Arabic-Kurdish Translation: Supporting Kurdish Communities in the UK
The UK has one of the biggest Kurdish communities in Europe, living mainly in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield. Most Kurds in Britain have roots in Iraqi Kurdistan. Both Arabic and Kurdish have official status there, so their papers are often written in both languages or need translating from one into the other. Iraqi Kurdish identity papers (nationality certificates, information cards and civil status IDs) usually carry Arabic and Kurdish text side by side, and UK authorities often ask for a certified English translation of each part. Our translators know the distinctive layout of papers issued by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Kurdish asylum cases form a significant portion of Arabic-Kurdish translation demand. Syrian Kurdish refugees often have Arabic-language identity documents from the Syrian government alongside Kurdish-language community records. Iraqi Kurds may have Arabic court documents, Ba'ath-era records, and Anfal campaign documentation that requires careful translation. Turkish and Iranian Kurds may have Arabic-language religious certificates alongside Kurdish documents. We understand the political sensitivity of these documents and the importance of accurate translation for asylum tribunals, where a single terminology error can undermine a case.
Kurdish exists in two main written forms, Sorani (using Arabic script, standard in Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran) and Kurmanji (using Latin script, standard in Turkey and Syria). We translate Arabic documents into both variants, assigning the correct dialect based on your community and destination. For Iraqi Kurdish documents, we typically work with Sorani; for Turkish and Syrian Kurdish communities, we use Kurmanji. We also handle the Badini dialect spoken in Duhok governorate and the Hawrami variant, ensuring complete coverage of Kurdish linguistic diversity.
