Key takeaways
- Legal translations for official use are done by translators registered with the Ministry of Justice.
- The UAE government portal lists affidavits and authentications through court notary departments or digital judicial platforms.
- Examples: acknowledgment of parentage, proof of kinship, gift (hiba) and general declarations.
- In Dubai, notary work is done by Dubai Courts' notaries and private notaries on the official roll.
- MOFA attestation is a separate step for foreign or outgoing documents.
What people mean by MOJ attestation
| Request | What it usually means | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| "MOJ-attested translation" | A legal translation for official use, certified by the translator | A translator registered with the MOJ |
| "MOJ attestation of an affidavit" | A declaration authenticated by a notary | Court notary departments or digital judicial platforms |
| "Attest for use abroad" | Usually MOFA attestation, sometimes after notarisation | MOFA |
The Ministry of Justice also runs its own attestation services, so if a request names MOJ specifically, ask which document and stage it means. The answer decides the route.
MOJ-registered legal translation
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022, translation for official use is done by translators registered in the Ministry of Justice's list and licensed by the competent authority, working only in their licensed languages. Courts and many authorities need documents in Arabic or with this kind of translation. See legal translation requirements.
Affidavits and authentications
The UAE government portal (updated 1 October 2026) describes public attestation services that document and confirm people's declarations before official entities, provided through Notary Public Departments in the courts or digital judicial platforms. It lists acknowledgment of parentage, proof of kinship, acknowledgment of gift (hiba), and general attestations such as financial declarations and authorisations.
In Dubai, notary work is regulated by Law No. 4 of 2013 as amended by Law No. 26 of 2021: government notaries at Dubai Courts, private notaries on the roll and the e-notary system. Private notary fees from 2 January 2026 include AED 100 per party registered and AED 100 per signature, plus office and notary fees. In Dubai, notary services are run locally by Dubai Courts and private notaries, not by the federal MOJ.
How it fits with MOFA attestation
A declaration signed in the UAE for use abroad is usually notarised first, then attested by MOFA (AED 150 personal, AED 2,000 commercial). A foreign document for UAE use goes through its home country, the UAE embassy and MOFA, then often needs an MOJ-registered translation. See MOFA attestation guide.
We type affidavits from your instructions, arrange MOJ-registered translations and handle MOFA. Global Sky PRO is not a law firm and doesn't give legal advice. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022, representing clients before the courts is reserved for licensed advocates, apart from limited exceptions for close relatives.
Sources
- UAE government portal: justice e-services and public attestation
- UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 on the translation profession
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. 26 of 2021 amending the notaries law
- Dubai Media Office: private notary fees from 2 January 2026
- MOFA: attestation FAQs
Official sources checked on 7 November 2026. This guide explains published rules in plain English and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we check the current position for your case before you act.