If you live in Al Ain and need a power of attorney or another document notarised, the translation question comes down to two things: the language the document is in and where it was issued. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) handles notarisation for Al Ain. Its service manual says a non-Arabic document should be translated by a certified translator, with the translator’s valid licence card attached, and a document issued outside the UAE must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. English documents can sometimes skip translation through ADJD’s English notary route.
Send a photo on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm the requirements and quote in writing before we start.
Send a photo on WhatsAppMost people find this out the slow way: the application is filed, the notary asks for something extra, and the appointment moves. This guide is here so you sort the language side first. If the translation is needed, our legal translation for Al Ain customers is handled by our Abu Dhabi office from scans, so you do not have to drive anywhere.
Who notarises documents for Al Ain residents?
Al Ain is part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, so notary services sit with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department rather than the federal Ministry of Justice or Dubai Courts. ADJD’s service manual describes the notarisation services one by one (general power of attorney, property POA, commercial agency contracts, declarations and more) and lists the website as the channel for many of them.
For the POA services the manual sets out the same broad steps: submit the application and documents online, pay after approval, book an appointment to meet the notary public remotely, and receive the digitally attested document after the meeting. For an Al Ain resident that matters: the notary step itself is usually remote, so the real work is getting the papers right before you submit. We cover the online steps in more detail in our guide to online notarization in Abu Dhabi.
When does a document need translation for an Al Ain notarisation?
Use this as a first check. It reflects the conditions printed in ADJD’s service manual and the English Notary Services Bureau page. Your own case can differ, so read the terms for the exact service you are applying for.
| Your document | Translation needed? | What else to check |
|---|---|---|
| Issued in the UAE, in Arabic | No | Clear, complete copy; names match your Emirates ID |
| Issued in the UAE, in English | Depends on the route. The English notary bureau accepts English documents as they are; the Arabic route expects a certified translation | Whether your service and form are offered in English |
| Issued abroad, in English | Same as above for language | MOFA attestation first, because it was issued outside the UAE |
| Issued abroad, in another language (French, Hindi, Russian, Urdu and so on) | Yes, by a certified translator with the licence card attached | MOFA attestation of the original before translation |
| Supporting papers (title deed, trade licence, court judgment) | Check each one separately | Court judgments must carry the executive wording and be enforceable |
The English notary route: when you may not need a translation
ADJD runs an English Notary Services Bureau with digital notary services. Its page says the bureau accepts English documents as they are, so you no longer need to translate legal documents or attachments into Arabic for that route. It also publishes ready forms, mostly powers of attorney: general POA, POAs for a specific property, for commercial licences, for shares and for cars.
So before you pay for a translation, ask yourself two questions. Is my document in English? Is the service I need one of the bureau’s forms? If both answers are yes, the English route may save you the translation step entirely. We would rather tell you that than translate something nobody asked for.
Where the English route does not fit, for example a contract drafted in another language, a document the receiving party wants in Arabic, or a form the bureau does not offer, you are back on the standard route and the translation condition applies.
What “certified translator with a valid licence card” means in practice
The manual’s wording is short, but it tells you three things. The translation must come from a licensed legal translator, not a friend who speaks both languages. The translator’s licence card has to be attached to the translation. And the card must be valid on the day you submit, so an old translation with an expired card attached can cause a problem.
Legal translators in the UAE are registered with the Ministry of Justice, and you can look a translator up in the MOJ translator search. If you are not sure whether a translation you already have will be accepted, send us a scan and we will tell you honestly.
How to get your file ready, step by step
- List every document the service asks for. The manual starts with your Emirates ID and the document to be notarised, then adds service-specific papers such as a title deed or licence.
- Sort them by language and origin using the table above.
- Attest first, translate second. A document issued abroad needs MOFA attestation. Translate after attestation so the stamps and attestation text are translated too.
- Check names and numbers. Passport spelling, Emirates ID number, plot or licence numbers. One letter off between documents is the most common reason a file comes back.
- Scan clearly. ADJD’s online forms ask for clear, accurate PDF scans, signed on every page where a signature is required.
- Submit and book the remote meeting once everything is ready.
Common mistakes we see from Al Ain customers
- Translating a document from abroad before it is attested, then needing the translation redone so it covers the attestation.
- Paying for an Arabic translation of an English POA that could have gone through the English notary route.
- Attaching a translation without the translator’s licence card, or with a card that has expired.
- Translating only the main page and leaving out stamps, annexes or the back of a certificate.
- Assuming the person being appointed can act straight away. Read the POA terms first; ADJD sets limits such as a maximum validity period for some POAs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to go to Abu Dhabi city to notarise a document from Al Ain?
For many services, no. ADJD lists its website as the channel for its POA services, with a remote meeting with the notary public and a digitally attested result. Check the service page for your document, because a few services may still need you in person. The translation can also be done from scans, so the whole job often happens without a trip.
Can I notarise an English document in Al Ain without translating it?
Often, yes. ADJD’s English Notary Services Bureau says it accepts English documents as they are and publishes English forms, mostly powers of attorney. If your document or service is not covered by that route, the standard condition applies: a non-Arabic document should be translated by a certified translator, with the translator’s valid licence card attached.
My document was issued in India. What is the order of steps?
ADJD’s terms say a document issued outside the UAE must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For many countries this now starts with the UAE mission’s digital attestation in that country, so check the mission page for your country first. Once it is attested, have it translated into Arabic if it is not in Arabic or English, then submit it with your notarisation application.
Will a translation done in Dubai or Sharjah be accepted in Al Ain?
The condition in ADJD’s manual is about the translator: certified, with a valid licence card attached. It does not say the translator must be based in Al Ain. Legal translators are registered with the Ministry of Justice, so you can check a translator’s name in the MOJ search before you submit.
How is the cost of the translation decided?
It depends on the language pair, how many pages and how much text there is, and whether stamps and annexes need translating too. Government fees for the notarisation are paid at cost to ADJD. We confirm the exact fee and our service charge in writing before any work begins.
Do I have to go to Abu Dhabi city to notarise a document from Al Ain?
For many services, no. ADJD lists its website as the channel for its POA services, with a remote meeting with the notary public and a digitally attested result. Check the service page for your document, because a few services may still need you in person. The translation can also be done from scans, so the whole job often happens without a trip.
Can I notarise an English document in Al Ain without translating it?
Often, yes. ADJD’s English Notary Services Bureau says it accepts English documents as they are and publishes English forms, mostly powers of attorney. If your document or service is not covered by that route, the standard condition applies: a non-Arabic document should be translated by a certified translator, with the translator’s valid licence card attached.
My document was issued in India. What is the order of steps?
ADJD’s terms say a document issued outside the UAE must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For many countries this now starts with the UAE mission’s digital attestation in that country, so check the mission page for your country first. Once it is attested, have it translated into Arabic if it is not in Arabic or English, then submit it with your notarisation application.
Will a translation done in Dubai or Sharjah be accepted in Al Ain?
The condition in ADJD’s manual is about the translator: certified, with a valid licence card attached. It does not say the translator must be based in Al Ain. Legal translators are registered with the Ministry of Justice, so you can check a translator’s name in the MOJ search before you submit.
How is the cost of the translation decided?
It depends on the language pair, how many pages and how much text there is, and whether stamps and annexes need translating too. Government fees for the notarisation are paid at cost to ADJD. We confirm the exact fee and our service charge in writing before any work begins.
Where Wordcraft Comes In
We do not notarise documents ourselves; ADJD’s notary does. What we do is get your file ready: our MOJ-licensed legal translators translate the document with the licence card attached, we check names and numbers across your papers, and we tell you whether the English route could save you the translation. If the document was issued abroad, we can arrange the MOFA attestation first. If you also need the notarisation side handled, see our notary public services in Abu Dhabi.
Al Ain customers are served by our Abu Dhabi office in Al Ghaith Tower and on WhatsApp. Free pickup and delivery does not cover Al Ain, so we work from clear scans and tell you early if an original is needed. Need this done? Send your documents on WhatsApp at +971 56 681 3996 or call toll-free 800 9673, and you will usually have a written quote within 10 to 30 minutes in office hours.
Sources read on 13 November 2026: ADJD English Notary Services Bureau and the ADJD notary and attestation service manual.