The first time I had come to Dubai this year after being in Munich, one of my biggest to-do-list items was to convert my German driving license. I heard that the UAE can permit some nationalities to change their licenses to the UAE without having to pass a comprehensive test on driving, but it was not that easy by just walking into any office and exchanging it. Of all the procedures that needed to be followed, one of the most important ones was translation of my German driving license into Arabic, and importantly it had to be a legal translation, which was approved by the UAE Ministry of Justice.
Honestly speaking, I had no idea about where to start. I have lived in another country previously, both in the UK and briefly in Singapore, but the bureaucracy in the UAE can be so exasperating at first sight (and this is more so, when one is new to the place and attempts to figure out how to go about visa procedures, health insurance and traffic regulations, etc.). I used the internet to search certified legal translation jobs in Dubai and Resala legal translation was among the agencies I found. The name appeared a couple of times on various forums and messenger groups dedicated to the expats and license conversions and document legalization.
What impressed me first with Resala was the fact that they looked so much specialized in providing legal translation of documents to be used officially, i.e. they specifically translate driving licenses, marriage statements, medical records and power of attorney documents and not just any kind of general document translation. The process was well explained on their website and that they were approved by the Ministry of Justice, something I really needed.
Therefore, I lit up the phone.
The first contact relieved me. I called one of their representatives, who did not even need a long explanation about what I needed, we did not have to make back and forth. I had clarified that I had an EU driving license issued in Germany and required to have the license translated to Arabic, certified and been in position to hand it over to RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) in Dubai. I also explained to them that I had a very limited schedule to work with because my appointment at converting the license was scheduled only in a couple of days and I did not want to miss the appointment or have to reschedule.
They requested me to send an email with a scanned copy of the front and back of the license, and a copy of my passport to be able to receive translation requests faster. In less than two hours I was informed that my document was undergoing the process of translation and would be prepared the following day with a MOJ certification and other legal stamping processes.
As promised, I was emailed the copy of the document in its translated form so I could go through it as soon as possible, and the next day I could come pick up a stamped piece of paper. It had the appearance of such a high professional level that everything was translated clearly, the formatting observed the pattern of the original license, the seal of certification was clearly readable, a translator ID was presented, an official seal.
The thing that impressed me was its convenience and stress-free simplicity of the entire process. I have experience with document translation in other countries, and as a rule, there is the removal of misunderstandings, checking names, or even disagreements with the timeline. But Resala did the whole work and did not make a single mistake, did not delay it, and did not make me call a single time. This process did not take more than 24 hours. I felt confident when I visited my RTA appointment and presented a complete and compliant file.
At RTA, there was not a problem as the document was accepted. No questions, no refusal, no such things as bringing this back because you did such and such. I handed over the translation to the other paperwork that I had – my Emirates ID, eye test, and the copy of my passport and the staff stamped it, complete. Later in several days, I was given my UAE driving license.
In my case, Resala gave more than a translation, they brought pieces of mind. Whenever you are a foreigner in a nation, even the most trivial activity within the administration system would easily rise to become a source of significant stress, more so when there is some legal document involved. The presence of a reliable, responsive and effective partner seems to be everything. Their customer service was transparent as well as courteous, their turnaround time was very quick, and there was truly nothing wrong with the quality of their work.
I must also add that their prices were quite reasonable. I did not know exactly whether the rush fee was high or whether they would add an amount as an extra means of certification but the final bill was very fair considering the speed that the service was available. They also promised to get the document through courier service in case I failed to pick it up, which I found nice.
Suppose you are a person coming either from Germany, Austria, Switzerland or any other country where people speak German, then you are intending to convert your license in Dubai, then I would highly recommend you to visit Resala. It goes smoothly, it is transparent and you know that they do it hundreds of times. RTA requirements are their second nature and they are accustomed to working on tight deadlines, which are especially needed when a client is struggling to finish the legal formalities when work, travelling, or family issues are about to demand attention.
Resala is a breath of fresh air in a city where you can never tell what to expect with regards to services, and where most enterprises create expectations most of which they fail to live up to. They are not flash adverts, they do not boast, they simply do the job in a low key, very fast and accurately.
Without them, I would still be having my UAE license and the whole process, which included translation and submission, took me less than one week.
So, assuming that you are in a similar position of being a newcomer in Dubai, glaring at your German license, and seriously thinking of how the heck you are to have it translated, certified and approved by the authorities, just reach out to Resala and leave the worry to them. You will be glad you did it.
– Felix W.
German Expat, Now Driving in Dubai with Peace of Mind
