Guide: Translation
Certificate Translation Dubai: Birth, Marriage and Degree Certificates
Certificate translation Dubai starts with the right translator. Your birth, marriage or degree certificate is translated by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. Our in-house notary public then notarises the translation, in person, online or on a home visit. If the certificate must go abroad, attestation comes after that.
WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935 with a photo of your certificate and we will tell you the route.
When Certificate Translation Dubai Offices Ask For Is Needed
A certificate needs translating when the office reading it cannot accept the language it is written in. Typical cases are a birth certificate for a child’s visa or school file, a marriage certificate for a family visa, and a degree certificate for a job or equivalency file.
The receiving body decides. It may want Arabic, English or both. Ask it in writing, and send us its answer with your document. We do not guess which language a body will accept.
Side by side
Arabic or English: Which Way the Translation Goes
The direction follows the receiving office, not the certificate.
| Your certificate is in | Often needed for | Direction to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| English | A UAE office that asks for Arabic | English to Arabic |
| Arabic | A foreign office or embassy | Arabic to English |
| Another language | A UAE or foreign office | Into the language that office names |
Confirm the direction before the translator starts. A translation in the wrong language costs you a second translation.
Translation by a Legal Translator
Translations for official use are done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. We have your certificate translated by that kind of translator. A plain translation from a friend or an online tool is not the same thing.
For how the translation step fits before the notary, read legal translation for notarisation in Dubai. For the Ministry of Justice route, see MOJ certified translation in Dubai.
Send us your document
Send a photo of your document and the name of the office that asked for it. We reply with the route and a written quote.
Step by step
Translation, Notarisation and Attestation in Order
The order matters. A step done early or out of order can be refused later.
01
A legal translator translates the certificate.
02
Our in-house notary public checks your identity, watches you sign and notarises the translated document.
03
If the certificate is going abroad, MOFAIC attests it, then the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE.
For a certificate issued in the UAE, the issuing entity attests it first. For example, a birth certificate is attested by the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the local health authority, then by MOFAIC. See the MOFAIC FAQs.
For a foreign certificate coming into the UAE, it is attested in the issuing country, including at the UAE embassy there, then by MOFAIC in the UAE. See the MOFAIC attestation page.
Notarised in person, online or at your home: we come to your home, office, hospital or care home in the UAE. Our home visit charge is quoted when you book.
Checklist
What to Bring
- The original certificate.
- Your passport or Emirates ID.
- The name of the office that asked for the translation.
- That office’s written instructions on language, if it gave any.
- Any earlier attestation stamps on the certificate.
Watch for
Mistakes to Avoid
- Translating before you know which language the receiving office wants.
- Using an unregistered translator for an official file.
- Attesting before the notary step.
- Assuming a translation done abroad will be accepted in Dubai without checking.
- Laminating the original.
How We Help
We draft your document, our in-house notary public notarises it, and we take it through MOFA and the embassy when it has to be used abroad. We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit notary services, in Dubai and across the UAE.
For related certificates, see birth certificate attestation in Dubai, marriage certificate attestation for a UAE family visa and educational certificate attestation in Dubai.
Prices
Prices for Certificate Translation Dubai
| Service | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Legal translation | From AED 50 per page | None |
| Notarising the translation | Quoted when you send the document | AED 50 per page on the federal schedule, Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 |
| MOFA attestation handling, personal document | From AED 150 | AED 150 MOFAIC fee |
| Degree or marriage certificate attestation, MOFA stage | From AED 150 | Paid at cost |
| Courier pickup and delivery | From AED 80 | None |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my certificate translated into Arabic in Dubai?
It depends on the office that will read it. Some ask for Arabic, some accept English. Ask that office, then send us its answer.
What is certified translation in Dubai?
It is a translation by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, made for official use. It is different from a translation anyone can make. Read about the MOJ route.
Does a translated certificate need to be notarised?
Often yes, when it is going to an official body. The receiving office decides. If it asks for notarisation, our in-house notary public notarises the translated document. See can I notarise a translated document.
Is a translation done abroad accepted in Dubai?
Not automatically. The receiving office decides whether it accepts a translation made elsewhere. Send us the translation and the office’s requirements, and we will tell you if it can be used or needs redoing.
Can I do the notary step online?
We tell you if your document can be done online. Send us a photo of it and the name of the office that asked for it.
Guides
More guides
Certificates
Degree equivalency
An MOE equivalency certificate in UAE is the name many people use for an official decision on what a foreign qualification is equal to in the UAE system.
Notary and MOFA
MOFA verification
MOFA attestation verification is the check an employer, school, bank or government office makes to confirm that the MOFA attestation on a document is real and belongs to.
Next Step
Call or WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935, or email info@dubainotaryservices.com, with a photo of your document and the name of the office that asked for it. We reply with the route and a written quote. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.