Arabic Interpreter for Delegations and Diplomacy in Vienna
Arabic ↔ German
Arabic ↔ English
Conference interpreter for Arabic speaking delegations in Vienna: state visits, ministerial meetings, conferences and business talks. Simultaneous, consecutive or whispered, in Arabic, German and English.
Your contact
Aliaa Azzouqa, MA
azzouqa@fachdolmetscher.atI am Aliaa Azzouqa, MA. I hold a Master in Conference Interpreting from the University of Graz and interpret for ministries, embassies and international organisations in Vienna.
Arabic interpreter for delegations and diplomacy in Vienna
Vienna hosts the United Nations, OPEC and a long list of international organisations. The city therefore receives Arabic speaking delegations all year round: ministers, diplomats, specialists from public administration, defence and healthcare, and business representatives from the Gulf states. As an Arabic interpreter for delegations and diplomacy, we make sure these meetings run precisely, in line with protocol and in full confidence.
I have interpreted for the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Vienna, the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Defence, the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the European Commission, UNICRI, GIZ and BIRD, among others. I know how state visits and expert delegations are run and what matters in the meeting room, at the dinner table and in front of the press.
Where we interpret
Delegation interpreting covers far more than the official talks at the negotiating table. We accompany your guests through the entire programme, from the welcome to the closing dinner, and adapt the mode of interpreting to each item on the agenda.
State visits and ministerial delegations
Bilateral talks, working breakfasts, signing ceremonies and courtesy visits at ministerial and state secretary level.
Conferences and expert meetings
Simultaneous interpreting from the booth or whispered interpreting for individual participants at conferences of international organisations in Vienna.
Business delegations and negotiations
Investor talks, company visits and contract negotiations with partners from the Gulf states and the wider Arab world.
Embassy engagements
Receptions, national day celebrations, working meetings and visits to Austrian institutions on behalf of Arab embassies.
Expert visits to ministries and hospitals
Study visits and professional exchange in security, administration, health or defence, with the right terminology for each field.
Press events
Press conferences, interviews and statements, where every phrase becomes public and has to be right the first time.
Simultaneous, consecutive and whispered interpreting
The right mode depends on the format, the number of participants and the room. We advise you in advance and, if you wish, coordinate the equipment with the conference technician.
- Simultaneous interpreting: The interpretation is delivered in real time from a soundproof booth or through a portable tour guide system. Suited to conferences, plenary sessions and meetings with a large audience. On longer assignments two interpreters work in rotation.
- Consecutive interpreting: The speaker pauses after each passage and the interpreter renders it from notes. Ideal for bilateral talks, dinner speeches, signing ceremonies and delegation visits. No equipment is needed, but allow roughly twice the speaking time.
- Whispered interpreting: For one or two listeners, the interpreter speaks quietly and simultaneously, for example when a single guest follows a meeting held in German. For small groups a portable whisper set with microphone and headsets is used.
Arabic, German and English in one setting
Diplomatic and business meetings in Vienna rarely involve only two languages. The Arab delegation speaks Arabic, the Austrian side German, and representatives of international organisations or companies English. We work in all three languages and in every direction, so a single interpreting team covers the whole event.
At conferences with several language booths we also interpret in relay: a contribution in Arabic is rendered into German or English, and the other booths take that rendering as their source. Communication stays consistent even at conferences with five or six languages.
Arabic is not one uniform language. I am a native speaker of Modern Standard Arabic and Levantine Arabic and interpret for delegations from the entire Arab world, from the Gulf to North Africa. Official speeches are usually delivered in Modern Standard Arabic, while table talk and side conversations switch to dialect, and both have to be handled with confidence.
Protocol and discretion
At diplomatic events I am part of the protocol as the interpreter. I stand or sit in the right place, speak in the first person, stay in the background and add no remarks of my own. I know these rules from many assignments.
- Confidentiality: Everything said during an assignment stays confidential. On request we sign a non-disclosure agreement in advance, including the template of your ministry or organisation.
- Dress and conduct: Business attire appropriate to the occasion, understated and matched to the rank of the guests. For military or religious engagements we agree the details with you beforehand.
- Order of precedence: We are familiar with the seating of bilateral talks, the order of greetings and the correct forms of address for ministers, ambassadors and members of ruling families in Arabic and German.
- Preparation with glossaries: For every assignment we compile a glossary of names, functions, institutions and technical terms so that titles and designations stay consistent across all three languages.
Translation of speeches, programmes and contracts
A delegation visit comes with written material: programmes, dinner speeches, welcome addresses, presentations, memoranda of understanding and contracts. We translate these texts in advance between Arabic, German and English so that both sides work with the same wording.
Speeches are translated to work when spoken aloud, with the right forms of address and courtesies. Contracts and memoranda are aligned with the interpreting glossaries. Where a document has to be submitted as a certified translation, it is produced by sworn and court certified translators.
Preparation and procedure
How a delegation assignment with us works.
Enquiry
You send us the date, venue, format, languages and a rough agenda. For delegations we ask for as much notice as possible, ideally several weeks before the event.
Quote and planning
You receive an individual quote covering the mode of interpreting, team size and equipment. For multi-day programmes we align the schedule with your protocol team.
Briefing and glossary
We ask for the programme, list of participants, speech texts and presentations. From these we build a glossary and agree it with you.
The assignment
We arrive well before the start, check equipment and seating and accompany your delegation through the entire programme.
Trusted by leading organizations
Request a Quote
Describe your project and we’ll get back to you with a quote, usually within a few hours.
Frequently asked questions about delegation interpreting
Answers for protocol departments, embassies and event organisers.
As early as possible. For single appointments we ask for at least 48 hours notice; for multi-day delegation visits and conferences with simultaneous equipment, several weeks is ideal. That leaves time for the briefing, the glossary and coordinating the equipment.
Yes. We interpret in all three languages and in every direction. At conferences with additional languages we work in relay with the other booths, so every contribution reaches every language.
Yes, including your institution's own template. Confidentiality is a given in the diplomatic environment and applies whether or not an agreement has been signed.
Yes, throughout Austria and on request abroad, for example when an Austrian delegation travels to an Arab country. Travel time and expenses are shown transparently in the quote.
Consecutive interpreting is the norm for bilateral talks and working visits, as it needs no equipment and suits the protocol setting. If time is short or many people are listening, whispered interpreting or simultaneous interpreting with a portable system is the better choice.
The programme, a list of participants with their functions, speech texts, presentations and, if available, earlier agreements or minutes. The more complete the material, the more precise the interpretation. All documents are treated confidentially and deleted after the assignment on request.
Yes. I have worked for the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Vienna, among others, and I am familiar with the customs of the Gulf states. Official talks are mostly held in Modern Standard Arabic; in informal settings I also interpret from the regional dialect.
Booths, sound systems and tour guide sets are supplied by conference technicians. Many venues in Vienna have regular partners; otherwise we recommend one and agree the requirements together with you.
More questions? Write to us.
Send enquiry