Is a mainland commercial license in Arabic or English?

Mainland commercial licenses issued by DED (Department of Economy and Tourism) in Dubai and equivalent authorities in other emirates are issued in Arabic. The trade name, activities, partners, and license details are in Arabic. An English translation is needed when submitting the license to a foreign bank, an international partner, or a foreign government authority.

Is a free zone license in English or Arabic?

Most free zone licenses are issued in English. DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, DIFC, ADGM, AFZA, and other free zones operate in English as their administrative language. Some free zones issue bilingual licenses. When a free zone license is submitted to a mainland government authority — DED, MOHRE, Dubai Courts — Arabic translation is required.

When does a free zone license need Arabic translation?

Free zone licenses need Arabic translation when: opening a mainland bank account that requires the license, filing a case in mainland courts, applying for government tenders requiring mainland documentation, converting from a free zone to mainland license, or when a government authority specifically requests Arabic documentation.

What documents are needed for free zone to mainland conversion?

The conversion package typically includes: the free zone license (translated to Arabic), the memorandum of association (translated to Arabic), share certificates (translated to Arabic), the NOC from the free zone authority (translated to Arabic), partner passport copies, and any additional regulatory approvals. DED requires the entire package in Arabic.

Can I use a free zone license for mainland activities without translation?

Free zone licenses are valid for activities within the free zone and for international trade. For mainland activities — selling directly to UAE mainland consumers, bidding on government contracts, opening a mainland office — a separate mainland license from DED is needed. The free zone license alone is not sufficient, regardless of language.

Does the bank need my license translated?

UAE banks processing commercial account opening accept mainland licenses in Arabic as-is. Free zone licenses in English are accepted by most banks for free zone company accounts. When a free zone company opens an account at a bank that serves primarily mainland businesses, Arabic translation of the license may be requested by the bank's compliance department.

Commercial License Translation UAE

A DMCC company wins a government tender. The tender office asks for the commercial license in Arabic. The DMCC license is in English. The free zone says they do not issue Arabic licenses. The tender submission deadline is tomorrow.

Mainland and free zone licenses exist in different language ecosystems. Mainland operates in Arabic. Free zones operate in English. When business crosses the boundary — a free zone company dealing with a mainland authority, or a mainland company dealing with a foreign partner — translation bridges the gap.

The Language Split

Mainland Licenses (Arabic)

DED Dubai, DED Abu Dhabi, and equivalent authorities in Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, UAQ, and Fujairah issue commercial licenses in Arabic. The trade name is registered in Arabic (and sometimes bilingually). The licensed activities are listed in Arabic using DED’s classification system. The partner names appear in Arabic.

When a mainland company needs to present its license to a foreign entity — an international bank, a foreign court, an overseas supplier — an Arabic-to-English MOJ-certified translation is required. The translated license confirms the company name, activities, and legal structure in English.

Free Zone Licenses (English)

Free zones — DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, DIFC, ADGM, AFZA, KIZAD, RAKEZ, and dozens of others — issue licenses in English. The company name, activities, and shareholder details are in English. Some free zones issue bilingual certificates, but the primary document is English.

Free zone companies operate comfortably in English within the free zone ecosystem. The problem surfaces when they step outside it.

When Free Zone Companies Need Arabic

Mainland Court Cases

If a free zone company is sued in mainland courts — or sues someone — every document submitted to the court must be in Arabic. The free zone license, the MOA, the share certificates, the contracts — all need MOJ-certified Arabic translation.

DIFC and ADGM have their own courts that operate in English. But if the dispute involves a mainland party or a mainland asset, the case may end up in Dubai Courts or ADJD, where Arabic is mandatory.

Government Tenders

UAE government tenders issued by federal or emirate-level authorities require Arabic documentation. A free zone company bidding on a government contract must translate its commercial license and corporate documents into Arabic for the tender file.

The tender office does not accept English free zone licenses. The translation must show the company name, license number, activities, expiry date, and shareholder structure in Arabic.

Mainland Bank Accounts

Most banks accept free zone licenses in English for free zone company accounts. But some banking products — guarantees, letters of credit, government-linked credit facilities — require Arabic documentation. The bank’s compliance team may request Arabic translation of the license when processing these products.

Visa and Labour Matters

Free zone companies sponsor employees through the free zone authority, not GDRFA directly. But when a visa issue escalates to GDRFA or when a labour dispute reaches MOHRE, the free zone license may need Arabic translation as part of the supporting documentation.

When Mainland Companies Need English

International Banking

Opening a correspondent banking relationship, applying for an international letter of credit, or establishing a foreign currency account may require the English version of the mainland license. The foreign bank’s compliance team cannot read the Arabic original.

Foreign Partnerships

A mainland company entering a joint venture with a foreign partner needs the license translated into English for the partnership agreement. The foreign partner’s lawyers need to verify the company details, authorised activities, and legal structure.

Overseas Government Submissions

If a mainland UAE company is registering a branch abroad, applying for a foreign business license, or complying with foreign regulatory requirements, the Arabic license needs English translation. The translation is then attested by MOFA UAE for use in the destination country.

The Free Zone to Mainland Conversion

Converting a free zone license to a mainland DED license is the most document-intensive translation scenario. The entire corporate package must be translated:

Free zone license — English to Arabic
Memorandum of association — English to Arabic (the MOA translation is typically the longest document)
Share certificates — English to Arabic
Board resolutions — English to Arabic
NOC from the free zone authority — English to Arabic
Partner passport copies — if foreign partners, the biographical page needs Arabic translation

DED requires the complete package in Arabic before processing the mainland license application. Missing one document holds up the entire conversion.

The practical approach: send the complete package for translation at once. Individual translations on separate days extend the timeline unnecessarily. A full corporate package — six to twelve pages total — is translated the same day when submitted together.

What About Bilingual Licenses?

Some free zones — particularly newer ones competing for businesses — issue bilingual licenses with both Arabic and English text. If the bilingual version is an official document issued by the free zone with both languages appearing on the same certificate, mainland authorities generally accept it without additional translation.

If the “bilingual” version is the English license with a convenience Arabic translation attached by the free zone, mainland authorities may not accept it. The Arabic must carry either the free zone’s official bilingual stamp or an MOJ-certified translation stamp.

Check the document: if it has the free zone logo and seal on a single bilingual page, it is an official bilingual document. If it is two separate pages — one English, one Arabic — the Arabic page needs MOJ certification to be accepted by mainland authorities.

Contact Channels

For MOJ-certified translation of commercial licenses and corporate documents:

WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217
iMessage: +971 50 862 0217
Email: info@onlinetranslation.ae
Phone: +971 50 862 0217
Walk-in: Palm Jumeirah Mall, Dubai

Send the license. We confirm the translation direction, handle single documents or full corporate packages, and return MOJ-certified translations the same day.

Commercial License Translation: Mainland vs Free Zone