School Transfer Certificate Arabic Translation UAE

You’re moving to Dubai with your family. The apartment is sorted, the job is sorted, and school enrollment is the next item on the list. You contact the school. They want the transfer certificate. You have it. Then they say it needs to be in Arabic. Or attested. Or both.

School admissions in the UAE have their own document requirements. And the deadline doesn’t move just because your paperwork isn’t ready.

What schools typically ask for

KHDA-regulated schools in Dubai generally need:

• Transfer certificate from the previous school. Confirming the child’s grade level, attendance, and good standing.
• Last 2 years of report cards. Showing academic performance and progression.
• Passport copy of the child.
• Emirates ID or visa page of the child.
• Birth certificate. Some schools ask for it, especially for younger children entering KG or Grade 1.

When Arabic is required

Not every school requires Arabic translations. The requirement depends on the curriculum:

• MOE curriculum (Arabic/Ministry): Arabic required for all admission documents. No exceptions.
• British, American, IB curricula: English is usually accepted. Arabic translation may be required for specific documents if the school submits them to KHDA for equivalency checks.
• Documents in other languages: Transfer certificates in French, German, Urdu, Hindi, or any language other than English or Arabic always need translation, into English, Arabic, or both.

The safest approach: ask the school’s admissions office exactly which documents they need and in which language. Get it in writing so there are no surprises.

Attestation for school documents

Some schools and the UAE Ministry of Education require transfer certificates to be attested. This is more common for:

• Students transferring from schools outside the UAE
• Higher grade levels (Grade 9 and above)
• MOE curriculum schools

Attestation follows the same rules as other documents. Hague Convention countries use apostille. Non-Hague countries use the embassy chain. After attestation, MOJ-certified Arabic translation if required by the school.

The timing trap

Schools in Dubai start enrollment for September well in advance. Many open admissions in March or April. Popular schools fill up fast. If you start the translation and attestation process in August, you may miss the window entirely.

Start 4-6 weeks before the admission deadline. This gives time for attestation (if shipped from abroad), translation, and any corrections. Report cards with multiple pages take longer to translate than a single-page transfer certificate.

If you’re enrolling your child in a UAE school and need documents translated, send them on WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217. We’ll confirm which documents need translation, which need attestation, and the turnaround time.