Dubai Rental Dispute: WhatsApp Evidence Must Be Arabic

Your landlord refuses to fix the AC. You’ve been asking since November. You have 47 WhatsApp messages proving it. You file a case at the Rental Dispute Centre. The clerk looks at your evidence bundle and says: “This needs to be in Arabic.”

Why RDC wants Arabic

The Rental Dispute Centre operates in Arabic. Judges read Arabic. Court records are in Arabic. When you submit evidence. WhatsApp messages, emails, maintenance requests. The court needs to understand it without relying on your verbal explanation of what the English text says.

English evidence isn’t automatically excluded, but untranslated evidence is harder for the judge to reference in the ruling. Translated evidence gets cited directly. Untranslated evidence gets paraphrased, and paraphrasing loses the specific wording that might support your case.

What needs translation

• WhatsApp conversations. Screenshot each relevant exchange. Include dates, phone numbers, and the full message thread. Translate all text including timestamps.
• Emails. Print and translate English emails with the landlord, property manager, or maintenance company.
• Bank transfer receipts. If descriptions are in English (“Rent payment. March 2026”), translate the description fields.
• Maintenance records. Service requests, contractor quotes, and repair invoices in English.
• The tenancy contract. If you’re relying on specific clauses, the Arabic version is what the court reads. Know what it says.

How to prepare your evidence bundle

1. Screenshot everything. WhatsApp messages, email threads, payment confirmations. Include full context, don’t crop out dates or sender information.
2. Organise chronologically. Number each page. Create a simple index: “Page 1-3: WhatsApp Nov 2025 (AC complaint), Page 4: Email Dec 2025 (no response).”
3. Translate the bundle. Send the complete set for certified translation. The translator handles the full package, messages, emails, receipts as one evidence set.
4. Submit originals + translations. Bring both to the hearing. The judge references the Arabic translation but may verify against originals.

If you’re preparing evidence for a rental dispute, send your screenshots and documents on WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217. We’ll translate the full evidence bundle into Arabic for RDC submission.