How Much Does Arabic Translation Cost in the UK?
Arabic translation pricing can seem confusing, but it follows simple rules. This guide breaks down exactly what you'll pay for professional Arabic translation services in the UK in 2026, with real prices based on our transparent pricing structure.
Definition
Arabic translation pricing in the UK is based on either per-word rates (£0.09-£0.12/word) or competitive fixed fees for certificates. The main factors affecting cost are urgency and specialist content requirements.
TL;DR
UK Arabic translation costs £0.09-£0.12 per word for documents, with a competitive fixed fee for certificates. Arabic is classified as a Tier 3 language. Urgency adds 15-40%. All prices exclude 20% VAT.
Key Facts
Arabic Per-Word Pricing Explained
Per-word pricing is the global standard for translation services. You pay based on the word count of your source Arabic document (the original), not the translation.
Why per-word? It's fair and transparent. A 100-word Arabic letter costs less than a 10,000-word Arabic manual. You only pay for what you need.
2026 Arabic Translation Rates
Arabic to English: £0.09-£0.12/word (most common pair)
Arabic to European languages: £0.10-£0.14/word (French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese)
Arabic to Turkish: £0.10-£0.13/word
English to Arabic: £0.10-£0.14/word (includes RTL formatting)
Arabic Certificate Translation Pricing
Single-page Arabic documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, and driving licences use fixed pricing regardless of word count:
- First Arabic certificate: Fixed fee (includes certification)
- Additional Arabic certificates: £25 each (volume discount)
This fixed fee covers Arabic translation, certification, and digital delivery. No hidden extras.
Why fixed pricing? Arabic certificates have relatively few words but require the same certification process. Per-word pricing would be unfair for these short documents.
What Affects Your Arabic Translation Price?
Several factors influence your Arabic translation cost:
- Target language: Arabic-English is most common and competitive; other pairs cost slightly more
- Service type: AI-assisted (Standard) is 30% cheaper than human-only (Premium)
- Urgency: Same-day adds 40%, express (12hr) adds 25%, fast (24hr) adds 15%
- Specialisation: Legal, medical, and technical Arabic content adds 20-30%
- Direction: English to Arabic includes RTL formatting at no extra charge
What's included: Arabic translation, quality assurance, certification (where applicable), and digital delivery. No hidden project management fees or handling charges.
Comparing Arabic Translation Prices in the UK
How do our Arabic translation prices compare to the UK market?
Average UK market rates for Arabic (2026):
- Standard Arabic translation: £0.10-£0.15/word
- Certified Arabic translation: £0.12-£0.18/word
- Specialist Arabic (legal/medical): £0.15-£0.22/word
- Arabic certificate fixed fee: Competitive rates/document
Our rates are competitive because we specialise exclusively in Arabic translation, allowing us to work efficiently with native Arabic translators.
Warning signs of overpriced services:
- Project management fees added on top
- Per-page rather than per-word pricing
- Mandatory notarisation when not required
- Hidden urgency fees not disclosed upfront
When to Choose Standard vs Premium Arabic Translation
Standard Arabic (AI + Human Review) - £0.09-£0.12/word
Best for: Business documents, technical manuals, website content, internal communications, marketing materials.
How it works: AI translation creates a draft, then professional native Arabic linguists review and refine for accuracy.
Premium Arabic (Human Only) - £0.12-£0.15/word
Best for: Legal contracts, court documents, medical records, official UKVI submissions.
How it works: Experienced native Arabic translators work from scratch without AI assistance.
Key insight: Standard quality is excellent for most purposes. Save Premium for content where the highest level of nuance matters or for certified translations.
Volume Discounts for Arabic Translation
Larger Arabic projects and regular customers benefit from better rates:
- Volume discount: Arabic projects over 5,000 words get 10-20% off
- Repetition discount: Repeated Arabic content charged at 30% rate
- Agency rates: Translation agencies and resellers get preferential pricing
- Contract rates: Regular customers can lock in rates with monthly agreements
Contact us for custom pricing on ongoing Arabic translation work.
Arabic Translation Cost Factors
Arabic Source Word Count
Pricing is based on your original Arabic document's word count, not the translation. This is the global standard.
100+ Languages
We translate Arabic to and from 100+ languages including English, French, German, Spanish and more.
Urgency Surcharges
Same-day adds 40%. Express (12hr) adds 25%. Fast (24hr) adds 15%. Plan ahead for best Arabic translation rates.
Arabic Certification Included
Certificate pricing includes full certification. No extra charge for the signed statement.
VAT Applies
All prices exclude 20% VAT for UK customers. VAT-registered businesses can reclaim.
No Hidden Fees
Your Arabic translation quote is your final price. No project management fees or surprise extras.
Arabic Translation Pricing 2026
Current rates for professional Arabic translation services
| Service Type | Price | Target Languages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Arabic (AI + Human) | £0.09-£0.12/word | EN, FR, DE, ES, IT, NL, TR, PT | Business documents, manuals, websites |
| Premium Arabic (Human Only) | £0.12-£0.15/word | EN, FR, DE, ES, IT, NL, TR, PT | Legal, medical, official content |
| Arabic Certificate Translation | Fixed fee/document | All 100+ languages | Birth, marriage, diplomas, IDs |
| Additional Arabic Certificates | £25/document | All 100+ languages | Multiple certificates together |
| Notarisation | +£180 | All 100+ languages | International legal use only |
| Same-Day Arabic Urgency | +40% | All 100+ languages | Urgent applications |
All prices exclude 20% VAT. Prices current as of January 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
UK Arabic translation costs £0.09-£0.15 per word depending on service type and target language. Arabic to English is £0.09-£0.12/word. Arabic to other European languages costs slightly more at £0.10-£0.14/word.
Certified Arabic translation of certificates and single-page documents is available at a competitive fixed fee per document. Multi-page Arabic documents use per-word pricing (£0.12-£0.15/word) plus certification. Additional certificates in the same order receive a volume discount.
Arabic is classified as a Tier 3 language due to its complex script, right-to-left formatting, and specialist translator requirements. However, as Arabic translation specialists, we offer competitive rates.
Yes. We have a minimum order value for Arabic translation. This covers fixed costs of project setup, quality assurance, and certification regardless of document length. Contact us for details.
Urgency surcharges for Arabic: Same-day (6 hours) adds 40%. Express (12 hours) adds 25%. Fast (24 hours) adds 15%. Standard Arabic delivery (2-3 days) has no surcharge.
Not for UK domestic use. UKVI, universities, DVLA, and UK courts accept certified Arabic translation without notarisation. Notarisation (£180+) is only needed for international legal use.
Word count is calculated from your source Arabic document. Our system extracts the exact count from uploaded documents. Arabic typically has fewer words than English due to its structure.
Yes. Arabic projects over 5,000 words get 10-20% discount. Repetitive Arabic content (common in manuals) is charged at 30% rate. Regular customers can negotiate contract rates.
Our prices include Arabic translation, quality assurance, certification (where applicable), RTL formatting, and digital delivery. No hidden project management fees.
Upload your Arabic documents to our quote system. It extracts the exact word count and calculates pricing based on your target language and service requirements. Instant quotes are accurate.
Have more questions? Contact us Contact Us
Related Arabic Translation Resources
Get Your Exact Arabic Translation Price Now
Upload your Arabic documents for an instant, accurate quote. See exactly what you'll pay before committing - no obligation.