Why Arabic-language documents need careful translation
If your company is from an Arabic-speaking market, the papers for a China trademark — power of attorney, certificate of incorporation, registry extract — are in Arabic. CNIPA examines everything in Chinese, so each document must be translated, and Arabic adds two layers that Latin-script languages do not: a right-to-left script and a name structure built on patronymic connectors. A company name transliterated without its Arabic original, or a personal name split at the wrong point, can put the wrong entity on the register.
Below are the Arabic points we handle most, so you know what to prepare before filing.
Which documents usually need translating
Foreign applicants generally need to translate:
- وكالة (wakala, power of attorney) — mandatory unless you have a business presence in China; it appoints your China agent.
- شهادة تسجيل الشركة / سجل تجاري (certificate of incorporation / commercial registry extract) — shows the exact registered name and legal form.
- عقد التأسيس (articles of association) — sometimes requested to confirm the entity.
- Priority documents — if you claim Paris Convention priority within six months of an earlier filing.
- Documents of name or address change — when the recorded name differs from an earlier filing.
- عقد تنازل أو ترخيص (assignment or licence deeds) — when relying on prior rights.
Our general guide to translating corporate documents for a China trademark covers the rules that apply to every language. The notes below are specific to Arabic.
Arabic entity forms and how they are rendered
Arabic company names carry a legal-form description that must be translated consistently:
- شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة (Sharikat Dhat Mas'uliyya Mahduda) — a limited-liability company; noted as 有限责任公司.
- شركة مساهمة مغلقة (Sharikat Musahama Maktha) — a closed joint-stock company.
- شركة مساهمة عامة (Sharikat Musahama Amma) — a public joint-stock company.
- شركة توصية بسيطة (Sharikat Tawsiya Bassita) — a simple limited partnership.
The registered name before the legal form is kept as filed; the form is noted in Chinese. The form on the وكالة, the سجل تجاري, and the application must match — a mismatch between "شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة" and a different form on another document draws an office action.
Right-to-left layout and the Arabic original
Arabic documents read right to left, and their numbering and seals follow that direction. When we translate, we preserve the original Arabic script alongside the Chinese so the examiner and your own records can verify the two against each other. The Chinese filing itself is left to right, so the Arabic name is transliterated into Chinese characters (音译) while the Arabic original is retained for confirmation.
Personal names: ibn, bin, and bint
Arabic personal names are built on patronymic connectors, and mishandling them is the most common error:
- بن / ابن (bin / ibn) means "son of"; بنت (bint) means "daughter of." These are connectors, not surnames.
- ال (Al- / El-) is a definite article attached to the name; it travels with the name and must not be dropped.
- A full name such as "محمد بن عبدالله" (Mohammed bin Abdullah) has the structure given name + connector + father's name. Splitting it at the connector, or treating "bin" as a surname, puts the wrong person on the register.
We keep the Arabic original and a single consistent Chinese transliteration so the legal identity is preserved exactly.
The power of attorney in Arabic
The وكالة should name your China agent exactly and state a clear scope — filing, prosecution, and registration. Arabic phrasing around "وكيل" (agent) versus "ممثل" (representative) can be read differently by an examiner, so we render the authority in Chinese without ambiguity. We keep the original Arabic and the Chinese translation side by side in the filed set.
Apostille and certification
Apostille rules differ across Arab states — several are Hague Apostille Convention members, while others are not, and the path for a given document depends on the country and the year. Rather than guess, confirm the current requirement for your papers in our by-country reference and the what to notarise guide. Arabic documents also often need a certified translation (ترجمة معتمدة) in the country of origin before they travel; we coordinate the Arabic-to-Chinese step so the chain is complete.
The translation statement (ordinary translation, not sworn)
CNIPA requires a Chinese translation of any Arabic-language document, accompanied by a translation statement attesting completeness and accuracy, with the translator or agency details and a date. Arabic-to-Chinese is a two-script translation, so it should be done by a translator comfortable with both Arabic and Chinese, not by machine translation. We deliver the translation with the statement attached and ready to submit.
How we handle Arabic translations
Our Arabic-to-Chinese work is done by translators working in intellectual-property contexts, not generalists. For each client we keep a glossary so the applicant name, legal form, and key goods terms are rendered identically across the وكالة, the سجل تجاري, and the application. Before filing, we cross-check the transliterated applicant name against the mark you intend to register, because a mismatch is one of the quieter causes of refusals.
Translating the goods and services list from Arabic
The specification of goods and services is itself translated from your Arabic filing. Arabic terms such as "بيع بالتجزئة" or "برمجيات قابلة للتنزيل" must be mapped onto the Chinese accepted vocabulary and the correct Nice class. A literal translation can drift outside what CNIPA accepts, producing a correction notice. We align the Chinese wording with classification practice rather than translating word for word.
Legal name versus trade name
The Arabic registered company name can differ from the brand you trade under. For a trademark filing, translate the registered name as the applicant; protecting the brand is a separate mark decision. Mixing the two on one form is a frequent source of office actions.
Seals and signatures
Arabic documents often carry a company seal and handwritten signatures. These do not need translating, but the particulars they certify — name, legal form, registry number — do. We translate the particulars and note the seal so the examiner sees the document is properly executed.
When to translate
Translate the set before you file. A two-script Arabic-to-Chinese translation done in a hurry, after CNIPA has raised a query, compresses your response window and risks inconsistency. Sending the documents up front lets us build the glossary once and reuse it across the whole filing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to translate my Arabic company documents into Chinese for a China trademark?
Yes. CNIPA examines filings in Chinese, so any Arabic-language document must be submitted with a Chinese translation and a translation statement.
How is an Arabic company name transliterated into Chinese?
The Arabic name is transliterated into Chinese characters so it sounds like the original, while the Arabic script is retained alongside for verification. The form is kept identical across every document in the filing set.
What are ibn and bin in an Arabic name?
They mean "son of" and are patronymic connectors, not surnames. A name such as Mohammed bin Abdullah must be kept whole so the right person is recorded.
What certification does an Arabic document need for China?
It varies by country and document type, so confirm the path in our by-country reference before filing.
Does the translator have to be sworn?
No. China does not require a civil-law sworn translator. A professional translation with a statement of accuracy is what is filed.
How long does an Arabic-to-Chinese translation take?
A standard filing set is typically turned around in a few business days, faster when the glossary is already established for a returning client.