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Translation services

Translation services in Dubai

Legal, certified and general translation for documents you need to use in the UAE, handled from our office in Bur Dubai. Tell us where the document is going and we confirm the right type of translation, with a written quote, before any work starts.

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Overview

Which translation do you need?

The right translation depends less on the document itself and more on who will read it. A tenancy contract going to the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) needs a different kind of translation from the same contract shared with a business partner abroad. So the first thing we ask is simple: where is this document going?

In the UAE, translations for official use are handled by legal translators licensed by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). A federal decree-law has governed the translation profession since 2 January 2023, and the court or authority receiving your translation decides whether it meets its requirements. Global Sky PRO prepares your file, arranges the translation through the right route, checks it with you and tells you what the receiving office is likely to ask for.

For everything else, such as a brochure, a website, a supplier email or a letter you simply want to understand, a general translation is usually simpler to arrange. No stamp is needed when no authority is involved, so you are not paying for certification you will never use.

Services

Find the right service

Each page explains who it's for, the documents, the official fees and every step.

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Side by side

Rules depend on your activity, so we confirm the details for your case before you commit.

Legal, certified and general translation compared
At a glanceLegal translationCertified translationGeneral translation
Typical documentsContracts, court papers, powers of attorneyCertificates, licenses, statementsWebsites, brochures, emails
Usually read byCourts, notaries, authoritiesMinistries, embassies, banksCustomers, staff, partners
Translated byMOJ-licensed legal translatorMOJ-licensed legal translatorProfessional translator
Translator's stamp and signatureYesYesNo
Who decides if it is acceptedThe receiving court or authorityThe receiving officeYou
Process

How it works

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Tell us where it's going

    You

    Send a clear scan or photo on WhatsApp, or bring the document to our Bur Dubai office, and name the office, court or person who will receive the translation.

  2. Step 2: Confirm the type and quote

    Global Sky PRO

    We match the document to legal, certified or general translation, flag anything the receiving office may also ask for, and send a written quote with our service fee shown on its own.

  3. Step 3: Translate and check

    Global Sky PRO

    The translation is prepared by the right translator for its purpose. We check names, dates and figures against your original and send you a copy to confirm before it is finalised.

  4. Step 4: Collect and submit

    You

    Collect the finished translation from our office, or receive a digital copy where the receiving office accepts one, then submit it with your application, case or file.

  5. Step 5: The receiving office decides

    Authority

    The court, ministry, embassy or bank decides whether the translation meets its requirements. If it asks for anything further, tell us and we work through it with you.

Getting your documents ready

A good translation starts with a readable source. Faint stamps, cropped edges and handwritten notes slow the work down, because a legal translator has to account for everything on the page, not just the typed text. A few minutes of preparation on your side makes the whole process smoother.

  • Scan every page, including the back if it carries stamps or notes
  • Send the full document rather than extracts, unless the receiving office asked for part of it
  • Tell us how names are spelled in your passport so they match across every document
  • Mention any earlier translation of the same document, so terms stay consistent
  • Ask the receiving office whether it also needs attestation, or let us check for you

Translation and attestation are separate steps

A translation puts a document into another language. Attestation confirms that the original document, or the signature on it, is genuine. Many foreign documents need both before a UAE authority will act on them. Attestation for a foreign document runs through the issuing country's foreign ministry, then the UAE embassy, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so plan for that full attestation chain rather than relying on an apostille. If your document still needs attestation, it often makes sense to finish that first, so the stamps added along the way are included in the translation. Our attestation team can handle that side for you.

FAQs

Translation: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

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An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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Which translation do I need for a UAE authority?

For a court, ministry, police department or other authority, you usually need a translation by a legal translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice. Certificates and personal records for ministries, embassies or banks follow the same official route, which we call certified translation. If no authority is involved, a general translation is enough. The receiving office has the final say, so tell us where the document is going and we check its requirement first.

Who can do legal translation in the UAE?

A legal translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice handles translations meant for official use. The profession is regulated by a federal decree-law that came into force on 2 January 2023. Global Sky PRO arranges your translation through that licensed route and checks it with you, and the court or authority receiving it decides whether it meets its rules.

How long does translation take?

It depends on the length of the document, the language pair, how clear the original is and whether it is a legal text with specialist terms. A single certificate is quicker than a long contract or judgment. We give you a ready date in writing with your quote, before work starts, and tell you straight away if anything could delay it.

Can I send my documents on WhatsApp?

Yes. Send clear scans or photos of every page to +971 55 223 7719 and tell us where the translation will be used. We confirm the type of translation and quote before starting. If a page is hard to read, we ask for a better copy, or for you to bring the original to our office in Fahidi Heights, Bur Dubai.

Is your fee shown separately from government fees?

Yes. Our service fee is quoted in writing before work starts. If your file also needs a government step, such as attestation, that fee is set by the authority, paid at cost and listed on its own line. You can see exactly what goes to us and what goes to the authority before you agree to anything.

How much does document translation cost in Dubai?

There is no government fee for translating a document, so the price is set by the translation provider and depends on the job. The main factors are length, the language pair, whether you need a legal, certified or general translation, and how technical the text is. Global Sky PRO quotes its service fee in writing before work starts. If your document also needs attestation, that fee is set by the authority, paid at cost and shown separately.

Source: UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 regulating the translation profession

How can I check that a translator is registered with the Ministry of Justice?

Check the translation itself: under Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022, a registered translator must put their name, registration number and the translation house's name on the translations they certify or sign. The manager of a translation house must also display its registration certificate and license where clients can see them. If these details are missing, ask before you submit. Global Sky PRO arranges official translations only through translators registered with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

Source: UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 regulating the translation profession

Will a UAE authority accept a translation made in another country?

Usually not, if the translation is for official use in the UAE. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022, a UAE authority may not certify, and a court may not accept, a translated document unless a translator or translation house registered with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) prepared it, and registered translators must work from within the country. Plan to have the attested original translated here. The receiving office has the final say on what it accepts.

Source: UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 regulating the translation profession

Can you translate documents for use outside the UAE?

Yes, but the rules of the country where the document will be used decide what it needs. Some foreign authorities accept a UAE translation by a Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translator, some ask for further attestation and some want the translation made in their own country. Tell us the destination and the receiving office, and we check its current requirement before quoting. If the original also needs UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation, we can arrange that step too.

Source: MOFA: attestation FAQs

How long is a Ministry of Justice translator registration valid?

A translator's registration in the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) list lasts three years and can be renewed, under Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022. The renewal application is due at least 30 days before expiry, and a translator whose registration has expired may not work until it is renewed. Translators also take a legal oath before an appeal court before submitting any work. We arrange official translations through translators whose registration is current.

Source: UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 regulating the translation profession

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Documents for official use are translated by Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translators. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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