Death certificate translation in Dubai is usually needed within days, when a consulate, airline, employer or bank asks for the certificate in a language the family can read. Wordcraft translates UAE death certificates into English or the home-country language, and foreign death certificates into Arabic, as MOJ-certified legal translations, and can arrange MOFA attestation when the destination asks for it.
Mention in your first message if the translation is for repatriation or a funeral; the quote, sent within 10–30 minutes, will state the earliest delivery we can commit to. Nobody needs to visit an office. A phone photo of the certificate is enough to begin, the translation is emailed, and a stamped copy can be sent to the family's address anywhere in the UAE at no charge.
Death Certificate Translation: Which Direction and Which Extra Step
The same certificate can need different handling depending on where it goes:
| Purpose | Translation | Extra step usually involved |
|---|---|---|
| Repatriation or use in the home country | Arabic into English or the home-country language | UAE MOFA attestation if the consulate or home authority asks; sometimes the destination embassy too |
| Inheritance case in a UAE court after a death abroad | Foreign language into Arabic | Authentication in the issuing country and legalization by the UAE Embassy there (MOFA included) |
| Life or medical insurance claim | Usually into English | Depends on the insurer |
| Closing the deceased's bank accounts in the UAE | Into Arabic where documents are foreign | Banks usually act on court documents |
Repatriation: When the Home Country Needs the UAE Certificate
When a person dies in the UAE, the death is registered and a death certificate is issued by the health authorities, often in Arabic. The family, the employer and the home country's embassy or consulate then arrange repatriation or a local burial. Along the way, several documents may need translating:
- The UAE death certificate, into English or the home-country language
- Hospital or medical reports and, where relevant, police reports
- Letters and clearances issued for the repatriation
- Documents required by the airline, the funeral service or the authorities at home
Each consulate sets its own rules. Some accept the Arabic certificate with an English translation; others want it attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs before it can be used at home. Our death certificate attestation team can arrange that MOFA step while the translation is being prepared.
Inheritance, Banks and Insurance
After the first weeks, the death certificate is needed again for practical and legal matters:
- Inheritance cases in the UAE courts, where heirs are established and the estate is distributed. Wills, heirship documents and foreign family documents in other languages need an Arabic legal translation. Registered wills and related notarial documents are covered on our wills and agreements page.
- Bank accounts held by the deceased, which banks usually handle according to court documents.
- Insurance claims, including life and medical cover, where insurers ask for the certificate and medical reports in English.
- End-of-service benefits and outstanding salary, claimed from the employer.
- Family residence visas sponsored by the deceased, which need to be canceled or transferred to a new sponsor.
Court judgments and orders issued during these cases can be translated for relatives abroad; see court judgment translation.
Foreign Death Certificates for Use in the UAE
When a relative dies abroad but the estate, a bank account, an insurance policy or a residence file is in the UAE, the foreign certificate first goes through the issuing country's authentication and then legalization at the UAE Embassy there, which now adds the UAE MOFA attestation digitally in the same step. Only then is it translated into Arabic by an MOJ-licensed legal translator. An apostille on the certificate does not replace the embassy legalization, since the UAE has not joined the Apostille Convention. The route for the issuing country is set out in your quote.
What to Send, and What Happens After You Do
- Photograph the certificate front and back, stamps included, with the deceased's passport so the name is spelled the way the consulate expects.
- Say where it is going, whether a consulate, a UAE court, a bank or an insurer, and whether the family is working to a flight or funeral date. Any medical or police reports you were asked for can come in the same message.
- Approve the quote. A legal translator prepares the translation, a second linguist compares names, dates and the cause-of-death wording with the original, and an MOJ-licensed legal translator stamps and signs it.
- Receive it by email or WhatsApp. If a consulate needs to see the original certificate, we can pick it up and bring it back at no cost.
Other certificates we handle are listed on our document translation services page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you translate a UAE death certificate into English for repatriation?
Yes. It is translated into English or the home-country language as an MOJ-certified legal translation, and MOFA attestation can be added if the consulate asks for it.
Does the consulate need the certificate attested as well as translated?
That depends on the country. Some consulates take the Arabic certificate with a translation; others want UAE MOFA attestation first. We tell you what we know for your country in the quote.
A relative died abroad. Can the foreign death certificate be used in a UAE inheritance case?
Yes, once it has been authenticated in the issuing country, legalized by the UAE Embassy there and translated into Arabic by a legal translator.
Does the family have to visit an office?
No. Photos sent by WhatsApp are enough to start, and the stamped translation is delivered to any address in the UAE without charge.
How fast can a death certificate be translated?
A single certificate is short work, and same-day delivery is often possible. Tell us the flight or funeral date and the quote will confirm the delivery time.
Last updated: September 2026
