Arabic Translation Requirements for Saudi Arabia (2025 Guide)

Saudi Arabia's official language is Arabic, and all documents submitted to government institutions must be in Arabic or accompanied by certified Arabic translations. This requirement is enforced by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Resources, and the Ministry of Interior. There is no general exception for English-language documents.

International students applying to Saudi universities — whether independently or through scholarship programmes — must provide certified Arabic translations of all academic documents. This includes:

• University diploma (or degree certificate) • Academic transcript showing courses and grades • Secondary school certificate (for undergraduate programmes) • Language proficiency certificate (if applicable) • Passport biographical page • Birth certificate

For scholarship programmes (King Abdullah Scholarship, KAUST Fellowship, KFUPM scholarships), translations must be submitted as part of the application package to the Saudi Cultural Mission or the university admissions portal.

Foreign workers applying for Saudi work visas and iqama (residency permit) must provide certified Arabic translations of:

• Passport • Educational qualifications (if the position requires them) • Police clearance certificate (maximum 6 months old) • Employment contract (if issued outside Saudi Arabia) • Professional licences (for regulated professions: medical, legal, engineering)

Professional licences for regulated professions often require additional verification by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (for medical) or the Saudi Council of Engineers (for engineering) beyond simple translation.

Foreign residents in Saudi Arabia (iqama holders) who wish to sponsor family members must submit certified Arabic translations of:

• Sponsor's iqama (already in Arabic, but required) • Family member's passport • Marriage certificate (for spouses) • Birth certificates (for children) • Medical certificate (for some visa categories)

All family-related documents must show consistent name transliterations matching the sponsor's iqama records.

Saudi authorities accept translations certified by a qualified translator. The certification must include a statement declaring the translator's qualification, the accuracy of the translation, and the translator's signature. Notarisation is not universally required but is recommended for documents submitted to courts, certain professional bodies, and the Saudi embassy in some countries.

Translations should ideally be submitted as physical documents (printed and signed) when applying through an embassy, and as PDF files when applying through digital government portals such as Absher or Muqeem.

• KAUST: Requires certified translations of transcripts and degree certificates. Very international admissions office; familiar with global document formats. • King Saud University (KSU): Requires certified translations plus Ministry of Education academic equivalency for independent applicants. • KFUPM: Requires certified translations for engineering and science transcripts; technical terminology accuracy is important. • King Abdulaziz University (KAU): Requires certified translations of all academic documents for international admissions.