Legal translation is the process of translating a material or document from one language to another while keeping the legal context and purpose in mind. Contracts, papers such as court judgements, complaints, legal declarations, certificates, licences, Power of Attorney, and so on are usually precisely translated to serve a lawful purpose or a legal procedure.

Since, the correct understanding of the text and its context is critical, legal translators must be fluent in both the source and destination languages. They must have research skills and certifications in order to comprehend the terminology. Any ambiguity or misinterpretation may cause problems and may result in legal consequences. Only translators who have been approved by the Ministry of Justice are permitted to practice in the UAE and many other countries.

To be legally legitimate, a document must be issued by an authority, sometimes on letterheads or with a stamp and signature, and attestation is required if the document is issued by an outside agency or when the document is to be filed outside the nation. In most circumstances, the attestation authority in the UAE are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassies, Consulates, and Notaries Public. The Ministry of Justice is the licencing authority that oversees and licences the legal translation profession.