Do RERA documents need legal translation? (The short answer)

Yes. If a document is not already in Arabic and it’s going to the DLD, RERA, or the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC), it needs a legal translation. 

Arabic is the official language of the UAE courts and government bodies. This includes every authority operating under the Dubai Land Department.

But RERA itself doesn’t set translation rules independently. RERA operates under the Dubai Land Department. So the language requirements follow DLD policy and the Dubai Courts system for court-bound matters.

On the contrary, not every RERA-related document needs translating. Some standard forms, including the unified tenancy contract, are issued bilingually (in Arabic and English). If your paperwork is in one of these languages, you may not require translation. 

When translation is mandatory

You must get a translation if a document you need to submit to a Dubai authority is in a foreign language. 

Rental disputes at the RDC

The Rental Disputes Centre operates as part of the Dubai Courts system, and Arabic is its working language. If you’re filing a case, the full file needs to be in Arabic. This includes the tenancy contract, correspondence, payment evidence, and any notices. RDC clerks will not register a case if the supporting documents aren’t in Arabic.

Ejari registration

The standard Ejari tenancy contract is issued in Arabic and English. Because of this, most lease registrations don’t need translation. Translation becomes necessary when other supporting documents like addenda, side letters, or non-standard terms and conditions are written in another language. 

Title transfers and property sales

Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) often need certified Arabic translation. The same applies to any supporting document issued abroad, including papers used to prove a change of name or foreign company incorporation documents. The DLD Trustee Centre requires certified translation before it will process the transfer.

Powers of attorney

A POA issued outside the UAE has to go through several legalisation processes before the DLD will accept it. This includes;

• Notarization in the country of origin, 
• Legalization by the UAE Embassy or Consulate there, and 
• Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC). 

Afterwards, the document requires a certified Arabic translation if it wasn’t drafted in Arabic or in a bilingual Arabic-English format. 

RERA broker licensing

Applying for a RERA broker card means submitting documents through the Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI). You’ll need an attested education certificate, typically a high school qualification or higher. If that certificate was issued abroad, it needs attestation from the relevant authority in that country, plus the UAE Embassy and UAE MOFA. If the original certificate isn’t in Arabic or English, you’ll need a certified translation.

Company-owned property

When a company holds the property, the DLD and RERA ask for its trade licence. In some cases, they’ll also ask for its Memorandum of Association (MOA). If either document was issued in a language other than Arabic or English, it needs translation.

When you don’t need translation

Not every scenario requires certified translation. Here’s when it’s not necessary; 

• Bilingual standard forms: The unified Ejari tenancy contract and RERA’s standard brokerage forms (commonly called Form A, Form B, and Form F) are issued in Arabic and English side by side. If your paperwork is in this format, it doesn’t need translation.

• The RERA rental index: The index landlords and tenants use to check permissible rent increases. It is available directly in Arabic on the DLD’s own platforms. So you don’t need to translate if you’re only referencing the index itself.

• Documents already issued in Arabic: If your Emirates ID, trade licence, or existing UAE-issued contract is already in Arabic, you don’t need translation. 

Who must do the translation?

Certified translation (also called legal translation) is a regulated profession in the UAE. Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022, which regulates the translation profession, requires that anyone practising translation commercially be registered on the Ministry of Justice’s official list of translators and translation companies and have a valid licence. 

The MOJ also established a Translators Affairs Committee and a Translators Disciplinary Board to oversee standards and handle complaints.

This matters in practice because a document translated by someone not on the registered list is invalid. Only a translator or translation agency on the official MOJ list can produce a translation that Dubai’s authorities will recognise.

How to check a translator’s licence: A legitimate legal translator will stamp and sign the document with their name, licence number, and seal. If a provider can’t show you their MOJ registration, or the stamp is missing, that’s a red flag. 

LegalTranslator works with a large network of MOJ-certified translators and produces valid legal translations for use in the UAE. Upload your document for a free quote, no commitment required. 

Read this guide to learn more about what a legal translation really is. 

Cost and turnaround of property document translation

The cost of legal translation in the UAE depends on document length, language pair, and how urgently you need it back. However, these are typical market ranges for certified legal translation in Dubai:

The standard turnaround time for legal translation is 24-48 hours. Urgent RDC filings, where a hearing date is already set, are the most time-sensitive request and can be delivered in 24 hours or less. Confirm timelines with the translation agency you choose to work with. 

Common mistakes with RERA document translation

• Translating after the deadline. If your translation is missing from your application, it will be regarded as an incomplete file. RDC clerks won’t register it. 
• Name mismatches across documents. If your name appears differently on your passport, title deed, and Emirates ID, even a correct translation can trigger a rejection. Fix the discrepancy first, or explain with a supporting document, before translation. 
• Skipping attestation before translating a foreign power of attorney (POA). Translation is the last step in the process, not the first. A translated POA that hasn’t undergone notarization, embassy legalization, and MOFAIC attestation will still be rejected at the DLD Trustee Centre.
• Translating evidence selectively. Translate the full exchange or documents, not just the parts that support your case.

Get it translated right the first time

Whether you’re filing a rental dispute, transferring a title, or completing a POA for an overseas sale, the DLD and RDC only accept documents translated by an MOJ-licensed provider. Getting this step wrong costs more money and time than you often don’t have once a hearing date or a transfer deadline is set.

Get your RERA documents translated with LegalTranslator today.