Last updated: 11 August 2026
Company documents are rarely translated one at a time — and that is exactly where most problems start. A memorandum, a board resolution and a shareholders’ agreement translated as three separate jobs will use three different renderings of the same defined terms. Authorities notice.
What DED and the free zones typically require in Arabic
- Memorandum of association and any amendments — see MOA translation
- Shareholder and board resolutions appointing managers or authorising signatories
- Parent-company documents for a branch — certificate of incorporation, good standing, constitution
- Powers of attorney for the authorised signatory
- Commercial contracts relied on in licensing or disputes — see contract translation
- Trade licences for banking and government submissions — see licence translation
The four failure points
1. Company name inconsistency
The Arabic company name must match the trade licence and the register exactly. A single different letter between the MOA and the licence stops the file.
2. Share capital and percentages
Figures, currencies and percentage splits must be reproduced exactly. Rounding or reformatting is not a stylistic choice here.
3. Authority clauses
“Sole signature”, “joint signature” and thresholds carry legal consequences. A loose rendering can grant or remove authority that was never intended.
4. Free zone versus mainland terminology
DED, DMCC and JAFZA do not use identical Arabic phrasing for the same concepts. Tell the translator which authority receives the file.
Why the pack should be quoted as one job
| File-by-file | As one coordinated pack |
|---|---|
| Terms rendered differently per file | One glossary applied across everything |
| Company name may drift | Locked to the trade licence |
| Priced per document | Priced as a set |
| Rejection risk multiplies | Single consistent submission |
Practical tip: send the trade licence with the pack even if it does not need translating. It is the reference for the Arabic company name and signatory details.
Only a translator registered under Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2022 can certify these documents for official use.
Setting up, restructuring or renewing?
Send the whole document pack in one message and tell us the receiving authority. We quote the set together and keep terminology locked across every file.
Related: corporate and commercial translation · what drives the cost.
