In the UAE, courts and government bodies accept a legal translation when a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice stamps and signs it. An MOJ-certified translator is that licensed legal translator, so checking the stamp, the signature and the translator's name is how you confirm an MOJ-certified legal translation will be accepted before you reach the counter.
Knowing how to check protects you from a returned file, a second translation and a lost appointment. This guide from Wordcraft's legal translation team covers the UAE terms, what to look for on the page and how to check the translator through the official channels of the Ministry of Justice.
Legal vs Certified vs Sworn: The UAE Terms
Three words are used loosely online. In the UAE they mean different things:
- Legal translation is certified by a legal translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). UAE courts, notaries public, ICP and GDRFA, and most ministries expect this format for official documents.
- Certified translation is a broader term, usually a translation on the translation company's letterhead with a statement of accuracy. Many private bodies, such as some employers, universities abroad or insurers, accept it, but it is not automatically a legal translation.
- Sworn translation is the term many European and Latin American countries use for a court-appointed translator. In the UAE, someone searching for a "sworn translator" almost always needs an MOJ-licensed legal translator.
Our certified translation and sworn translation pages explain when each applies. Not sure what your authority wants? Tell us where the document is going and we will confirm before any work starts.
The Stamp, Signature and Certification Statement
A legal translation is a formal object, not just a text. When you receive one, look for these elements:
- The legal translator's stamp. Each licensed legal translator uses an official stamp that identifies them. It appears on every page, or in whatever way the receiving authority expects.
- The translator's signature beside the stamp.
- A tie to the original. The translation is attached to a copy of the source document, often with stamps across the joined pages, so the two cannot be separated.
- Nothing left out. Every stamp, seal, handwritten note and marginal entry is translated or marked, for example as "illegible" or "signature".
- Consistent names. Personal names, places and document numbers match your passport and the rest of the file.
A translation with only a company logo, no translator stamp and no signature is not a legal translation, however polished the language.
Checking the MOJ Translator Register
The Ministry of Justice licenses legal translators and publishes information about them through its website and digital channels. To check a translator, you can:
- Search the Ministry's official channels for the translator's name exactly as it appears on the stamp
- Confirm that the language pair on your translation is one the translator is licensed for
- Ask the translation office which legal translator certified your document
Search screens change from time to time, so use the Ministry's own website or app rather than third-party lists. Every Wordcraft legal translation is certified by an MOJ-licensed legal translator, and we will name the translator who certified yours if you ask. We do not publish license numbers on our website.
Red Flags That Lead to Rejection
- A very low offer with no word on who will certify the translation
- A translation delivered only as an editable file, without stamp or signature
- Missing pages, untranslated stamps, or a summary in place of a full translation
- Names spelled differently from the passport or Emirates ID
- A translation of a document that was never attested, when the authority needs attestation first
That last point is widely misunderstood. For documents issued abroad, attestation normally comes before the legal translation; our guide Translate or attest first? sets out the order.
When the Translation Will Be Used Abroad
An MOJ-certified legal translation is a UAE format. If the translated document is heading to another country, the destination may apply its own rules: some accept a UAE legal translation after MOFA attestation and embassy legalization, while others want a translator accredited in their system. We confirm the destination's requirement in your quote before you pay. For court files, contracts and judgments, see court judgment translation.
How Wordcraft Handles Legal Translation
Each Wordcraft legal translation leaves our office with the certifying translator's stamp and signature on every page, attached to a copy of your original, and we will tell you who certified it. Before the stamp goes on, a second linguist checks names and numbers against your passport. Your quote, sent within 10–30 minutes, also states which type of translation the receiving authority needs. Read more about legal translation in Dubai.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MOJ-certified translator?
A legal translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice to certify translations for courts, notaries, ministries and other official bodies.
Is a certified translation the same as a legal translation?
Not always. Private bodies may accept a certified translation, but UAE courts, notaries and most ministries require one certified by an MOJ-licensed legal translator.
How can I tell whether my translation is a legal translation?
It carries the legal translator's official stamp and signature, is attached to a copy of the original and translates every stamp and note on it.
Can I check a translator with the Ministry of Justice?
Yes. The Ministry publishes information on licensed legal translators through its official channels; search with the name shown on the stamp.
Is a "sworn translator" in Dubai the same as an MOJ legal translator?
In practice, yes. When a UAE authority or client asks for a sworn translation, they nearly always mean a legal translation certified by an MOJ-licensed legal translator.
Last updated: September 2026
