3 Signs You Need to Change Your Translation Agency
Introduction
Dubai’s position as a global business hub demands impeccable multilingual communication. In 2024 alone, the global translation and localization market was valued at $71.7 billion, with a projected growth of 7% by 2025.
This led to the demand spiking for specialist translation services like legal, medical, technical, and marketing localization, across markets.
Yet, when your translation provider in Dubai delivers inconsistent updates, misses industry specific terminology, or obscures fees, you risk stalled launches, compliance errors, and budget overruns. These trends are clear indications that your current language service provider (LSP) needs a change. Apart from the common checks like vetting for how many dedicated Arabic native linguistic experts and technical experts an agency employs, there are other factors you must consider.
In this blog, we have listed three unmistakable signs that will tell you the right time to switch agencies and partner with a top tier Professional Translation Services in Dubai.
- Poor Communication & Project Management Processes
It’s quite surprising that in today’s global market, only 52% of localization projects meet their original deadlines, signaling widespread project management challenges.
Delays and misalignment in translation can derail product launches, compliance filings, and marketing campaigns. It is a clear sign of mismanagement if your agency takes days to acknowledge emails or calls, signaling an internal backlog on the agency side and low prioritization of your projects.
Ensure that your translation agency provides you with real time dashboards, defined SLAs, and a dedicated project manager with Dubai local availability.
With these measures, you will have clarity right from the initial briefing to final delivery, safeguarding your marketing campaigns and compliance deadlines.
- Quality Inconsistency & Expertise Gaps
Accurate terminology is non negotiable in specialized fields. Legal, medical, and technical Arabic translations require niche knowledge. For example, mistranslating “mg” as “ml” in a medical report could endanger lives, while an incorrect “force majeure” clause in a DIFC contract might void insurance claims.
Reputable agencies follow ISO 17100 standards, which require a two-step workflow
- Translation by a specialist.
- Revision by a second linguist.
Another way to cross-check the expertise of your Arabic translation agency is to notice if there are any differing translations of the same technical term across documents.
One rising risk in 2025 is the rapid adoption of machine translation editing that highlights both opportunity and risk.
Choose an agency that assigns dedicated subject matter experts, maintains industry specific glossaries, and conducts SME reviews before final delivery.
- Hidden Charges & Over Reliance on Automation
Low per word quotes can veil undisclosed fees, and unedited machine translation that often requires costly rework.
It typically surges from 10–15% of the quote, which are common yet omitted from initial estimate. While 39% of marketers use machine translation, only those that pair it with human post editing practices achieve reliable quality.
While finalizing your next Certified Document Translation in Dubai partner, check for
- Fully itemized quotes detailing per word rates, PM fees, rush surcharges, and DTP costs
- Clear machine/AI translation policies that mandate human post editing on all deliverables
- A fixed fee or SLA backed pricing to eliminate surprise invoices.
By demanding the complete pricing transparency and balanced workflows, you protect your budget while maintaining the highest quality standards.
For deeper insights into avoiding costly errors, explore our blog How Poor Translation Can Affect Your Business Bottom Line.
Conclusion
In Dubai’s high stakes market, translation missteps are more than inconveniences, they impact revenue and your business’s reputation. In a nutshell, if you’re experiencing opaque processes, inconsistent technical outputs, or surprise fees, it’s time to transition to a Professional Arabic to English Translation Company in Dubai that delivers end to end transparency, expert linguists, and predictable costs.
Let’s work together to create exceptional translations that drive results. Get a quote today!