With the world being globalized in the sense that exchange of transnational communication has become a way of life, proper and legally acceptable translation is important, more so in a truly internationalized country such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Being that there are more than 200 nationalities living and working in the UAE, professional, certified translation services are not only in demand, but are in fact bound by law in many cases. You may need a certified translation on everything from legal contracts to immigration papers; anything to go through an insurance payout may require a certified translation to ease the process or to tip it over into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Here, we will look into what certified translation actually implies, why it is so significant both legally and practically in the UAE, and in which fields and branches as well as which documents the certified translation is obliged. As an expatriate, business person and as a lawyer, the realization of certified translation in UAE setting will be the cornerstone to compliance and communication.
What is Certified Translation?
Certified translation is a piece of translated work that is checked by a confirmed translator or a translation bureau to see that it is accurate and complete. It normally contains a statement of the translator or the agency, signed, stating that the translation is a true and accurate version of the original text. The word certified translation in UAE has a special legal understanding: it should be executed by a licensed translator (by the Ministry of Justice in UAE).
The certification of the translator is rather a guarantee not only of quality, but also it has a legal basis. A certified translation would be a formal document which is acceptable in the government departments, courts, and embassies among other legal procedures. It is especially relevant in such a regulatory environment as the UAE, where the authorities impose high standards on formal papers.
Another requirement to be met on the translation process that you wish to have certified in the UAE is having a format and a procedure that was laid down by the ministry of Justice. They need to have their language checked thoroughly by examinations and have their name listed. Their stamp or signature onto a document is known by the people and the legal entities in the Emirates. Such a strict control guarantees that certified translations are not only grammatically right but that they are culturally and situationally adequate, as well.
The need of Certified Translation in the UAE
UAE is a diverse-speaking society powered by foreign investments, expatriate working, and international trade. The official language is Arabic and the official dealing with any legal, governmental or administrative procedure often needs files to be presented in Arabic. They are court records, residence certificates, working contracts, patents, and marriage licenses among others. Because such writings are mostly done in different languages (e.g. English, French, Urdu, Russian and German) then certified translation to Arabic would prove to be crucial.
Maintaining the legal authenticity of foreign documents happens to be one of the reasons why certified translation is necessary in the UAE. It is important that the authorities put across the fact that it is the meaning and intent of the original document that has to come out when it is translated. Any minor mistake in translating a sentence in a contract or academic record may entail dramatic legal or professional outcomes. The idea behind using certified translators is to work on them to handle the partial translation of legal, medical, and technical jargons with high standards of precision and accuracy.
Besides, a number of governmental agencies in the UAE, the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Courts of Dubai, and the Department of Economic Development, demand that documents forwarded from abroad are provided in a certified translation. Even the embassies and the consulates represented in the UAE can request the certified translation of some documents when they want to apply to receive a visa, attestation, or legalization.
Certified translation is important in the business world especially in the submission of trade licenses, shareholder agreements, as well as memoranda of association.
It should be submitted to free zones and the mainland registration authorities in documents form, in the Arabic language. Registrations of business and expansion of business without certified translation can be very delayed or in some cases, rejected altogether.
Typical Documents Which Need to be Translated Certified
Approved translation of the UAE covers a large number of personal, legal, academic and business papers. Among the most common of the certified translation requests include:
- Certifying issuance birth and marriage and divorce certificates required during application of visa, residency process and family sponsorship.
- Official diplomas and transcripts are necessary in the context of employment, entering a university and drawing equivalency.
- The legal contracts and the power of attorney- which would need to be notarized and to be considered before the law.
- Visas and immigration papers like passports, police determination certificates and country identification cards.
- Medical records – which may be required when claiming insurance, or getting special treatment.
- Financial and bank records- such as bank statements, investment analysis and tax returns.
In both situations, a translated document should not only follow the meaning word to word but also should conform to the format and structure requirements of the institution receiving the translation. That is why it is important to select the UAE-based company which is known as a reliable organization which provides the certified translation.
How to Select the Suitable Certified Translation Company in UAE
Not all translation companies are suitable to provide such a service in the UAE considering the legal and bureaucratic responsibility that certified translation has gained in the country. Certified translations are only supposed to be accompanied by licensed translators at least permitted by the ministry of justice in UAE. I would recommend checking to ensure that the provider maintains this accreditation before committing to using the services of the provider.
Also, the supplier is expected to be an expert in the field of the document or source or what you want to be translated like a legal, medical, academic, or commercial. It is not sufficient to be conversant with the source and the target language, but one should also know the legal terms, format as well as requirements of submitting documents in the UAE.
Credibility and time span of turn around is also a major factor. It is a common practice that government offices and law firms in UAE work under time constraints and delays in terms of processing documents may occur, therefore, working with a certified translation agency that will assure quick and error-free service may save time. Interview the clients, seek testimony, get samples and make sure that the agency provides revisions or follow-ups should it be required by the government department.
In addition, due to the increased use of digital applications and teleworking, nowadays, most certified translation providers across the UAE provide remote services online. This allows the clients to scan retrieval of documents to be scanned, digital translation to be performed with certified stamps and even be shipped through courier. This access is a critical benefit to expats or the business offices that are laid out between emirates or even overseas.
Conclusion
Certified translation in the UAE is much more than a linguistic service, but rather a form of law, maintaining openness, reliability, and continuity in a personal, professional, and governmental coexistence. Where a country is composed of international talents and international businesses, such skill of properly and formally translating bookings cannot be compromised.
It does not matter whether you are entering the country with the purpose to have a residence visa, begin a new job, study at the university, or open a company, your documents have to be translated and passed by a certified translator who is accepted according to the law. With the UAE still expanding as a business center, learning center, and opportunity hub, the need to have certified translation will be even deeper.
To every person who finds himself immersed in the labyrinthine yet lucrative networks of the Emirates, certified translation in the UAE, applied in the UAE and understood is not some mere protocol of passing one through the unimaginable paths of doing or getting done in the Emirates hence it is an essential pillar towards achieving success.
