October 06, 2026
Translation Documents for UAE Company Setup
Translation Documents for UAE Company Setup
Translation Documents for UAE Company Setup Setting up a company in the UAE often involves more than choosing a trade name and applying for a licence. If your personal or corporate documents are issued outside the UAE in another language, they may need certified legal translation before they can be accepted by a mainland authority, free zone, notary, or bank.moet.
Cervantes Legal Translation helps business owners prepare accurate, Ministry of Justice-approved translations for company formation across the UAE mainland, free zones, and offshore jurisdictions.
Why Translation Matters
UAE authorities generally work with documents in Arabic and English. Documents issued in other languages—such as French, Russian, German, Spanish, Chinese, or Portuguese—usually require a certified translation before submission.dmcc+1
For mainland company registration, the Arabic version of the Memorandum of Association is commonly the legally recognised version for incorporation, licensing, amendments, and notarisation. A small error in a shareholder name, company title, date, or legal term can create delays, rework, or rejection of an application.
Documents That May Need Translation
The exact requirements depend on whether you are setting up a mainland company, free-zone company, or offshore entity, and on the authority reviewing your file. However, these are the documents most commonly involved in a UAE company setup.moet.
Mainland Company Setup
For a UAE mainland company, translation is particularly important because the Department of Economic Development or equivalent authority, the notary, and other government bodies may require Arabic documentation. The Ministry of Economy lists core formation documents including the application, business plan, shareholder and manager passports, specimen signatures, title deeds where applicable, and financial records when required.
If your MOA is drafted in a language other than Arabic, certified translation should be completed before the notarisation appointment. Corporate shareholders should also prepare their parent company’s incorporation certificate, constitutional documents, board resolution, and any power of attorney early in the process.
Free Zone Company Setup
Free zones often provide flexible company structures and may accept English documentation, but requirements vary by authority. A foreign-language document may still need certified translation, especially when it is used for licensing, corporate shareholder verification, visa processing, or banking.
For example, DMCC states that documents in any language other than English and Arabic must be legally translated into English. Before submitting your file, confirm the current requirements with your chosen free zone, as each authority can apply its own document checklist.
Translation and Attestation
Translation and attestation are related but separate steps. Attestation confirms the authenticity of a foreign document through the relevant authorities, while legal translation converts its content accurately into Arabic or English for official use.
A typical sequence for foreign corporate documents is:
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Obtain the original document or a properly certified copy.
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Complete any required attestation in the issuing country.
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Legalise the document through the UAE embassy, where applicable.
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Complete UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, if required.
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Arrange certified legal translation by an MOJ-licensed translator.
Not every document needs every step. Passports, for example, may not require attestation, while foreign corporate documents used for mainland incorporation often do.
Why Use a Legal Translator
A legal translation is not simply a word-for-word conversion. It requires knowledge of corporate law, commercial terminology, names, legal structures, and the formatting expected by UAE authorities.
Cervantes Legal Translation provides MOJ-approved legal translation services and has offered legal translation in the UAE for more than 15 years. Its company-formation services include translation for company formation kits, MOAs, AOAs, shareholder agreements, trade licences, and commercial contracts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Translating documents only after the authority requests them, which can delay incorporation.
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Using inconsistent spellings of shareholder, manager, or company names across documents.
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Submitting a general translation instead of a certified legal translation.
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Forgetting to translate a parent company’s board resolution or power of attorney.
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Assuming all free zones follow the same document rules.
Get Company Documents Translated
Whether you are forming a new mainland company, registering in a free zone, or expanding an overseas business into the UAE, accurate legal translation helps keep your application moving. Cervantes Legal Translation can assist with certified translations for the documents required during UAE company setup, including corporate, licensing, and shareholder documentation.
Before filing, prepare your passports, corporate shareholder documents, resolutions, powers of attorney, and MOA in advance. This reduces the chance of delays and ensures your company-formation file is complete.
Prices and information mentioned in this article are subject to change.
For the most up-to-date rates, please contact Cervantes directly.
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