MOHRE Degree: Arabic or English? The Real Answer

You are about to start a new job in Dubai. The employer’s PRO asks for your degree. A colleague tells you it must be translated into Arabic for MOHRE. Another colleague says English is fine. The typing centre says translate everything to be safe. The PRO shrugs.

The answer is simpler than the conflicting advice suggests. MOHRE accepts English-language degrees at the work permit stage. The reason your application was rejected — or your colleague’s application was rejected — is almost never the language.

What MOHRE Actually Accepts

The MOHRE work permit system accepts documents in Arabic and English. When you upload an English-language degree, the system processes it. A human reviewer reads it. The attestation stamps are verified. If the degree is from a recognised institution, attested through the correct chain, and the occupational classification matches, the work permit is approved.

Arabic translation of the degree is not a MOHRE requirement for initial work permit processing.

The confusion comes from three sources:

1. Labour Court requirements — if a dispute escalates to court, Arabic is mandatory. People who went through a court case tell others that “you need Arabic,” without specifying that the requirement is court-specific.
2. Non-English degrees — degrees in Chinese, Russian, French, Hindi, or Latin must be translated into English or Arabic. This requirement gets generalised to all degrees.
3. Typing centre advice — typing centres earn per translation. Telling every customer to translate everything maximises their revenue, not your efficiency.

The Real Reasons MOHRE Rejects Degree Submissions

If your degree was rejected, check these before assuming it is a language issue:

Missing or Incomplete Attestation

The degree must be attested through the correct chain: home-country education authority, home MOFA, UAE embassy in the home country, then MOFA UAE after arrival. A degree without the full chain is rejected regardless of language.

For countries in the Hague Apostille Convention, the apostille simplifies the home-country chain. But UAE is not a Hague member, so the UAE embassy step is always required.

Occupational Classification Mismatch

MOHRE assigns an occupational classification to every work permit. If the classification requires a specific degree (engineering, medicine, accounting) and the uploaded degree is in a different field, the application is rejected. A business administration degree uploaded for an engineering classification triggers a document mismatch.

Unrecognised Institution

MOHRE maintains a list of recognised educational institutions. Degrees from unaccredited universities, online-only diploma mills, or institutions on the UAE’s non-recognised list are rejected. This has nothing to do with language.

File Format Issues

The MOHRE portal has specific technical requirements for uploaded files. A degree photograph saved as an oversized PDF, a scanned image without a text layer, or a file over 2MB can be rejected at the upload stage before a reviewer sees the content.

Expired Attestation

Attestation stamps have shelf lives that vary by authority. If the attestation was done years ago and the stamps have aged past the acceptance window, MOHRE may request fresh attestation. The degree itself does not expire, but the attestation chain may.

When You Do Need Arabic Translation

Arabic translation of your degree becomes necessary in specific situations:

The Degree Is Not in English or Arabic

Degrees in Chinese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, French, German, Polish, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, or any other language must be translated before MOHRE submission. The translation can be into English or Arabic. For long-term usefulness in the UAE, Arabic is the better choice — it covers MOHRE, courts, MOE, and all government authorities.

MOE Equivalency for Golden Visa

The Ministry of Education equivalency process requires MOJ-certified Arabic translation of the degree and transcripts. If you are applying for a Golden Visa through the Skilled Professional route, the Arabic translation is mandatory at the equivalency stage even if MOHRE accepted the English version for the work permit.

Labour Court Escalation

If a labour dispute moves from MOHRE conciliation to the Labour Court, every document submitted must be in Arabic or accompanied by certified Arabic translation. The degree, the contract, the payslips — everything. The MOHRE complaint to Labour Court process explains the escalation chain.

Employer Change or Visa Transfer

When changing employers, a new work permit is processed. Some PROs request Arabic translations for the new application even though the previous employer submitted the English version. Having the Arabic translation ready avoids delays during the transfer.

The Practical Advice

If your degree is in English and you need a work permit processed quickly, do not translate the degree. Focus on getting the attestation chain complete and correct. That is where delays happen.

If you plan to stay in the UAE beyond the current contract — and most professionals do — translate the degree into Arabic once and keep the certified copy. The cost is small. The time saved when you eventually need it for a Golden Visa, an employer change, a court case, or a salary certificate for the bank makes it worthwhile.

Not sure whether your specific situation requires translation now or later? WhatsApp us the degree and we will confirm what MOHRE needs based on the language, the attestation status, and the occupational classification.

What About the Transcripts?

Transcripts follow the same rule as the degree. English transcripts are accepted by MOHRE for work permit processing. Arabic translation is needed for MOE equivalency, Labour Court, and some Golden Visa applications.

If you are translating the degree, translate the transcripts at the same time. The complete degree chain for Indian applicants covers the combined degree-plus-transcripts translation and attestation sequence.

Contact Channels

For MOJ-certified Arabic translation of degrees, transcripts, and educational certificates:

• 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 degree. We check whether translation is needed now or can wait, confirm the attestation status, and return MOJ-certified Arabic translation the same day when it is needed.