# Can I Notarize a Translated Document in the UAE?

Can I notarize a translated document? Yes. A legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice translates it first, then our in-house notary public checks your identity, watches you sign and notarises it. We do this in person, online or on a home visit.

At a glance

- A notary public does not translate. Translation for official use is done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice.
- Translate first, then notarise.
- The office that receives the document decides if it wants the original, the translation, or both notarised.
- For use abroad, MOFAIC attestation and then the embassy come after the notary step, never before.
- We tell you if your document can be done online.

WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935 with a photo of your document.

The catch most people miss is the order. If you notarise first and translate later, the notarised page and the translation are two separate things. Get the translation done, then notarise.

## Can I notarize a translated document? What the notary does

Yes. A notary public can notarise a document that has been translated, as long as the translation comes from the right person and the notary can check the signing. Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by [Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563) on the regulation of the notary profession.

What the notary notarises depends on your document. It might be a signature on the translated text, a declaration that sits with it, or a copy. We tell you which one fits when you send us a photo.

## Who translates: a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice

Translations for official use are done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. A friend, a relative or a free online tool is not enough when an authority asks for a legal translation.

A notary public does not do the translation. The notary checks identity and witnesses the signing. We include a separate certified translation in your file. Read more on our page about [legal translation for notarisation in Dubai](https://dubainotaryservices.com/legal-translation-in-uae/).

## Notarising the translation or the signature on it

When you ask can i notarize a translated document, the next question is what exactly is being notarised. There are three common cases:

| Your situation | What the notary notarises |
| --- | --- |
| You sign a document that is written in Arabic and English | Your signature, after the notary checks your identity |
| You bring a translated declaration | Your signature on the declaration that goes with the translation |
| You bring a translated copy of a document | The copy, where the receiving body accepts it that way |

Do not guess. Ask the office that asked for the document which case it wants. Then tell us, and we draft or prepare the file to match.

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.

## Documents written in a foreign language

Can a notary notarize a document in a foreign language? The notary must understand what is being signed. That is why a document in a language the notary cannot read goes to the legal translator first.

Some examples of what we see:

- A contract or agreement from another country.
- A certificate issued abroad, such as a degree or a marriage certificate.
- A power of attorney drafted in a language other than Arabic or English.

If the document is going abroad, remember that the UAE is not a party to the [Hague Apostille Convention](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41). A foreign document is attested in the issuing country, including at the UAE embassy there, then by MOFAIC in the UAE.

## How we translate and notarise in the right order

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. For a translated document the order is:

Send us a photo of your document and the name of the office that asked for it.

A legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice translates it.

We check the translation against what the receiving office will accept.

Our in-house notary public checks your ID, watches you sign and notarises the document.

For use abroad, MOFAIC attests it, then the destination country's embassy or consulate in the UAE. See the [MOFAIC attestation service](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation).

You can be notarised in person, online or at your home. We tell you if your document can be done online. If you prefer a visit, we come to your home, office, hospital or care home in the UAE, and we quote the visit charge when you book. See our [home visit notary page](https://dubainotaryservices.com/home-visit-notary-dubai/).

## What to bring

- Your original document.
- Your Emirates ID or passport.
- The name of the office that asked for the document, and what it said it needs.
- Any earlier translation, if you already have one.

## Mistakes to avoid

- Notarising first and translating later, which leaves the two out of order.
- Using a translation that is not from a registered legal translator.
- Not checking whether the receiving office wants the translation notarised too.
- Sending a laminated document to MOFAIC, which does not accept it.
- Forgetting that attestation comes after the notary step.

## Prices

| Service | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Legal translation | from AED 50 per page | None listed for the translation itself |
| Notarising a translation in an instrument | Quoted with your document | AED 50 per page |
| Affidavit or declaration | from AED 600 | AED 300 for executing and notarising an affidavit |
| Power of attorney of any type | from AED 1,500 | AED 100 per party for a general or special power of attorney |
| Witnessing of signature | from AED 900 | AED 200 per party to authenticate signatures on an instrument of unspecified value |

How we price

The government fees come from [Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491). A private notary on the federal schedule may add up to 30%.

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.

[Dubai notary public fees](https://dubainotaryservices.com/dubai-notary-public-fees/)

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I notarize a translated document?

Get the translation from a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice, then take the document and your ID to a notary public. We handle both steps: the translation is included in your file, and our in-house notary public notarises it. See [how we work](https://dubainotaryservices.com/our-services/).

### Can a notary notarize a translated document?

Yes. The notary checks your identity, witnesses your signing and applies the notarisation. What exactly is notarised depends on the document and on what the receiving office asks for.

### Can a notary translate a document?

No. Translation for official use is done by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. The notary public's job is to check identity and notarise the act. We include the translation in your file.

### Can a notary notarize a document written in a foreign language?

Not on its own. The notary must understand what is being signed, so the document is translated first by a registered legal translator. Then the notary can notarise it.

### Does a translation need to be certified before notarisation?

When the document is for official use, yes. A certified translation by a registered legal translator comes first, then the notary step. The office that receives the document can tell you if it needs anything more.

### 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.

Phone and WhatsApp

[+971 52 947 5935](tel:+971529475935)

Email

[info@dubainotaryservices.com](mailto:info@dubainotaryservices.com)

Location

Dubai, UAE

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## Send us your document

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. Our address is Dubai, UAE. You can also [message us on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/971529475935).

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