Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is activity code 7490.86 and what does it cover
Activity code 7490.86 is the official Dubai classification for Legal Translation. It authorises the certified translation of legal documents, including contracts, court orders, memoranda of association, powers of attorney, marriage and birth certificates, corporate resolutions, and official government correspondence.
While the licence permits multiple language pairs, Arabic-English remains the dominant commercial requirement across Dubai's legal, real estate, and corporate sectors. The scope does not extend to interpretation services or general commercial translation, which fall under separate activity codes.
Which regulatory bodies oversee legal translation in Dubai
Two separate authorities govern legal translation in Dubai. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DED) issues the professional licence that authorises you to operate a legal translation business. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) grants certified translator accreditation, which makes translated documents admissible in UAE courts.
Additionally, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority oversees cultural and linguistic standards in the emirate. For federal document requirements, the Official UAE Government Portal serves as a useful reference point.
What is the difference between a DED licence and MOJ accreditation
A DED professional licence authorises you to operate a legal translation business in Dubai — it is the commercial trading licence. MOJ accreditation is a separate status that makes your translated documents legally admissible in UAE courts.
For most legal translation businesses, both are required. Operating without MOJ certification for court-admissible work means courts will routinely reject submitted documents, and operating without a DED licence exposes you to fines from DED enforcement.
What are the eligibility requirements to apply for a legal translation licence
Applicants must hold a relevant degree in translation, linguistics, or law, or demonstrate equivalent professional experience supported by documentation. Educational certificates must be submitted to the DED as part of the initial approval process.
All educational certificates must pass through the standard UAE attestation chain before they are accepted. Foreign nationals also require a valid UAE residence visa to proceed with the licence application.
How long does it take to set up a legal translation business in Dubai
The typical setup timeline for a DED mainland licence is 2–4 weeks. However, this covers only the commercial licence stage. MOJ accreditation, which is necessary for court-admissible translation work, requires additional weeks beyond that.
Applicants should plan for the full process — including document attestation and MOJ approval — when estimating their operational start date, as the two regulatory tracks run separately and each has its own processing timeline.
Should a legal translation business be set up on the mainland or in a free zone
A mainland licence issued by the DED is the default choice for legal translation businesses. It provides unrestricted access to UAE courts, government entities, law firms, and notary offices — the core client base for this activity.
A free zone licence can suit translation agencies targeting corporate clients, multinational companies, or international law firms. However, free zone entities face added complexity when seeking direct government or court work and may require additional approvals or a mainland branch to operate in those channels.
What business structures are available for a legal translation licence
The legal translation licence can be structured as a sole establishment or a civil company, depending on how you intend to operate. A sole establishment is suited to individual practitioners, while a civil company structure is appropriate when operating with one or more partners.
The chosen structure affects ownership, liability, and how the business is registered with the DED, so it is worth clarifying your operating model before beginning the application process.
What is the VAT threshold for a legal translation business in Dubai
The VAT registration threshold for a legal translation business in Dubai is AED 375,000 in annual turnover. Businesses that reach or expect to reach this threshold are required to register for VAT with the Federal Tax Authority.
Businesses operating below this threshold may still opt for voluntary VAT registration, which can be advantageous when working with VAT-registered corporate or government clients. Tracking turnover carefully from the outset is important to ensure timely compliance.
Apply for a Legal Translation License in Dubai
Dubai runs on paperwork in two languages. Every company registration, court filing, property deal, and visa application that reaches a UAE authority has to be in Arabic. Most of the people signing those documents also want an English version they can trust.
That is a steady stream of work, and it is licensed work. This guide covers what the legal translation license under code 7490.86 lets you do, who watches over it, and the exact steps to get trading.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
Code 7490.86 lets you produce certified translations of legal documents. In practice that means contracts, court orders, memoranda of association, powers of attorney, marriage and birth certificates, company resolutions, and official government letters.
Arabic is compulsory for every UAE court submission and government filing. The license allows other language pairs, but Arabic to English is where the money is, across Dubai's legal, property, and corporate work.
There is a hard edge to the scope. This code does not cover interpreting, and it does not cover general commercial translation. Those sit under separate codes. If your business does both, list both activities when you apply.
Who Your Clients Will Be
Law firms, notary offices, courts, government departments, property developers, and corporate compliance teams. All of them need documents that an official will accept without argument.
Work without the right license, or without MOJ certification for court work, and you risk fines, rejected documents, and damage to your name. Courts turn away translations from uncertified parties as a matter of routine, and DET enforcement can fine you on top.
The Two Approvals You Need
Most people setting up here miss this and lose weeks. There are two separate approvals, and they are not the same thing.
DET professional license
This is the commercial license. It lets you run a legal translation business in Dubai. Nothing more.
MOJ certified translator accreditation
This is what makes your translated documents admissible in UAE courts. It involves a language proficiency assessment and document checks.
For most legal translation businesses you need both. Start them at the same time rather than one after the other.
Who Can Apply
You need a relevant degree in translation, linguistics, or law. If you do not have one, you can show equivalent professional experience with documents to back it up. DET asks for educational certificates during initial approval, and they must go through the standard UAE attestation chain first.
Foreign nationals need a valid UAE residence visa. You can set the business up as a sole establishment or a civil company, depending on whether you are working alone or with partners.
Mainland or Free Zone
A mainland license from DET gives you open access to UAE courts, government bodies, law firms, and notary offices. That is the core client list for this work, so mainland is the default answer for anyone filing official documents.
A free zone license suits agencies selling to corporates, multinationals, and international law firms. Meydan Free Zone is a cost-efficient entry point, with flexible office options and a simple setup. Check activity approval on DET eServices first.
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Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Order matters here. Skipping ahead causes delays.
- Step 1, book your trade name: Apply through DET or your chosen free zone authority. Confirm that Legal Translation (7490.86) is listed and approved on the form before you pay anything.
- Step 2, submit for initial approval: Send attested educational certificates, passport copy, UAE residence visa, and a No Objection Certificate from your employer if you already work in the UAE.
- Step 3, sort your office: DET mainland needs a physical office with an ejari-registered tenancy contract. Some free zones accept a flexi-desk or virtual office. Check with your authority before you sign a lease.
- Step 4, apply for MOJ accreditation in parallel: If court-certified work is part of your plan, apply to the Ministry of Justice at the same time. Do not wait for your DET license first.
- Step 5, collect your license and register staff: Pay the fees, collect the trade license, then register with MOHRE if you plan to hire. Labour cards and work permits follow license issue.
Expect 2 to 4 weeks for the DET license from initial approval to collection. MOJ accreditation runs on its own clock and may add weeks, depending on verification queues and exam scheduling.
Costs, Tax, and Ongoing Duties
What you pay for
Your main cost lines are the DET professional license fee, ejari office costs, attestation fees for your educational documents, and MOJ registration fees. Invest in Dubai sets out guidance on professional license categories.
Renewal
The DET license renews every year, usually on the anniversary date. Do not let it lapse. Trading on an expired license creates problems that spill into visa renewals and bank accounts.
VAT
VAT of 5% applies to translation services supplied inside the UAE. You must register with the Federal Tax Authority once turnover passes AED 375,000. You can register voluntarily below that, which helps if your clients are VAT-registered businesses reclaiming input tax. Freelance translators on an individual professional license keep separate VAT records if they hit the threshold. The FTA treats the person as the taxable party, not the license.
Insurance
Professional indemnity insurance is not compulsory under DET rules, but get it anyway. One mistranslated clause in a contract or a court filing can generate a claim far bigger than the fee you charged.
Market Opportunity
The UAE translation services market keeps growing, pushed along by legal, commercial, and government paperwork.
The reason is simple. Dubai runs on documents that have to exist in two languages. Every company registration, court filing, property sale, and visa application adds to the pile, and none of it is optional.
That makes the work repeat rather than spike. You become the firm a law office or a compliance team calls every time.
Conclusion
A legal translation license in Dubai needs the right structure, verified credentials, and, for court work, separate MOJ accreditation. None of that is hard on its own. The trick is running the two approval tracks side by side instead of one after the other.
Talk to a business setup adviser to confirm the right structure for your language services business.
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