Arabic Legal Translation of Malaysian Documents for the UAE
Short answer: under Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022, no UAE authority may authenticate or certify, and no court may accept, a translated document unless it was made by a translator or translation house on the Ministry of Justice's list, and listed translators practise from inside the UAE. So an Arabic legal translation for UAE courts and authorities is made in the UAE. Many steps, though, accept English: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attests "The original document in Arabic or English".
What we do: translate Malay documents into English in Malaysia, so Wisma Putra and the UAE can attest them, and prepare clean, attested documents for the UAE legal translator. Send your document on WhatsApp.
Last reviewed: October 2026. For attestation, see attesting Malaysian documents for the UAE.
When you need an Arabic legal translation
Courts: a translation by a translator on the Ministry of Justice list. Courts may use unlisted sworn translators only when needed.
Family residence visas: "an attested marriage certificate in Arabic or duly translated into Arabic by a certified translator."
Any authority that certifies or authenticates a translated document: the translation must come from a listed translator or translation house.
When English is enough
Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation: originals in Arabic or English are accepted.
Degree recognition by the Ministry of Higher Education: a legal translation is needed only if the documents are not in Arabic or English.
Dubai Healthcare City licensing: "All information must be in English or Arabic."
Documents in Malay
JPN certificates, Malay transcripts and other Malay documents should be translated into English in Malaysia by a translator Wisma Putra accepts, so the translation is attested with the original (see who can certify a translation). If a UAE authority then needs Arabic, a UAE-licensed legal translator works from the attested English.
Translate before or after attestation?
UAE authorities do not say. In practice: translate Malay into English before Wisma Putra, and have any Arabic legal translation made in the UAE after attestation, so it covers every stamp.
Common questions
Can a translator in Malaysia make the Arabic translation for a UAE court?
No. UAE law requires a translator on the Ministry of Justice list, practising in the UAE.
Does my English degree need Arabic for the UAE?
Not for attestation or for degree recognition. Some employers or authorities may still ask for Arabic.
Does my marriage certificate need Arabic for a family visa?
Yes. The visa rules ask for an attested marriage certificate in Arabic or translated into Arabic by a certified translator.
Related guides
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