How to Translate WhatsApp Chats for a Dubai Court or Police Case
If you need to submit WhatsApp messages to a Dubai court or the police, they usually have to be in Arabic. Export the chat, have it translated completely by a Ministry of Justice-approved legal translator, and check with the receiving authority how it wants the evidence presented.
Translating WhatsApp Chats for a Dubai Court or Police Case
Messages are often the clearest evidence in a dispute. The UAE government states that documents presented to UAE courts must be in Arabic and that foreign-language documents must be translated by a legal translator approved by the Ministry of Justice. A police department or another authority may also ask for Arabic, so confirm the language before you translate.
Last reviewed: 25 October 2026. Requirements change, so we verify them with the relevant authority before you submit anything.
Export the Chat
Use the export feature in WhatsApp for the date range you need, and keep the original file unchanged. Do not retype or edit messages.
Translate It Completely
Translate every message in the relevant period with its date, time and sender. Leaving out messages can change the meaning.
Use an Approved Translator
Have the chat translated and certified by a Ministry of Justice-approved legal translator, not by machine translation or a friend.
Confirm the Format
Ask the court, the police or your lawyer how the evidence must be presented and whether the translation is attached to the original.
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What a Good Chat Translation Contains
- The date, time and sender of every message
- The text of each message translated faithfully, without summarising
- Notes for emojis, images, voice notes or attachments, as the authority requires
- The translator’s certification and stamp
We confirm with you what to include for voice notes and images. Whether the evidence is accepted, and how much weight it carries, is decided by the court or authority, so speak to your lawyer about that. We translate and certify; we do not advise on the case.
How to Prepare Your Chat
- Export the chat for the exact date range from the app
- Keep the original export file and do not edit it
- Send the file to your lawyer and to us
- Tell us the languages used, where the translation will be submitted and your deadline
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Translating only selected messages out of context
- Summarising instead of translating
- Sending low-quality screenshots when an export is available
- Using machine translation for evidence
- Leaving the translation until the day before the deadline
Why Choose Dunes for Court Document Translation
Dunes provides court and litigation document translation in Dubai built around accuracy and deadlines:
- Ministry of Justice-approved legal translators
- Complete translation of every message, page and stamp
- Arabic–English and other language pairs
- Written quote before you commit
Why Book Through Dunes
We handle the translation, certification and any attestation that follows. See our sworn translator services and legal translation services in Dubai.
Get Started Today
Send the chat export and your deadline through our contact page. Related reading: Rental Disputes Centre documents and Do You Need a Sworn Legal Translator for MOFA-Bound Documents?.
Need Messages or Court Documents Translated?
Visit our court and litigation document translation page, or get in touch directly for a written quote.
Call or WhatsApp +971 52 147 4345 to get started.
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Do UAE courts accept WhatsApp chats in English?
Documents presented to UAE courts must be in Arabic, and foreign-language documents must be translated by a legal translator approved by the Ministry of Justice. A police department may also ask for Arabic, so confirm the language with the authority first.
Should I translate screenshots or the exported chat?
An export keeps dates, times and senders in a form that can be translated completely. Screenshots can be used when an export is not available, but they must be legible. Ask the receiving authority which it prefers.
Do voice notes and images need to be translated?
It depends on what the authority needs. Tell us what you are submitting and we confirm with you what to include.
Will the court accept the chat as evidence once it is translated?
Whether evidence is accepted, and how much weight it carries, is decided by the court or authority. Speak to your lawyer about that. We provide the certified translation and do not advise on the case.
How do I get a quote?
Send the chat export, the languages and your deadline by WhatsApp or the contact page, and we reply with a written quote.
