Interpreting

Interpreting services in the UAE: prices and how to book

Updated 4 November 2026

An on-site interpreter for a full day in the UAE costs roughly AED 1,200 to AED 2,500, according to sellers' websites, and the final price depends on the language pair, the subject and the city. To see current offers for your date, describe the event in a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Licensing: what to check before you hire

Translation and interpreting work in the UAE is regulated. The federal decree that governs translation work sets conditions such as passing tests set by the Ministry, and a foreign applicant must hold a valid residence permit. Freelancers usually work under a freelance permit, which is typically AED 7,500 to AED 20,000 plus visa costs, and is almost always cheaper than a company licence. Ask any interpreter which status they work under before you agree a booking.

Season and timing

The summer is very hot from May to September, and the mild winter runs from November to March. Meetings, site visits and outdoor events are far more comfortable in that mild window, so this is the time to fix an interpreter for a visit that involves walking around a site. Interpreters work across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Al Ain, and the location changes the quote, so give the venue address when you ask for prices.

How interpreting is bought here

Quotes are given by the hour or by the day, and a full-day on-site rate is one of the standard ways to book. Ask whether the quote includes travel between emirates and whether the 5% VAT is added on top. For certified documents, translation is a separate price per page, so keep those files apart from the interpreting booking.

What to put in your request

Name the language pair, such as Arabic to English, and the mode: consecutive, simultaneous or whispered. Add the date, the start time and the duration, the subject, the number of listeners and whether you need equipment or booths. A clear request lets sellers quote one firm price instead of a range.

Interpreters and agencies that work on BlaBlaPrice receive your request and reply in the chat with their own price, terms and availability. The AI reads the request, asks for missing details and looks through sellers' websites in the UAE, then shows the prices and businesses it found. Your contact details stay hidden, and you choose whom to exchange contacts with. You can also send the request link to interpreters you already know. Start with create a request on BlaBlaPrice, or see translation and typing services for related work.