It is a situation many UAE residents find themselves in: you have been asked to attend a police station to give a written statement, you have never done that before, and Arabic is not your language. One worry tends to stand out above the rest - the fear of putting a signature on a document you cannot fully read. A common question follows: should you bring along someone who speaks Arabic?
It is a reasonable worry, and it points to a real language need rather than a legal one. This article covers the interpretation side: how an interpreter helps you understand what is said and what you are asked to sign at a UAE police station. It does not cover whether to sign, what your statement should say, or anything about the underlying complaint - those are matters for you and your lawyer.
The Short Answer
If Arabic is not your language and you have been asked to give a written statement, an interpreter helps in two concrete ways: following the spoken exchange with the officer, and understanding the Arabic text of the statement before you sign it. The interpreter’s job is comprehension. The decision to sign, and the legal weight of what you sign, sit with you and your lawyer.
Whether an interpreter is required, and whether you may bring your own, depends on the station and the type of case. That rule varies, so confirm the current position with the authority handling your file. Where a setting requires a sworn or registered interpreter, Arkan confirms the required credential before an assignment is accepted.
Language Help vs Legal Advice in Dubai - Where the Line Sits
This distinction is the whole point, so it is worth being precise about it. An interpreter is a language bridge, not an adviser.
| What an interpreter does | What an interpreter does not do | Who handles that |
|---|---|---|
| Renders the spoken questions and your answers in real time | Tell you how to answer | You, with your lawyer |
| Helps you understand the Arabic statement before you sign | Advise whether to sign or refuse | You, with your lawyer |
| Conveys exactly what is said, in both directions | Comment on the case or your rights | A lawyer |
| Matches the right language pairing to the setting | Confirm a written copy is certified | Document route check |
If you keep that left column in mind, the value of an interpreter is clear: you are never asked to sign something you have not understood in your own language. What the statement should contain, and whether signing is the right step, stay firmly with you and your lawyer.
How It Usually Works in Dubai
- Spoken exchange. The officer asks questions in Arabic. The interpreter renders them in your language, and renders your answers back, as faithfully as possible in both directions.
- The written statement. The statement is typically recorded in Arabic. Before you sign, the interpreter reads it back to you in your language so you know what the text says.
- The signature is yours. The interpreter does not decide for you. Understanding the document is the interpreter’s contribution; the choice to sign is yours, ideally with legal guidance.
- A copy, later. If you obtain a written copy of an Arabic statement or a related document, it can be translated separately as certified written translation - a different service from the live interpretation.
Interpretation Breadth vs Certified Translation in Dubai
These are two services, and it helps to keep them separate.
- Interpretation is the live, spoken language bridge at the station. Arkan provides it across a broad range of language pairs, matched to your language and the Arabic of the proceeding. That range is about interpretation breadth.
- Certified written translation of a document is separate. 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.
So the interpretation roster describes who can interpret for you in the room. It is not a claim that a certified written translation is available in every language pair. If you are unsure which one your situation needs, an interpreter and a translator do different jobs - and a quick document route check sorts out the written side.
Common Mistakes in Dubai
- Assuming the interpreter will advise you. They will not - and should not. They convey language. Legal questions go to a lawyer.
- Assuming you can always bring any interpreter. Some settings require a specific sworn or registered interpreter. Confirm the current rule with the authority first.
- Confusing interpretation with translation. The spoken bridge at the station and a certified written translation of a document are two different services.
- Signing under time pressure without understanding. The reason an interpreter matters at all is so the signature on an Arabic statement is an informed one.
If you have been asked to give a statement and Arabic is not your language, line up the language help early. Arrange a legal interpreter for the setting, and keep any legal questions for your lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an interpreter to give a statement at a UAE police station?
If Arabic is not your language, an interpreter helps you follow the questions and understand the written statement before you sign it. Whether one is required, and whether you may bring your own, varies by station and case - check the current rule with the authority handling your file. Where a setting requires a sworn or registered interpreter, Arkan confirms the required credential before assignment.
What exactly does a police statement interpreter do?
The interpreter renders what is said between you and the officer in real time, and helps you understand the Arabic statement you are asked to sign. The interpreter handles language only. Whether to sign, and the legal weight of the statement, are matters for you and your lawyer - not the interpreter.
Can I bring my own interpreter to the police station?
It varies by station and by the type of case. Some settings allow a private interpreter to attend; others require a specific sworn or registered interpreter. Confirm the current rule with the authority first. Where a sworn or registered interpreter is required, Arkan confirms the credential before the assignment is accepted.
Is a police statement interpreter the same as a court interpreter?
The skill is the same - oral interpretation in a legal setting - but the venue and rules differ. A police statement happens earlier than a hearing, often under time pressure, and the document you sign there can follow the case. A court interpreter works inside a hearing. Arkan supplies interpreters for both.
What languages can Arkan interpret at a police station?
Arkan’s interpretation roster covers a broad range of language pairs, so the pairing is matched to your language and the Arabic of the statement. That range describes live interpreting breadth. Written document certification is separate: Arabic to English is MOJ-certified under License #701, and other pairs are handled through contracted licensed translators.
If my statement is written in Arabic, can Arkan translate it too?
Yes - a written copy of an Arabic statement or related document can be translated separately as certified written translation. Arabic to English is MOJ-certified under License #701; other pairs are issued through contracted licensed translators or company certification. Interpretation at the station and certified translation of a document are two different services.
Next Steps
If a written statement is on the horizon and the language is a barrier, sort the language help before the appointment, not at the door. Arrange a legal and court interpreter matched to your language, and if there is a written document to deal with afterwards, run a free document route check to confirm what certified translation it needs. For the legal questions - whether to sign, what to say, what it means - speak to your lawyer.