Federal Decree-Law No. (22) of 2022 Regulating the Translation Profession
Federal Decree-Law No. (22) of 2022
This federal decree-law regulates translators and translation houses in the UAE through Ministry of Justice registration, local professional licensing, qualification rules, professional duties, disciplinary measures, offences and implementing regulations.
Overview
What this legislation covers
This federal decree-law regulates translators and translation houses in the UAE through Ministry of Justice registration, local professional licensing, qualification rules, professional duties, disciplinary measures, offences and implementing regulations.
Who or what it applies to
- Natural persons practising regulated translation in the UAE.
- Translation houses.
- Managers, partners and translators working for translation houses.
- Persons seeking registration for specific languages or sign-language interpretation.
- Ministry of Justice and competent local licensing authorities.
Key points
Important points at a glance
Translation may not be practised in the UAE under the regulated framework without registration and the required professional licence.
A Ministry of Justice list is maintained for translators and translation houses.
The law regulates registration conditions for translators and translation houses.
It provides for professional duties, records, identification and oversight.
It regulates suspension, cancellation and disciplinary matters.
Article 36 gave translators and translation houses one year from commencement to regularize status, subject to Cabinet extension.
Article 38 required the Cabinet to issue the executive regulation.
Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2024 is the current executive regulation identified by the official portal.
Cabinet Resolution No. (21) of 2024 governs Ministry of Justice service fees for the profession.
Cabinet Resolution No. (147) of 2025 contains the administrative-penalties schedule.
Article 41 sets commencement on 2 January 2023.
The official English presentation states that the Arabic original prevails for interpretation and application.
Practical explanation
Understanding the law
Purpose and legislative background
The law professionalises translation services used in judicial, governmental and private transactions by requiring registered, licensed practitioners and a national regulatory framework.
The principal decree-law remains the current federal basis identified by the official portal. Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2024 provides executive regulations, Cabinet Resolution No. (21) of 2024 addresses fees, and Cabinet Resolution No. (147) of 2025 provides administrative penalties.
Scope and who it applies to
- Natural persons practising regulated translation in the UAE.
- Translation houses.
- Managers, partners and translators working for translation houses.
- Persons seeking registration for specific languages or sign-language interpretation.
- Ministry of Justice and competent local licensing authorities.
Key definitions
- Translator: a natural person registered to practise translation under the decree-law.
- Translation House: a licensed legal person registered to practise the profession.
- List: the Ministry of Justice record of registered translators and translation houses.
- Competent Licensing Authority: the relevant local authority responsible for the professional licence.
Main rights and obligations
- Practitioners must obtain registration and the appropriate licence before practising.
- Translators must work within the language/registration scope granted to them.
- Translation houses must comply with organisational and staffing requirements.
- Practitioners must cooperate with technical inspection and professional oversight.
Procedures and compliance
- Apply for Ministry registration in the relevant category/language.
- Complete local licensing requirements with the competent licensing authority.
- Maintain registration and licence validity and update required data.
- Follow the 2024 executive regulation for inspection, annual assessment and status changes.
Deadlines and time limits
- Effective date: 2 January 2023.
- Article 36 originally allowed one year for status regularization, subject to extension by Cabinet resolution.
- The 2024 executive regulation contains current operational renewal/inspection rules that should be checked for transaction-specific deadlines.
Enforcement, violations and penalties
The decree-law contains offences and penalties, while Cabinet Resolution No. (147) of 2025 supplies the current administrative-penalty schedule for violations of the decree-law and executive regulation.
Important distinction: Penalties and enforcement powers must be taken from the enacted article and any current implementing resolution. Practical commentary in this file explains the framework but does not create additional duties or sanctions.
Practical scenarios
- A translator wishing to certify documents for UAE use should verify Ministry registration and the local licence before advertising regulated services.
- A translation house adding a new language should check whether its registration and translator roster must be updated.
- A court or company engaging a translator should verify the translator's current status in the Ministry list where the statutory regime applies.
- A practitioner receiving an inspection notice should follow the procedural requirements in Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2024.
Amendments and related legislation
The principal decree-law remains the current federal basis identified by the official portal. Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2024 provides executive regulations, Cabinet Resolution No. (21) of 2024 addresses fees, and Cabinet Resolution No. (147) of 2025 provides administrative penalties.
What businesses and individuals should check
- Registration with the Ministry and local professional licensing are distinct requirements.
- Check the 2024 executive regulation for current registration, renewal, inspection and operational procedures.
- Check Cabinet Resolution No. (147) of 2025 before stating an administrative penalty.
- Certified translations submitted to courts or public bodies should be prepared by properly registered/licensed persons where the law requires it.
- Confirm the current version of the principal law and any implementing resolutions on the date the issue arises.
- Check whether a federal, local-Emirate or financial/free-zone rule changes the applicable regulatory perimeter.
- Keep the official source reference used for any compliance or procedural decision.
When legal advice may be useful
Professional interpretation may be useful where the applicable legal regime is disputed, a licensing or jurisdictional boundary is unclear, a transitional rule affects an existing right, a procedural deadline may expire, or a penalty/enforcement measure is possible.
Information status
Research checked on 2026-08-31. This page is general legal information and should be re-verified against the official UAE source before use in a transaction, proceeding or compliance decision.
Practical notes
- Registration with the Ministry and local professional licensing are distinct requirements.
- Check the 2024 executive regulation for current registration, renewal, inspection and operational procedures.
- Check Cabinet Resolution No. (147) of 2025 before stating an administrative penalty.
- Certified translations submitted to courts or public bodies should be prepared by properly registered/licensed persons where the law requires it.
Legislation text
Text and provisions
Official-text notice. This file is a structured English rendering prepared from the UAE Legislation portal and the official sources listed in the package. It is not represented as the legally controlling Arabic text. For interpretation and application, consult the original Arabic text and the latest Official Gazette / official UAE legislation source.
Federal Decree-Law No. (22) of 2022 Regulating the Translation Profession
Verified legislative metadata
| Instrument | Federal Decree-Law No. (22) of 2022 |
|---|---|
| Issued date | Not entered — not sufficiently verified for this package |
| Effective date | 2023-01-02 |
| Status | Active / in force |
| Official source | UAE Legislation |
Structured rendering of the legislation
Article 1 — Definitions
Defines the Ministry, Minister, competent licensing authority, profession, translator, translation house, list and other operative concepts.
Professional entry and registration
The law regulates registration of translators and translation houses and the professional licence needed to practise in the UAE.
Translator requirements and duties
The decree-law covers qualification, language scope, professional identification, accuracy, record-keeping, confidentiality and compliance obligations.
Translation houses
The law regulates the legal and managerial requirements of translation houses and the translators who work through them.
Supervision and discipline
The Ministry may supervise the profession and the law establishes disciplinary and status-related measures including suspension and removal from the list in specified cases.
Offences and penalties
The law contains criminal provisions for specified unlawful practice or misuse of professional status. Exact elements and penalty ranges must be read from the current article before application.
Article 36 — Status regularization
Translators and translation houses were required to regularize their status within one year from commencement, with the possibility of Cabinet extension for similar periods.
Article 38 — Executive Regulation
The Cabinet was directed to issue the executive regulation. Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2024 now provides operational rules.
Article 41 — Publication and commencement
The decree-law is effective from 2 January 2023.
Key points confirmed during research
- Translation may not be practised in the UAE under the regulated framework without registration and the required professional licence.
- A Ministry of Justice list is maintained for translators and translation houses.
- The law regulates registration conditions for translators and translation houses.
- It provides for professional duties, records, identification and oversight.
- It regulates suspension, cancellation and disciplinary matters.
- Article 36 gave translators and translation houses one year from commencement to regularize status, subject to Cabinet extension.
- Article 38 required the Cabinet to issue the executive regulation.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2024 is the current executive regulation identified by the official portal.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (21) of 2024 governs Ministry of Justice service fees for the profession.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (147) of 2025 contains the administrative-penalties schedule.
- Article 41 sets commencement on 2 January 2023.
- The official English presentation states that the Arabic original prevails for interpretation and application.
Source hierarchy
Where the principal decree-law delegates detail to an executive regulation, Cabinet resolution, Ministry/regulator decision or judicial-authority rule, that implementing instrument should be read together with the principal law. A later amendment or replacement instrument prevails to the extent provided by law.
Verification
Official source & references
Official legislation sourcehttps://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1568Open ↗This page is a research and educational resource. Legislation can be amended, repealed, supplemented by regulations or interpreted by courts and authorities. Obtain advice before relying on it for a live matter.