ISO 3166-1 or "_[a-zA-Z]" if an ISO code is not available

Translation Standard

Sworn Translator
Certified Translation
Notarised Translation
Not mapped yet

United Arab Emirates

Sworn/Licensed translation standard

Requirements Summary

Apostille required
Foreign documents generally require legalisation before translation
Who can translate
Translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice
Accepted languages
Arabic (official language)
Legalization agency
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation (MOFAIC)
Official registry
UAE Ministry of Justice – Licensed Translators
Official guidelines
UAE Ministry of Justice – Licensed Translators
Important: Only translators licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ) may provide official legal translations for use in Dubai and throughout the UAE.
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Detailed Guidelines

Where can I find a translator?

You can search for Ministry of Justice licensed translators using the official registry on the UAE Ministry of Justice website .

Who can translate

In the UAE, legal and official translations must be completed by a translator who holds a valid licence issued by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). These licensed translators are authorised to produce translations for courts, government departments, immigration authorities, free zones, and other official entities.

What makes a translation official

An official translation must include:
  • The translator’s official stamp
  • Licence number issued by the Ministry of Justice
  • The translator’s signature
  • A statement confirming that the translation is accurate
    • Official translations are commonly produced in Arabic, though bilingual Arabic/English versions may be provided depending on the requesting authority.

    Documents from abroad

    Foreign public documents generally require legalisation before translation and official use in the UAE. This usually involves:
  • Authentication in the country of origin (if applicable)
  • Legalisation by the UAE embassy/consulate
  • Final legalisation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation (MOFAIC)
    • After legalisation, the document must be translated by a licensed UAE translator to be accepted by government authorities.

    Notes

    Unlike jurisdictions that accept certified translations from abroad, the UAE typically requires translations to be produced or re-validated by a Ministry of Justice licensed translator for official acceptance.