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Any document in a foreign language submitted to a notary in Qatar must be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation by a translator registered on the Ministry of Justice experts roll, under Notarisation Law No. 1 of 2023. Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation of contracts and certificates costs QAR 100, and applications are reviewed within one working day.

Timeline
MOFA attestation reviewed within one working day
Government fees
MOFA attestation QAR 100 per document
Fees last verified
10 November 2026
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Key facts

Who this service is for

  • Foreign companies setting up a branch or company in Qatar that need their registration and articles translated.
  • Parties to a contract or power of attorney being notarised where a document is in a foreign language.
  • Creditors enforcing a foreign judgment or instrument before the Enforcement Court.
  • Companies that need employment or commercial contracts translated for government authorities.
  • Law firms that need pleadings, judgments and case documents translated.

What the service covers

  • Legal translation between Arabic and English for contracts, judgments and official documents.
  • Page-by-page layout matching the original, including stamps and margin notes.
  • A second review of terminology, names, figures and dates.
  • Delivery of the certified translation attached to the original, on paper and as a PDF.
  • Follow-up of MOFA attestation and Qatar Post on request.
  • Guidance on the attestation route outside Qatar for foreign documents.

Which attestation route fits your document

DocumentRouteOfficial fee (QAR)Source
Issued in Qatar (contract, certificate)Attestation by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the online application100Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Judicial document issued in Qatar (authorisation, litigation papers, arbitration)Attestation by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs100Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Hukoomi
Issued abroad and attested by the Embassy of Qatar thereAttestation by the Consular Affairs Department in Doha100Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Issued abroad without complete attestationAttestation completion service through the Qatari mission150 + the equivalent of 120 + the foreign ministry's fees in the country of issueMinistry of Foreign Affairs
Good conduct certificate or government school certificateDigital attestation100Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Signature on a private document or authorisationAuthentication at the Ministry of Justice notarisation department100 for three copies + 50 per partyMinistry of Justice

When Qatari law requires a certified translation

Notarisation Law No. 1 of 2023 provides that documents are notarised in Arabic. If a document in another language relating to the transaction is presented to the notary, a certified Arabic translation by a translator registered on the Ministry of Justice experts roll must be attached (Article 7). The same applies to a foreign-language document presented for signature authentication (Article 22).

Before the Enforcement Court, Judicial Enforcement Law No. 4 of 2024 requires a certified Arabic translation to be filed with any application to enforce foreign judgments, orders and official instruments (Article 15).

  • Notarising articles of association where a party is a foreign company.
  • A power of attorney issued in a foreign language.
  • Enforcing a foreign judgment or arbitral award.
  • Contracts and certificates submitted to government authorities in Arabic.

How we keep the translation accurate

Legal translation leaves no room for interpretation. Our rule is to translate only what is written: we do not add, omit or correct an error in the original; we carry it over as it is. The translation is laid out page for page against the original so that an officer or judge can compare them easily.

  • Names spelled consistently with the passport or commercial registration.
  • Figures, dates and amounts carried over exactly as written.
  • Stamps, signatures and margin notes described in place.
  • Confidentiality: documents are not shared outside the team working on them.

Attestation after translation

A certified translation and attestation are two different things. Attestation confirms the stamps and signatures on a document so that another authority will accept it. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs reviews the online application within one working day, and the documents are then collected and delivered by Qatar Post for QAR 40. Qatar Chamber authenticates the stamps of some translation offices before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How we work

  1. 01

    Send the document

    A clear scan or full PDF by WhatsApp or email, telling us which authority it is for.

  2. 02

    Quote and delivery date

    We count the pages and send the price and delivery date before starting.

  3. 03

    Translation and review

    We translate only what is written, without adding to or correcting the original, then review names, figures, dates and terminology a second time.

  4. 04

    Certification and delivery

    The translation is certified, attached to the original and delivered on paper and electronically.

  5. 05

    Attestation if needed

    We follow up MOFA attestation or guide you through the relevant embassy route.

Procedures, authorities, documents and fees

Fees are in Qatari riyals unless stated otherwise. "Not published" means the authority does not publish the figure on its website.

Procedures table: Certified Legal Translation in Qatar
ProcedureAuthorityRequired documentsFee (QAR)Timeline
Certified translation into ArabicTranslator registered on the Ministry of Justice experts rollA clear, complete copy of the original documentTranslation fee quoted by number of pagesDepends on the size of the document
Signature authentication or attestation of an authorisationMinistry of Justice, Notarisation DepartmentID card or passport, commercial registration, establishment card and trade licence, copy of the power of attorney if any100 for three copies + 50 per party + 50 per additional copy10 minutes (published estimate)
MOFA attestation, documents issued in QatarMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Affairs DepartmentThe document bearing live accredited stamps and signatures, online application through the Tawtheeq system100 for contracts, certificates and judicial documentsApplication reviewed within one working day
Completing attestation of a document issued outside QatarMinistry of Foreign Affairs and the Qatari mission in the country of issueThe original document and an online application; documents are sent by courier150 + the equivalent of 120 for the mission + the foreign ministry's fees in the country of issueNot published; varies by country
Digital attestationMinistry of Foreign AffairsThe document number issued by the relevant authority (currently good conduct certificates and government school certificates)100Immediate after payment
Collection and delivery by Qatar PostQatar PostPostal address and collection appointment40According to the Qatar Post appointment
Attestation by foreign embassies in DohaEmbassy of the country concernedThe document attested by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign AffairsVaries by embassyVaries by embassy

Frequently asked questions

When is a certified translation mandatory in Qatar?

When any document in a language other than Arabic is presented to a notary to notarise a transaction or authenticate a signature, and when applying to enforce a foreign judgment or instrument before the Enforcement Court. The law requires the translation to be made by a translator registered on the Ministry of Justice experts roll.

How much is Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation?

QAR 100 for contracts, certificates and other unlisted documents, and QAR 100 for judicial documents such as authorisations, litigation papers and arbitration documents. The service for completing attestation outside Qatar costs QAR 150, plus the equivalent of QAR 120 for the Qatari mission and the foreign ministry's fees in the country of issue.

How long does MOFA attestation take?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reviews the online application within one working day. The fee is then paid and the documents are collected and delivered by Qatar Post for QAR 40.

Does Qatar accept an apostille?

The route the Single Window requires for documents issued outside Qatar is attestation by the foreign ministry and the Embassy of Qatar in the country of issue. The document is therefore attested in its own country first, then by the Qatari mission there, before it is used in Qatar.

Which documents do you translate?

Articles and memoranda of association, powers of attorney, foreign commercial registrations, court judgments and arbitral awards, commercial and employment contracts, and certificates required for government transactions.

How much does legal translation cost?

The translation fee depends on the number of pages and the type of document, and we send a written quote before starting. Government attestation fees are separate: QAR 100 for MOFA attestation of a document.

Do you translate from Arabic into English?

Yes, we translate between Arabic and English in both directions. Documents submitted to Qatari government authorities and courts are translated into Arabic.

Do I need to bring the original?

We start the translation from a clear, complete copy. The original is needed for attestation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the notary, because attestation applies to live stamps and signatures.

Official sources

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Send your documents on WhatsApp and we will reply with the steps and the confirmed cost.

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