English to Arabic Translation

This direction applies when an English document has to be submitted to a procedure conducted in Arabic. The destination may be the Gulf states (the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait), the Levant or North Africa. The usual case is an English diploma, employment contract or company document being submitted in Arabic to a Gulf institution. The defining technical issue of this pair is moving a Latin text written from left to right into an Arabic page layout that runs from right to left.

The main users of this direction are people pursuing work and study opportunities in the Gulf, together with companies expanding into the region. The specialist applying for a work permit in the UAE or Saudi Arabia with a British or American diploma, the firm submitting an English employment contract to a Gulf institution, the business entering a tender in the region with English company documents are the typical profiles of this direction. Since most of these countries require the translation to be carried out or certified only by a locally licensed office, the process is set up accordingly from the outset.

Challenges specific to this pair

Because Arabic is written from right to left, the whole page layout, including the placement of tables, forms and seals, is reconstructed; the alignment of the source cannot be preserved. Personal names are carried from the Latin alphabet into Arabic script by transliteration, and the only criterion is the spelling in the person’s passport or visa records. Latin-alphabet abbreviations and proper names are handled in a way that keeps them readable within the Arabic text. Numbers and measurements are set according to the usage of the destination.

The second difficulty is at the level of dates and terminology. For dates the Gregorian calendar is taken as the basis, with the Hijri equivalent given where needed; conversion between the two calendars is done with care. English degree and institution names are not forced onto an Arabic equivalent; the original form is preserved and the recognition decision is left to the authority concerned. English legal concepts are carried into the administrative and legal language of the region by their function. The positions of the seals and signatures on the source document are preserved in the translation with a note.

Third, the expectations of institutions in the Gulf and North Africa as to document format are strict. The translation is usually submitted together with the original document, in a particular order; in company documents the trading name and the names of authorised signatories are conveyed in full. Registry and file numbers are not translated, but the record they belong to is stated. In work and residence files with many documents, the Arabic spelling of the person’s name and the equivalents used for institutions are kept consistent across every document, because even the smallest difference in a name can halt an official procedure.

In the Gulf and North Africa a document usually passes through a multi-layered chain of certification, and the translation is only one link in that chain. In many countries the English original is expected to be certified first by the authorities of the country of issue and then by the foreign ministry or consulate of the destination country; at which stage of these certifications the translation is made varies with the rules of the destination institution and is planned from the outset. How Latin-alphabet proper names, brand names and institution names are to be shown within the Arabic text is a separate typesetting decision: in a text running from right to left, a Latin name is placed without disturbing readability. The form of numerals preferred by the destination institution (Western Arabic or Eastern Arabic numerals) is likewise observed. These details prevent a faultless translation from being sent back for a formal reason. Since the format expectations of institutions in the region are strict, observing these steps from the outset also removes the need to reapply and the loss of time that goes with it. Sharing the destination country and institution with us before you send the document allows us to determine from the start which certification step will be needed and when.

Documents for which this direction is requested

Employment and company files come first; employment contracts, service records, references and company incorporation and activity documents are requested together in Gulf procedures. Next come diplomas and professional qualification certificates, along with birth, marriage and criminal record certificates.

• English diplomas, transcripts and professional qualification certificates
• Employment contracts, service records and references
• Company incorporation, activity and tender documents
• Birth, marriage and criminal record certificates

Chain of certification

Most of the Gulf states require the translation to be carried out or certified only by a locally licensed or accredited translation office; consular legalisation may also be needed. The position of these countries on the apostille has changed in recent years, so it is essential to confirm the certification regime of the destination country and the apostille or consular route from an official source.

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This page is for general information; the exact fee and delivery date become clear once the document is uploaded. The requirements in force on the date of the transaction should be taken as the basis.