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Translation vs. Attestation: What Do You Actually Need?
We get this question almost every day: “Do I need translation or attestation?” Or sometimes, “Can you just attest this for me?”
It is super confusing if you are new to Dubai. These are two totally different steps, but they often go hand-in-hand. Let’s break it down so it makes sense.
What is Attestation?
Attestation is about validity. It is a chain of stamps that proves a document is real.
For example, if you have a degree from the UK, the UAE government doesn’t know if it’s real or if you just printed it at home. So, you get a stamp from the UK government saying “Yes, this is real.” Then the UAE Embassy in the UK stamps it saying “We trust the UK government’s stamp.” Finally, MOFA in Dubai stamps it.
That chain of stamps is attestation. It doesn’t change the content of the document; it just proves it is authentic.
What is Translation?
Translation is about language.
Once your document is proven real (attested), the local authorities need to be able to read it. Since the official language here is Arabic, you need to convert the English (or other language) text into Arabic.
So, Which Comes First?
Usually, Attestation comes first.
Why? Because the translator often needs to translate the stamps too! If you translate the document first and then get it stamped, your Arabic translation won’t show those new stamps, and the court might reject it.
The Typical Workflow
- Attestation: Get all your stamps done (Home country -> UAE Embassy -> MOFA).
- Translation: Bring the stamped document to us. We translate the text AND the stamps.
- Submission: You take the final package to Immigration, Labor, or wherever you need to go.
It sounds like a lot of running around, and honestly, it is. But getting the order right saves you from doing it twice. If you are stuck on the attestation part, we can often help guide you on where to go next. Just ask!
