What language are civil court proceedings conducted in across the UAE?

In the UAE's onshore (mainland) civil courts, proceedings are conducted in Arabic, which is the official language of the judiciary. This means that pleadings, evidence, contracts, and supporting documents submitted to the court must be in Arabic or accompanied by an Arabic translation prepared by a legally accredited (sworn) translator, and hearings are held in Arabic. If you do not speak Arabic, the court process relies on these translations and on your legal representative, and the Arabic version of documents generally governs in official use. By contrast, the financial free-zone courts, the DIFC Courts and ADGM Courts, operate in English under common-law procedures for matters within their jurisdiction, which can be an important difference if your dispute falls within their remit. Because translation requirements are strict and a poor or missing translation can weaken your position, it is important to handle documents carefully from the start. Understanding which court governs your dispute also tells you which language and procedure will apply. You can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI who work in your language to help you navigate the process and ensure documents are properly translated.