Frequently asked questions about legal translation, attestation and announcements
Clear answers to the questions we hear most often about MOJ-certified translation, document attestation and newspaper announcements in the UAE. Can’t find yours? Message us and a real person will reply.
- MOJ-certified translators
- Operating since 2019
- Straight answers, no jargon
Which service do I need?
Most people arrive with a document and one question: what has to happen to it before it is accepted? This quick guide answers that.
- Your document is in another language and will go to a UAE court, ministry or free zoneYou will almost always need a certified legal translation into Arabic. See our legal translation page.
- Your document was issued abroad and will be used in the UAEIt usually needs attestation, often followed by a certified Arabic translation. See document attestation.
- Your UAE document will be used in another countryIt usually needs attestation for that destination and sometimes translation into that country’s language.
- You lost a document, changed your name or are closing or changing a companyA public notice may be required. See newspaper announcements.
- You are not sureSend us the document with where it will be used. We will tell you honestly what applies, even if the answer is that you need less than you expected.
About TAHQEEQ
What is TAHQEEQ?
TAHQEEQ is a private legal documentation service in the UAE. We offer three services: MOJ-certified legal translation, document attestation and newspaper announcements. We have been operating since 2019 and focus on these three services so that we can do each of them properly.
Are you a law firm?
No. We are a documentation service, not a law firm, and we do not give legal advice. We prepare, translate, attest and announce documents. If you need advice on your legal position, please speak to a lawyer licensed in the UAE.
Which services do you offer?
We offer legal translation, document attestation and newspaper announcements. Many files need more than one of these, for example an attested foreign certificate followed by a certified Arabic translation, so we handle them together to avoid gaps between steps.
Who uses your services?
Our clients include individuals and families dealing with visas, marriage, birth and inheritance documents, companies setting up or changing their structure, and law firms and PROs who need reliable translation of court files and evidence.
How do I get started?
Send a clear photo or scan of your document on WhatsApp to +971 58 685 7580, or use our contact page. Tell us who will receive the document and by when. We will reply with the service needed, the steps and the cost before any work begins.
Certified legal translation
What does MOJ-certified legal translation mean?
It means the translation is prepared under the UAE Ministry of Justice framework by a licensed legal translator. Our certified translations carry the translator's licence number on the stamp, the translator's handwritten signature and a certification statement confirming that the translation is accurate and complete.
Why do UAE courts require certified translation?
Arabic is the official language of the state under the UAE Constitution. The Civil Procedure Law, Federal Decree Law No. 42 of 2022, provides that court proceedings are conducted in Arabic and that foreign-language documents must be translated into Arabic by a certified legal translator to be accepted by the court.
Which documents do you translate?
We translate contracts, court judgments and orders, affidavits, powers of attorney, company documents such as MOA and AOA, shareholder agreements, employment and lease agreements, certificates, visa and immigration papers, police clearance certificates, medical reports, wills and notices. Our website has a page for each document type.
Which languages do you cover?
We translate between Arabic and English and between those and Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Urdu. Tell us the language of your document and the language the receiving authority needs, and we will confirm the best route.
Can you translate WhatsApp chats, emails and screenshots for court?
Yes. We translate this kind of evidence, keeping senders, dates and the order of messages clear. It is especially useful for Rental Dispute Centre cases, where tenancy contracts, cheques, bank statements, emails and screenshots are often submitted together.
Is a certified translation different from an ordinary translation?
Yes. An ordinary translation has no accountable translator behind it. A certified legal translation is signed and stamped by a licensed translator who confirms its accuracy in writing. Authorities and courts rely on that accountability, which is why they usually do not accept uncertified translations.
Will the translation look like the original?
We keep the structure of the original so that a reader can compare the two side by side. Stamps, seals, handwritten notes and tables are described and placed clearly. If something in the original is illegible, we flag it instead of guessing.
Document attestation
What is document attestation?
Attestation is the process by which an authority confirms that the signature, seal or issuing body on a document is genuine. It is what allows a ministry, court, bank, embassy or employer to accept a document that was issued elsewhere or by a private party.
Which authorities are involved in attestation?
It depends on the document. The route may involve the issuing body, a notary or the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy of the relevant country and, for some documents, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health or the Chamber of Commerce. We map the exact route for your case before starting.
Does the UAE accept an apostille?
The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is generally not enough for a foreign document to be used in the UAE. Foreign documents usually go through a legalisation chain that ends with UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation. Requirements can change, so we confirm the current route for your document.
Can you attest UAE documents for use abroad?
Yes. The steps depend on the destination country and the type of document. We confirm what the receiving country requires, then handle the steps in the correct order. Translation into the destination language is often needed alongside attestation.
Do I need translation and attestation both?
Often, yes. A foreign document used in a UAE court usually needs attestation and a certified Arabic translation. A UAE document going abroad may need attestation and translation into another language. Send us the document and the purpose, and we will tell you which apply.
What happens if the attestation steps are done in the wrong order?
The document can be rejected, often after fees have been paid and days have passed. This is the most common avoidable problem we see, and it is why we confirm the sequence before starting any step.
Public notices
What is a newspaper announcement?
It is a public notice published in a newspaper. Some legal and administrative steps in the UAE require one, and authorities and courts may use it as evidence that the public, or a possible claimant, had the chance to respond.
What kinds of announcements do you handle?
We handle notices for lost documents such as a passport, Emirates ID, trade licence or cheque book, name changes, company matters such as liquidation, change of ownership or change of name, and legal notices such as cancellation of a power of attorney.
In which language can the notice be published?
Notices can be prepared in Arabic, English or both, depending on what the receiving authority or court requires. We check this with you before publishing.
What do I need to provide for an announcement?
We need a copy of the relevant document or ID, the details to be published and the purpose of the notice. We prepare the wording, confirm it with you and then arrange publication.
Will I receive proof of publication?
Yes. We give you the published copy as proof, in the form the receiving authority needs. Publication timing depends on the newspaper's schedule, which we confirm when we quote.
Pricing, timelines and delivery
How much does it cost?
The cost depends on the service, the document, the languages and how complex the work is. We review your document first and confirm the cost before any work begins, so you can decide with the full picture.
How long will it take?
Simple translations can be quick, while attestation depends on the authorities involved and newspaper notices depend on the publication schedule. We give you a realistic timeline when we review your file instead of a figure that cannot be kept. Tell us your deadline when you contact us.
Do you offer free delivery?
Free delivery is not a standard part of our service. Hard copies can be sent by courier on request, or you can collect them from us. Soft copies are provided first.
Can I collect my documents in person?
Yes. Hard copies can be collected on request. Contact us to arrange a time.
Your documents
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Your documents are used only to complete your request and are not shared beyond what the work itself requires. For more detail, see our Privacy Policy.
What should I send so you can quote accurately?
Send a clear photo or scan of every page, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes. Tell us who will receive the document, the languages involved and any deadline. The clearer the original, the more accurate and faster the result.
What if I find a mistake in my translation?
Tell us as soon as you notice it. If a delivered document does not match your original, we will correct it promptly and take responsibility for our error. Please check names, numbers and dates in your final copy.
Will an authority definitely accept my document?
We cannot guarantee acceptance, because the decision belongs to the receiving authority. What we can do is prepare your document to the standard authorities look for, and confirm requirements for your specific case before we begin.
What a finished, certified translation includes
When people ask what they are paying for, the honest answer is accountability. A certified legal translation is not just a change of language. It is a document that a named, licensed translator has verified and signed, so that the person reading it can rely on it.
Every certified translation we issue includes the elements authorities look for. The translator’s licence number appears on the stamp. The translator signs by hand. A certification statement confirms that the translation is a true and complete rendering of the original. The layout follows the original closely, so a judge, registrar or immigration officer can compare the two without effort.
- Licensed translator’s stampShowing the Ministry of Justice licence number.
- Handwritten signatureFrom the translator who carried out the work.
- Certification statementConfirming accuracy and completeness.
- Faithful structureHeadings, tables, stamps and notes placed to match the original.
- Soft copy firstWith hard copies by courier or collection on request.
Browse the full list of document types and languages we cover, or read more about how we work.
Questions that depend on your situation
The right answer often depends on why you need the document. These are the situations we are asked about most.
I am filing a case
Court and Rental Dispute Centre files must be in Arabic, and foreign-language exhibits need certified translation. Tenancy contracts, cheques, bank statements, emails and screenshots can all be translated and arranged in a clear order. Tell us your hearing date at the start so that we can plan the work around it, and send every page of every exhibit, including the reverse sides, so that nothing has to be requested later.
I am setting up or changing a company
Registration bodies and free zones usually need company documents, shareholder agreements and powers of attorney in Arabic, and foreign documents may need attestation first. Ownership, name or activity changes may also require a published notice.
I am applying for a visa or residency
Birth, marriage and police clearance certificates often need attestation and translation, and details must match your passport exactly. Check the spelling of names before you send documents to us.
I lost an important document
A lost passport, Emirates ID, licence or cheque book may require a newspaper announcement as part of replacing it. We prepare the notice, publish it and give you the published copy as proof.
Common mistakes that get documents rejected
These are the problems we see most often. Knowing them in advance can save you a second trip, a second fee and a missed deadline.
Uncertified translation
A translation by a friend, an online tool or a general shop is not accepted by courts and most authorities. Certification by a licensed legal translator is what gives a translation official standing.
Wrong order of attestation
Each authority in the chain confirms the one before it. If a step is skipped or done out of sequence, the document is returned and the process starts again.
Name and number mismatches
Different spellings of the same name across a passport, certificate and contract cause rejections. Tell us which spelling the receiving authority uses so we can keep it consistent.
Unclear scans
Cropped pages, glare, faded stamps and missing back pages slow everything down. Send every page, including reverse sides, in good light.
Assuming one rule fits all
Courts, immigration offices, free zones and embassies each have their own habits. What one accepts, another may not. Always tell us who the receiving authority is.
Leaving it to the last day
Attestation and newspaper publication depend on third parties. If you have a hearing or deadline, tell us at the start so we can plan around it.
Still have a question?
Send us your document or your question. We will tell you what is needed before you commit to anything.
TAHQEEQ is a private legal translation and documentation service. See our legal services, About page, Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.