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About This Document
UAE marriage certificates (عقد زواج) are issued by Sharia courts and personal status courts across all seven emirates. They are written entirely in Arabic and record the marriage contract details, including the names of both spouses, witnesses, mahr (dowry), and the presiding judge.
An English translation is commonly needed for spouse visa applications abroad, immigration filings, insurance claims, bank account changes, and legal proceedings in English-speaking jurisdictions.
Our translation preserves the exact layout and content of the original document, with the MOJ stamp and translator credentials clearly displayed for official acceptance.
What's Included
MOJ-Certified Translation
Translated by a Ministry of Justice licensed translator (License #701)
Arabic to English
Full translation of all fields, stamps, and notations
Official MOJ Stamp
Red stamp and translator signature for official acceptance
Digital Delivery
Certified PDF sent via WhatsApp and email
Hard Copy Available
Printed and stamped original for pickup or courier delivery
All Emirates Covered
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and other emirate courts
How It Works
Common Use Cases
•Spouse visa applications to the UK, USA, Canada, or Australia
•Name change requests at banks or government offices abroad
•Insurance beneficiary updates requiring proof of marriage
•Property co-ownership registration at Dubai Land Department
•Dependent sponsorship for children at UAE schools (KHDA / ADEK)
•Divorce or separation proceedings in foreign jurisdictions
UAE Marriage Certificate vs Sharia Contract: Which Do You Have?
Two documents can prove a UAE marriage, and foreign authorities treat them differently. The UAE Personal Status Court certificate is the clean one-page civil record with the court seal and judge signature. The Sharia marriage contract (عقد زواج) is longer, contains mahr and witness clauses, and is the original filing from the religious court.
GDRFA, ICP, and most embassies accept the certificate. Some jurisdictions — particularly UK Home Office and USCIS — want the contract, not just the certificate summary. If you are unsure which your file contains, send a photo via WhatsApp and we confirm before quoting.
A UAE marriage certificate used inside the UAE needs only the MOJ-certified translation. Used abroad, the chain changes: the original Arabic certificate must be MOFA-attested before translation, then the translated English copy is stamped again by MOFA for destination-country recognition.
The UAE is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so apostille is not available on a UAE-issued certificate. The destination country's embassy in the UAE attests on top of the MOFA chain instead.
What catches couples out is the order relative to a name change. If either spouse's passport was reissued in a married name, the certificate and the passport now disagree, and the receiving authority reads that as two different people. Get the translation done against the passport spelling you will actually travel and apply under, not the one on the original certificate.
Marriage certificates also tend to be requested twice: once for the spouse visa here, and again later for a joint mortgage, a school admission, or an inheritance file. Keep the stamped hard copy. Re-translating the same certificate a year later costs the same as the first time.
How GDRFA and ICP Accept This Translation
GDRFA (Dubai) and ICP (Abu Dhabi and northern emirates) both require MOJ-certified Arabic-to-English translation for spouse and dependent visa applications — but the acceptance rules differ in small ways that cause rejections.
GDRFA Dubai: takes the translation as a digital PDF, with the MOJ stamp and License #701 legible on screen. The specific failure on a marriage certificate is the wife's name: the certificate often carries her maiden name while the passport she is applying with carries her married name, and the two have to be reconciled in the file rather than silently differ.
ICP Abu Dhabi: often requires the MOJ-stamped hard copy in addition to the PDF, particularly for first-time family visa applications. ADJD-affiliated submissions (family court matters that cross over to immigration) need the MOJ stamp on every page, not just the final page.
How much does UAE marriage certificate translation cost?
UAE Personal Court marriage certificate translation costs AED 300 for MOJ-certified legal translation from Arabic to English. The price covers translation, MOJ certification, and digital delivery. Your document may vary slightly depending on length and additional endorsements.
Do I need MOJ certification for a UAE marriage certificate translation?
For most official submissions, embassies, foreign ministries, GDRFA spouse visa applications, yes, MOJ-certified translation is required. If submitting to a private employer or bank, a certified (non-MOJ) translation may be sufficient. We confirm the exact requirement before quoting.
What is a UAE Personal Court marriage certificate?
UAE marriage certificates issued by the Personal Status Court are the standard civil marriage documents for UAE residents married under UAE law. They are issued in Arabic and carry the court seal and judge signature. This differs from a Sharia court marriage contract. If you are unsure which document you have, send us a photo on WhatsApp.
Does a UAE marriage certificate need attestation for use abroad?
If using the translated certificate in another country, you typically need MOFA attestation on the original Arabic document before translation. Check whether your destination country accepts UAE documents with apostille or requires embassy attestation.
How long does UAE marriage certificate translation take?
Standard delivery is 1-2 business days as a certified PDF. Express same-day delivery is available for urgent requirements. Hard copy courier dispatched the following business day. WhatsApp us with your deadline.
Can I use this translation for a spouse visa application?
Yes. MOJ-certified marriage certificate translations are accepted by GDRFA for spouse and family visa applications in Dubai. For Abu Dhabi applications through ICP, the same certification standard applies. We verify the exact submission requirements for your application.
What if my name on the marriage certificate differs from my passport?
Name discrepancies between marriage certificates and passports are a common cause of visa application rejections. We verify name transliterations against your passport before completing the translation and flag any discrepancy before delivery.
Can you translate marriage certificates from other emirates?
Yes. We translate marriage certificates from Sharia courts across all emirates Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and others. The format varies by emirate but the translation process is the same. See our marriage certificate translation page for details.
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