EPISODE 27

Welcome back to the POA's Desk.

In the last episode, we explained the role of court-licensed entities. Today, we're looking at another key part of the process—legal translators, and why legal translation is far more than simply converting words between languages.

As discussed in Episode 13, every UAE Power of Attorney must be in Arabic, and the Arabic version is the legally binding document. That makes the translation a critical legal step, not just an administrative one.

In the UAE, legal translators are licensed by the Ministry of Justice. Unlike general translators, they are authorised to prepare translations for official use before government authorities. Their seal and signature certify that the translation accurately reflects the original document, giving it legal recognition.

Legal translation requires much more than language skills. It demands an understanding of legal terminology and the legal effect of every clause. Small wording differences—such as whether a person may act or must act—can significantly change the authority granted under a POA. The translator must preserve the intended legal meaning, not simply provide a literal translation.

Certified translations must also meet procedural requirements. The translator's official seal, signature, licence details, and the translated document must be properly linked to the original document. Without these requirements, the POA may be rejected by the receiving authority.

One of the most common mistakes is using an unlicensed translator or relying on online translation tools. While the Arabic text may appear correct, it has no legal standing without certification, resulting in delays, additional costs, and the need for re-translation and re-notarisation.

Another frequent issue is using a translator licensed for the wrong language pair. For example, a French document requires a French-to-Arabic legal translator, not an English-to-Arabic translator. It is equally important to ensure the translator's Ministry of Justice licence is current and valid.

At POAS, we work exclusively with Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translators and verify that their licences are active. For documents in languages other than English, we coordinate with appropriately licensed translators. Every certified translation is reviewed before the POA proceeds to notarisation, and the translation service is included within our fixed fee.

Although most principals never meet the translator, the quality of their work is one of the biggest factors in determining whether a POA is accepted without issue.

In Episode 28, we'll explain Apostille and consular attestation routes, and when these alternatives are required if remote notarisation is unavailable.

I'm Patrick. Thanks for joining me at the POA's Desk.

If you'd like, I can also make this more conversational for a podcast while keeping it under 2,500 characters.