An affidavit rarely arrives on its own. It shows up on a checklist - for a family visa, a court file, a name correction, a financial declaration, or a marriage step - as a line reading “sworn statement, attested and translated into Arabic.” The wording is signed and sworn in one language, and then the UAE authority that needs it wants it in another, carrying proof that it is genuine.
This article covers the document and translation side only: when an affidavit needs a certified Arabic translation, the order it goes in with attestation, and who is licensed to certify it. It is not advice on the affidavit itself. Drafting the statement, deciding whether it says what your matter requires, swearing it before a notary, and judging whether it is legally sufficient are the work of a lawyer, a notary public, and the receiving authority. What follows is only about getting a finished affidavit into a form the authority will accept.
The Short Answer
If your affidavit is in any language other than Arabic, it generally needs a certified legal translation into Arabic before a UAE court, notary, or government office will act on it, because official business here runs in Arabic. An English affidavit is often still translated into Arabic for the same reason, even though English is widely read.
There is a second layer that catches people out: an affidavit sworn outside the UAE almost always needs to be attested before it is translated, so the authority can trust that it is genuine. Translation and attestation are two different steps, they happen in a set order, and getting that order wrong is the most common and most expensive mistake. The rest of this guide is about telling which case you are in.
When You Actually Need a Translation
Rather than translate by reflex, match your situation to the table. If you are not sure which row you are in, a free document route check will confirm it before any work starts.
| Your Affidavit | Where It Is Going | Translation Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Sworn abroad in a non-Arabic language | A UAE court, notary, or authority | Yes - certified Arabic; attestation also applies |
| Drafted in English for a UAE notary | A UAE notary public | Usually yes - the notary acts on the Arabic |
| Sworn in Arabic in the UAE | A UAE authority | Often no for language; may need it if used abroad |
| Any affidavit | A foreign court, embassy, or bank | Varies - check that receiver’s rule |
Who Is Qualified to Certify It
- Arabic to English is MOJ-certified directly under License #701.
- Other major pairs are MOJ-certified through contracted licensed translators, each under their own licence.
- Rare pairs with no MOJ translator in the UAE are issued under Arkan company certification.
An affidavit is translated in full, exactly as sworn. A certified translation reproduces the whole document - the deponent’s declaration, every stated fact, the jurat or oath wording, the date, and any notary or commissioner stamp, seal, and signature - so the Arabic version matches the original line for line. The translator does not reword, soften, or reinterpret what was sworn. You can verify any translator’s MOJ licence by calling the hotline at 800 333333.
Attestation Comes First
For an affidavit sworn outside the UAE, the order matters. The document normally has to be legalised in the country where it was sworn - an apostille for countries in the Apostille Convention, or a full embassy chain otherwise - and then attested up to MOFA attestation in the UAE, before it is translated. The legalisation and attestation stamps go on the original, and the certified Arabic translation is produced from that attested document, so the proof of authenticity is carried into the version the authority files. Our guide on attestation versus apostille in the UAE explains which path your home country falls under.
The Affidavits People Ask About
The same translation and attestation path applies whatever the statement affirms. The common ones we see include:
- Affidavit of support or sponsorship - a promise to maintain a relative or dependant, often needed for a visa file.
- Affidavit of single or marital status - closely related to the single status certificate that marriage authorities request; some countries issue it as a sworn affidavit rather than a certificate.
- Name-change and one-and-the-same-person affidavits - used when a name is spelled differently across documents.
- Financial and income affidavits - sworn statements of means, which often travel alongside a bank statement translation.
- Declarations of relationship or parentage - affirming a family link where a certificate is unavailable.
A sworn statement authorising someone to act for you is a different instrument - a power of attorney, not an affidavit - and it follows its own notarial route; our guide to power of attorney translation covers that document.
Where a Translator’s Job Ends
An affidavit sits close to the legal process, so it is worth being clear about the line. Arkan translates and certifies the finished statement. It does not write the affidavit, tell you what it should say, administer the oath, or notarize it - those steps belong to your lawyer, the notary public, and the authority receiving it. If an appointment to swear or present the affidavit involves someone who does not speak Arabic or English, that calls for a live legal interpreter, which is a spoken service, entirely separate from translating the document. Translating the affidavit and interpreting the appointment are different jobs with different credentials, and this guide is only about the document.
Common Mistakes That Cause Delays
- Translating before attesting. A foreign affidavit translated first, then attested, often has to be redone, because the attestation belongs on the original and must be captured in the Arabic translation. Confirm the order first.
- Assuming an English affidavit needs nothing. Language and authenticity are separate questions, and a UAE authority usually acts on the Arabic regardless. An English affidavit from abroad commonly needs both an Arabic translation and attestation.
- Using a company-stamped translation where a legal one is required. When an authority asks for a certified legal translation, they look for the individual translator’s MOJ stamp, licence number, and signature, not a company stamp alone.
- Translating a draft, then changing the wording. Certify the affidavit only once it is final and sworn; a late edit to the statement means the translation has to be reissued to match.
- Leaving it to the deadline. A fixed hearing or appointment date is a poor time to discover the affidavit needs attestation and translation in sequence. Start with a route check.
Have an affidavit or sworn statement that needs certified translation for a UAE authority? Arkan provides MOJ-certified legal translation under License #701, with a document route check included so you only pay for the steps you actually need. Send the affidavit for a timeline and quote on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an affidavit need to be translated into Arabic in the UAE?
Usually, yes, if it is not already in Arabic. UAE courts, notaries, and government offices operate in Arabic, so an affidavit or sworn statement written in another language generally needs a certified Arabic translation before it is accepted or acted on. An English affidavit is often still translated into Arabic for the same reason, even where English is widely read. Requirements vary by the receiving authority and by the purpose, so confirm the current rule with the office asking for it before you start.
Who can certify an affidavit translation in the UAE?
A translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice. For Arabic to English, Arkan certifies directly under MOJ License #701. Other language pairs are handled by contracted MOJ-licensed translators, each under their own licence, and pairs with no MOJ translator in the UAE are issued under Arkan company certification. UAE authorities that ask for a legal translation look for the individual translator’s MOJ stamp, licence number, and signature, not just a company logo.
Does an affidavit from abroad need attestation as well as translation?
Usually, because it was sworn outside the UAE. A foreign affidavit normally has to be legalised in the country where it was sworn - an apostille for Apostille Convention countries, or a full embassy chain otherwise - and then attested up to MOFA attestation in the UAE, before it is translated. The attestation goes on the original first, then the attested document is translated so the certification is carried into the Arabic version. A document route check confirms whether attestation applies and in what order.
Can Arkan draft or notarize my affidavit, or only translate it?
Arkan translates and certifies the affidavit; it does not draft the wording, administer the oath, or notarize it. Drafting a sworn statement, deciding whether it says what your matter needs, and swearing or notarizing it are the work of a lawyer and a notary public. Once you have the affidavit in final form, Arkan produces the certified Arabic translation the authority will act on. Keeping those roles separate is deliberate: the translator reproduces the document faithfully, and the legal and notarial steps stay with the people licensed for them.
How long does affidavit translation take, and how is it charged?
A standard one or two page affidavit is usually ready within about one business day once we have the final, and where relevant attested, document, and rush service is available when a filing or appointment date is fixed. Pricing depends on the language pair, length, and whether attestation is involved, so it is quoted per document rather than as a fixed price. A route check gives you the scope and timeline before any work begins.
What types of affidavits does certified translation cover?
The same translation and attestation path applies to most sworn statements: affidavits of support or sponsorship, affidavits of single status or marital status, name-change and one-and-the-same-person affidavits, financial and income affidavits, and declarations of relationship or parentage. Whatever the affidavit affirms, a certified translation reproduces it in full without changing the meaning. Which exact affidavit your authority accepts, and what it must say, is a question for that authority and your lawyer, not the translator.
Next Steps
Before you pay to translate anything, confirm two things: whether the authority needs the affidavit in Arabic, and whether an affidavit sworn abroad needs attestation before translation. Our free document route check answers both, or you can send the affidavit straight to us for a timeline and quote on WhatsApp. For the full service, see our certified legal translation page, and if your statement concerns marital status, our guide to single status certificate translation in the UAE covers the certificate that often serves the same purpose.