The short answer: Dubai Courts work in Arabic, and DIFC Courts work in English. So for a Dubai Courts case you need an Arabic legal translation of every foreign-language document, while for a DIFC case you need English. When a DIFC judgment has to be enforced outside the DIFC, it goes back into Arabic again.
Send a photo on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm the requirements and quote in writing before we start.
Send a photo on WhatsAppThat one difference decides almost everything else: which direction the translation runs, who signs it, and what the court will reject. If you’re not sure which court your matter sits in, ask your lawyer first, then get the translation done. We handle court document translation in Dubai for both courts, and if you’re new to the topic, our overview of legal translation in Dubai is a good place to start.
Dubai Courts vs DIFC Courts: the comparison in one table
Here’s how the two courts compare on the points that matter for translation. Everything in the DIFC column comes from the Rules of the DIFC Courts. The Dubai Courts column follows the UAE civil procedure law, which makes Arabic the official language of the courts.
| Point | Dubai Courts (onshore) | DIFC Courts |
|---|---|---|
| Working language | Arabic | English (Rules of the DIFC Courts, rule 2.2) |
| Documents you file | Arabic, or a legal translation into Arabic | English (rule 2.3) |
| Who translates | A legal translator licensed in the UAE | A translator who can verify the translation; witness statements need a translator’s affidavit (rule 29.38) |
| Typical documents | Contracts, police reports, foreign judgments, personal status papers, evidence | Contracts, witness statements, exhibits, correspondence, foreign-language evidence |
| When the other language comes in | Non-Arabic speakers are heard through an interpreter | Judgments served outside the DIFC in the UAE need an Arabic translation (rule 2.4) |
The table covers the main lines only. Each case has its own directions, and a judge can order something different, so read any order you receive carefully.
What Dubai Courts expect from a translated document
Onshore courts run in Arabic. If your contract is in English, or your evidence is in Hindi, Russian or Tagalog, the court needs an Arabic version prepared by a licensed legal translator. The translation carries the translator’s stamp and signature, and it travels together with a copy of the original.
A few things trip people up:
- Names. Spell every name exactly as it appears on the passport or Emirates ID. If the Arabic spelling on the translation doesn’t match the Emirates ID, expect questions.
- Stamps and handwriting. Seals, stamps and handwritten notes on the original should be translated or described too, not skipped.
- Foreign documents. A document issued abroad may need attestation before the translation is useful. Our guide on whether to translate or attest first walks through the order.
You can check that a translator is licensed on the Ministry of Justice translators page, or read our step-by-step note on how to verify an MOJ legal translator.
What DIFC Courts expect from a translated document
The DIFC Courts flip the picture. Rule 2.2 says all proceedings are conducted in English, and rule 2.3 says documents filed or served under the Rules must be in English. So the Arabic tenancy contract, the Arabic police report or the WhatsApp chat in Malayalam all need English translations before they go in.
Witness statements have their own rules. If a witness isn’t fluent enough in English, rule 29.20 says the statement should be in the witness’s own language with a translation provided. Where the court has directed that such a statement be filed, rule 29.38 asks for the original-language statement to be filed, and for the translator to swear an affidavit verifying the translation and exhibiting both versions. Plan for that affidavit early. It’s an extra document, and it needs the translator’s time.
Not sure whether your matter even belongs in the DIFC? That’s a question for your lawyer, not your translator. Get the answer first, because it decides the language direction.
Translating a foreign judgment for enforcement in Dubai
Say you won a case in India, the UK or the Philippines and the other side has assets in Dubai. The judgment usually needs to be attested in the country that issued it and then legally translated into Arabic before an execution file can be opened onshore. Your lawyer will tell you whether the onshore courts or the DIFC route fits your case.
Translate the complete judgment, including the cover page, the operative part, any certificate that the judgment is final, and every stamp. Partial translations are a common reason for a file coming back. We translate court judgments in full, with the stamp descriptions included.
Taking a DIFC judgment to the onshore courts
This is where the two courts meet. Rule 2.4 of the DIFC Rules says that when a judgment, order or direction is to be served outside the DIFC in the UAE, an Arabic translation has to be lodged. In proceedings on notice, the parties agree the translation and lodge it within 2 days. In proceedings without notice, the party asking for relief provides it.
For enforcement through Dubai Courts, the DIFC Courts’ published protocol with Dubai Courts says the judgment must be translated into Arabic by a legal translator and ratified by the DIFC Courts’ Registry, with a Registry letter to the Dubai Court of First Instance. That protocol dates from 2009, so ask the DIFC Registry to confirm the current steps before you file.
Evidence: chats, emails and screenshots
Most modern disputes include WhatsApp messages, emails and screenshots. Both courts need them in their own working language, and both care about context.
- Export the full chat thread, not cropped screenshots, so dates and senders are visible.
- Mark which messages you rely on. Translating 4,000 messages when the case turns on 30 wastes time.
- Keep voice notes separate. They need transcription first, then translation.
- Keep emojis and slang in context. A good legal translator explains them in brackets rather than dropping them.
- Check each translated page carries the date and sender of every message.
Using a Dubai judgment or court document abroad
Going the other way is common too: a Dubai divorce judgment for a home-country registry, or a court decision a foreign bank wants to see. The usual order is to translate the Arabic document into the language the foreign authority needs, then attest it so the other country recognises the UAE stamps. Our MOFA attestation page explains that step. Requirements differ by country, so check with the receiving authority before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file an English document at Dubai Courts?
Dubai Courts work in Arabic, so a document in English or any other foreign language normally needs a legal translation into Arabic before the court can rely on it. Some specialised tribunals can be allowed to use English under the civil procedure law, so ask your lawyer whether your case falls under one of them before you skip the translation.
Does DIFC Courts accept Arabic documents?
Under the Rules of the DIFC Courts, documents filed or served must be in English. An Arabic contract or report therefore needs an English translation. For witness statements in another language, the translator files an affidavit verifying the translation, with both the original and the translation attached. Your lawyer will confirm what your specific case directions require.
Who can translate documents for Dubai Courts?
Translations for the onshore courts are done by legal translators licensed in the UAE, who stamp and sign each page. You can check a translator on the Ministry of Justice translators page. At Wordcraft, legal translation is carried out by MOJ-licensed legal translators, and we tell you before we start which translator’s stamp your document will carry.
How do I enforce a DIFC judgment outside the DIFC?
The DIFC Rules require an Arabic translation of any judgment served outside the DIFC in the UAE. The published enforcement protocol with Dubai Courts adds Registry ratification and a Registry letter to the Dubai Court of First Instance. The protocol is from 2009, so confirm the current procedure with the DIFC Registry or your lawyer first.
Do WhatsApp chats need a certified translation for court?
If the chats are in a language other than the court’s working language, yes, they need to be translated. Send the exported thread with dates and senders visible, and mark the messages you rely on. Voice notes need transcribing first. Ask your lawyer which messages the court actually needs, so you don’t pay to translate the whole history.
How long does a court translation take?
It depends on the number of pages, the language pair and how readable the copies are. A short contract is quick; a 200-page judgment bundle is not. Tell us your filing deadline when you send the documents, and we’ll confirm what is possible before we start.
Can I file an English document at Dubai Courts?
Dubai Courts work in Arabic, so a document in English or any other foreign language normally needs a legal translation into Arabic before the court can rely on it. Some specialised tribunals can be allowed to use English under the civil procedure law, so ask your lawyer whether your case falls under one of them before you skip the translation.
Does DIFC Courts accept Arabic documents?
Under the Rules of the DIFC Courts, documents filed or served must be in English. An Arabic contract or report therefore needs an English translation. For witness statements in another language, the translator files an affidavit verifying the translation, with both the original and the translation attached. Your lawyer will confirm what your specific case directions require.
Who can translate documents for Dubai Courts?
Translations for the onshore courts are done by legal translators licensed in the UAE, who stamp and sign each page. You can check a translator on the Ministry of Justice translators page. At Wordcraft, legal translation is carried out by MOJ-licensed legal translators, and we tell you before we start which translator’s stamp your document will carry.
How do I enforce a DIFC judgment outside the DIFC?
The DIFC Rules require an Arabic translation of any judgment served outside the DIFC in the UAE. The published enforcement protocol with Dubai Courts adds Registry ratification and a Registry letter to the Dubai Court of First Instance. The protocol is from 2009, so confirm the current procedure with the DIFC Registry or your lawyer first.
Do WhatsApp chats need a certified translation for court?
If the chats are in a language other than the court’s working language, yes, they need to be translated. Send the exported thread with dates and senders visible, and mark the messages you rely on. Voice notes need transcribing first. Ask your lawyer which messages the court actually needs, so you don’t pay to translate the whole history.
How long does a court translation take?
It depends on the number of pages, the language pair and how readable the copies are. A short contract is quick; a 200-page judgment bundle is not. Tell us your filing deadline when you send the documents, and we’ll confirm what is possible before we start.
Where Wordcraft Comes In
We translate contracts, judgments, police reports, witness statements and chat evidence for Dubai Courts (into Arabic) and DIFC Courts (into English), in more than 150 languages. If the document also needs attestation, we arrange that too. Free pickup and delivery of your documents is available in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi and RAK.
Send a clear photo of the documents on WhatsApp at +971 56 681 3996 or call toll-free 800 9673. You’ll get a written quote, and we confirm our service charge in writing before any work begins. Our office is in Al Twar, Dubai.
