Portuguese legal translation in Dubai turns documents from Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking countries, such as a certidão de nascimento, a certidão de casamento or a contrato social, into Arabic or English that ICP, notaries, courts and free zones accept. Wordcraft's native Portuguese linguists translate, and an MOJ-licensed legal translator certifies every page.
Apostilled in Brazil or Portugal: Why the UAE Asks for More
Brazil and Portugal are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention, so many customers arrive with an apostille already attached. The UAE has not joined that convention. For UAE use, the document still needs legalization that ends at the UAE embassy or consulate responsible for the issuing country, which now completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally. The Portuguese-to-Arabic legal translation comes after that and should include the legalization pages. Our Brazil certificate attestation page covers Brazilian papers, and our apostille services page explains what an apostille does and does not do.
Portuguese Legal Translation in Dubai: Documents by Purpose
| Document | Portuguese name | Typical UAE use |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | certidão de nascimento, often in inteiro teor form | A child's residence visa, school admission |
| Marriage certificate | certidão de casamento | Spouse visa, family sponsorship |
| Articles of association | contrato social (Brazil), pacto social (Portugal) | Company setup, bank account opening |
| Commercial registry extract | certidão da Junta Comercial (Brazil), certidão permanente (Portugal) | Branch or subsidiary registration, bank due diligence |
| Power of attorney | procuração | Property sales, company representation |
| Academic transcript | histórico escolar | Equivalency, professional licensing |
To get a price, scan every page, including the apostille and any online verification code, and send it on WhatsApp. The written quote names the receiving office and the delivery date and reaches you within 10–30 minutes. Investors often pair company papers with our power of attorney translation.
Brazilian and European Portuguese Are Not Interchangeable
A Brazilian sociedade limitada and a Portuguese sociedade por quotas are similar companies described in different legal vocabulary, and civil registry wording differs too. A translator who treats the two as one language produces English or Arabic that reads oddly to a UAE registrar. We assign a translator who knows the issuing country's system, keep its terms, and add a short translator's note where a UAE reader needs context. Partners with papers from Spain or Latin America can use our Spanish legal translation in the same file.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Brazilian certidão has an apostille. Will a UAE office accept it?
Not on the apostille alone. The document still needs UAE legalization through the UAE embassy or consulate for Brazil, and the Arabic translation is done afterwards.
What is an inteiro teor certificate, and do I need one?
It reproduces the whole registry entry, including marginal notes (averbações) such as a later marriage or divorce. When an office needs to see those notes, a short-form certificate is not enough. We translate whichever version you hold.
Can you translate a contrato social for a DET or free zone license?
Yes. Articles of association, amendments, registry extracts and board minutes are translated for the Department of Economy and Tourism, free zone authorities and banks.
How do you write names like da Silva or dos Santos?
Exactly as your passport prints them, including every particle and both surnames, so the translation matches your Emirates ID.
Can you translate UAE documents into Portuguese?
Yes. UAE marriage certificates, trade licenses and court judgments are translated into Portuguese for authorities in Brazil, Portugal, Angola or Mozambique.
Last updated: September 2026
