How much should I pay for translation services?

If you need translation services in Saudi Arabia, you probably want to know: “How much will this cost me?” That’s a smart question! Whether you need a birth certificate translated for a visa, a business contract, or a medical report, understanding fair prices helps you budget and avoid paying too much. Let’s break it down in the simplest way possible!

Quick Answer: What You’ll Probably Pay

For most translation needs in Saudi Arabia, here’s what you can expect:

Document Type	Price Per Page	What’s Included
Simple documents (IDs, letters)	SAR 40 – SAR 75	Birth certificates, family cards, residence permits
Standard documents (certificates, licenses)	SAR 50 – SAR 85	Graduation certificates, driver’s licenses, commercial records
Business documents	SAR 75 – SAR 100	Contracts, reports, general business papers
Specialized documents (legal, medical, technical)	SAR 100 – SAR 150	Court judgments, medical reports, complex legal papers
Rare languages	20-50% higher	Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.

How Translation is Priced in Saudi Arabia

Translation companies in Saudi Arabia usually charge in one of two ways:

1. Per-Page Pricing (Most Common)

Most translation offices charge by the page. A standard page contains about 250 to 300 words . This is the easiest way to understand pricing because you can count how many pages you have!

Looking at actual prices from translation offices in Riyadh:

Service	Price at Noor Translation	Price at Rawnaq Al-Ebdaa
Birth certificate	SAR 40	SAR 30-150 range
National ID / Iqama	SAR 40	SAR 30-150 range
Family card	SAR 40	SAR 30-150 range
Commercial record	SAR 80	SAR 30-150 range
Court judgment	SAR 100	SAR 30-150 range
Medical report page	SAR 45	SAR 30-150 range
High school certificate	SAR 85	SAR 30-150 range
General English-Arabic page	SAR 40-75	SAR 30-150 range

Source: Noor Cultural Translation price list and Rawnaq Al-Ebdaa

2. Per-Word Pricing (For Freelancers)

Some freelance translators charge by the word instead of by the page:

Translator Type	Rate Per Word	For 1,000 Words
Experienced professional	€0.10 – €0.16 (SAR 0.40-0.65)	SAR 400 – SAR 650
Freelancer on Fiverr	$5 per 200 words (SAR 75 for 1,000)	SAR 75
Freelancer on Upwork	$10-30 per project	Varies by complexity

Important: Freelance rates may be cheaper, but they are usually NOT certified translations accepted by embassies or government offices !

What Makes the Price Go Up or Down?

Not all translations cost the same. Here’s what affects the final price:

Factors That Increase Cost

Factor	Why It Costs More
Document Type	Legal contracts, court judgments, and medical reports need special experts who charge more
Language Rarity	Rare languages like Chinese, Japanese, or Korean cost 20-50% more than common ones
Urgency	Need it today? Rush jobs (24-48 hours) can cost 50% extra
Certification	Official stamps and signatures from sworn translators add to the price
Attestation	MOFA authentication or embassy legalization adds extra fees
Formatting	Documents with tables, charts, or special layouts take extra work

Factors That Lower Cost

Factor	Why It Costs Less
Simple Documents	IDs, birth certificates, and letters are faster to translate
Large Volume	Many companies give discounts for big projects (10+ pages)
Translation Memory	Repeated text saves time and money on future projects
Regular Customers	Returning clients often get better rates

Real Examples: What You’ll Pay for Common Documents

Let’s look at what you might actually pay for documents you need:

Document	Typical Price Range	Where to Get It
Birth certificate for USA visa	SAR 40 – SAR 60	Certified translation office
Marriage certificate for Canada visa	SAR 40 – SAR 70	Certified translation office
University degree for UK study	SAR 50 – SAR 85	Certified translation office
Company contract for business	SAR 75 – SAR 120	Certified translation office
Medical report for treatment abroad	SAR 45 – SAR 100	Certified translation office
Driver’s license for international use	SAR 40 – SAR 50	Certified translation office
Court judgment for legal matters	SAR 80 – SAR 150	Sworn translator required

Tips to Get the Best Value (Without Getting Rejected!)

Here’s some friendly advice to help you save money AND get quality translation:

1. Ask What’s Included in the Price

Before you agree to any quote, ask:

Does this include certification (stamp and signature)?
Does it include proofreading by a second translator?
Is the Certificate of Accuracy included?
What about VAT (15%)? Is it included or extra?

2. Don’t Just Choose the Cheapest Option

This is SUPER important! Choosing the cheapest translator can actually cost you more in the long run. Why? Because if your translation gets rejected by the embassy or government, you’ll have to pay again AND wait longer .

Common rejection reasons:

Translator not licensed by Ministry of Justice
Missing certification statement on each page
Incorrect formatting
Terminology errors in legal/medical documents

The cost of rejection? Delays of 2-6 weeks and extra fees of SAR 800-2,500 !

3. Check If You Need a Sworn Translator

For legal documents going to Saudi courts, you need a sworn translator (مترجم محلف) licensed by the Ministry of Justice . These translators charge more but are the ONLY ones accepted for court cases.

4. Plan Ahead to Avoid Rush Fees

Standard delivery (24-48 hours) costs less than same-day service. If you’re not in a huge hurry, save money by planning ahead .

5. Order Multiple Certified Copies at Once

If you need multiple copies of your translated document (for different government offices), order them all at once. It’s much cheaper than coming back later .

6. Use Translation Memory for Repeat Business

If you’ll need more translations in the future, ask if the office uses translation memory software. This stores your translated text so future projects cost less and stay consistent .

Translation Office Price Comparison

Here’s how different translation offices in Saudi Arabia compare:

Translation Office	Price Range Per Page	Special Notes
Noor Cultural Translation (Riyadh)	SAR 40 – SAR 100	Clear published prices, fast service
Rawnaq Al-Ebdaa	SAR 30 – SAR 150	Licensed by Chamber of Commerce
Wadi Al-Nile (Olaya Street, Riyadh)	From SAR 40	Competitive prices
Qalam Translation	SAR 50 – SAR 120	Known for quality
Al-Idrisi Translation (Jeddah)	SAR 50 – SAR 100	High customer ratings
Shamil Translation (Riyadh)	Market rates	100% acceptance guarantee for embassies

Checklist: Questions to Ask Before You Pay

Before handing over your documents and money, ask these questions:

Is this a certified translation with official stamp?
Is the translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice (if needed)?
Does the price include proofreading?
Is VAT (15%) included or extra?
What’s the delivery time?
Is there a rush option and how much extra?
What happens if the embassy rejects it? (Free revisions?)
Do I get a digital copy (PDF) as well as hard copy?
Is delivery/pickup included?

Conclusion: What Should You Pay?

For most people in Saudi Arabia needing certified translation for official use, here’s what to budget:

Your Need	Budget Range
Simple personal document (birth cert, ID)	SAR 40 – SAR 60
Educational document (degree, transcript)	SAR 50 – SAR 85
Business document (contract, report)	SAR 75 – SAR 120
Legal/Medical document (court paper, medical report)	SAR 80 – SAR 150
Rare language translation (Chinese, Japanese)	20-50% higher

Remember: The goal isn’t just to find the cheapest price—it’s to get a translation that’s accepted the FIRST time by the embassy, university, or government office. A rejected translation costs more in time, money, and stress!

At Riwaaq Al-Ma’arifaa , we offer transparent pricing, certified translations, and friendly service for all your document needs—whether for USA visas, Canada immigration, UK university applications, or any other official purpose. We’ll give you a clear quote upfront and help you get it right the first time.

Contact us today for a friendly chat about your translation needs and a fair, honest price!