Arabic–English Contract Terms Glossary (50+ Terms)
Why a Contract Glossary, and Why Literal Translation Fails
This Arabic–English contract terms glossary lists more than 50 clauses and terms that appear in almost every commercial agreement in the UAE, with the Arabic that UAE lawyers and courts actually use and a one-line note on each. Keep it open when you read a bilingual contract, check a draft translation or brief a translator.
Literal translation fails in contracts for a simple reason: English contract language grew out of common law, while UAE law is a civil-law system built on the Civil Transactions Law (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985). Many English terms have no word-for-word Arabic equivalent. The translator has to choose the Arabic concept that UAE law recognises, otherwise a clause can read smoothly and still mean something else. In an onshore UAE court the Arabic text is the version the judge works from, so that choice matters.
If you want the deeper story behind the riskiest terms (shall vs may, prescription, without prejudice), read our separate guide to legal terms machine translation gets wrong. This page is the wider reference.
Structure, Parties and Boilerplate
| English term | Arabic (UAE usage) | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement / Contract | اتفاقية / عقد | Both are used in titles. عقد is the term UAE law uses for a binding contract; اتفاقية is common in titles of commercial agreements. |
| Parties | الطرفان / الأطراف | Use the dual الطرفان for two parties. Defined names such as "the Seller" become "البائع" and must stay the same throughout. |
| Recitals (Whereas) | التمهيد | Arabic contracts usually state that the preamble forms an integral part of the contract: "يُعد التمهيد جزءاً لا يتجزأ من هذا العقد". |
| Definitions | التعريفات | Translate each defined term once and reuse it exactly. A synonym later in the text invites an argument that it means something different. |
| Effective Date | تاريخ النفاذ / تاريخ السريان | Not the same as the signing date. Keep the two apart if the English does. |
| Term (duration) | مدة العقد | Not مصطلح, which means "term" in the sense of a word. |
| Schedule / Annex / Appendix | جدول / ملحق | Keep the numbering system of the original so cross-references still work. |
| Counterparts | النسخ | Usually rendered as "حُرر هذا العقد من نسختين أصليتين بيد كل طرف نسخة". |
| Entire Agreement | الاتفاق الكامل | States that the contract replaces earlier negotiations and drafts. |
| Amendment | التعديل | Often required "in writing signed by both parties": كتابةً وموقعاً من الطرفين. |
| Notices | الإخطارات | Keep addresses, emails and named recipients exactly as written; do not translate company names that are registered in English. |
| Representations and Warranties | الإقرارات والضمانات | A pair. Do not drop one half; a warranty here is a contractual promise, not a product guarantee. |
| Severability | استقلالية البنود / قابلية البنود للفصل | If one clause is invalid, the rest survive. |
Obligations and Performance
| English term | Arabic (UAE usage) | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| shall | يلتزم / يجب على | Creates an obligation. Not سوف (future tense). |
| may | يجوز / يحق لـ | Grants a right or discretion. Not ربما (perhaps). |
| Covenant / Undertaking | تعهد / التزام | A promise to do or not do something. |
| Best endeavours / Reasonable endeavours | بذل أقصى عناية / بذل العناية المعقولة | UAE law separates a duty of care from a duty to achieve a result; the wording decides which applies. |
| Condition precedent | شرط مسبق / شرط واقف | Obligations start only when it is met. Legal Arabic often uses الشرط الواقف. |
| Consideration | المقابل / العِوَض | A common-law idea; render the price or exchange, never اعتبار. |
| Payment terms | شروط الدفع / شروط السداد | Check that figures, currency and amounts in words match in both languages. |
| Late payment interest | فائدة التأخير / تعويض التأخير | Interest clauses are sensitive in UAE practice; translate exactly what is written and let the lawyer judge enforceability. |
Risk, Liability and Security
| English term | Arabic (UAE usage) | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| Indemnity / Indemnify | التعويض / يلتزم بتعويض … عن | An obligation to compensate. Not يُبرئ (release), which reverses the meaning. |
| Hold harmless | يُعفي من المسؤولية ويعوّض | Usually paired with indemnify; keep both elements. |
| Limitation of liability | تحديد المسؤولية | Caps and exclusions; check every number and every "except". |
| Liquidated damages | التعويض الاتفاقي / الشرط الجزائي | Under Art 390 of the Civil Transactions Law the judge may adjust agreed compensation to the actual loss. |
| Force majeure | القوة القاهرة | A known UAE concept (impossibility of performance). Translate the clause’s own list of events in full. |
| Hardship / change of circumstances | الظروف الطارئة / الحوادث الاستثنائية | Different from force majeure: performance is possible but onerous. |
| Joint and several liability | المسؤولية بالتضامن (والتكافل) | Each party can be pursued for the whole debt. Not مشترك ومنفصل. |
| Guarantee / Surety | الكفالة / الضمان | A personal guarantee is كفالة؛ the guarantor is الكفيل. |
| Performance bond / bank guarantee | ضمان حسن التنفيذ / خطاب ضمان | Bank instruments have set Arabic names; follow the bank’s own wording when quoting them. |
| Insurance | التأمين | Policy, insured and beneficiary: وثيقة التأمين، المؤمَّن له، المستفيد. |
| Waiver | التنازل عن الحق | Not giving up the whole contract, only a right. |
Ending, Transferring and Breaching the Contract
| English term | Arabic (UAE usage) | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| Termination | الإنهاء | Ends the contract for the future. |
| Rescission | الفسخ | Can unwind the contract; mixing it up with الإنهاء changes refund and damages rights. |
| Expiry | انتهاء المدة | The contract ends by itself at the end of the term; no one terminates it. |
| Termination for convenience | الإنهاء دون سبب / الإنهاء للملاءمة | A right to end without a breach, usually with notice. |
| Breach / Material breach | الإخلال / الإخلال الجوهري | Keep "material"; it sets the threshold for termination. |
| Notice period | مهلة الإخطار | State whether days are calendar or business days, as the source does. |
| Cure period | مهلة المعالجة / مهلة التصحيح | Time to fix a breach before termination. |
| Survival | استمرار السريان بعد انتهاء العقد | Lists clauses (confidentiality, liability) that outlive the contract. |
| Assignment | حوالة الحق / التنازل | Transfers rights; often needs the other party’s consent. |
| Novation | تجديد الالتزام / الحلول | Replaces a party or an obligation; everyone must agree. |
| Subcontracting | التعاقد من الباطن | The main contractor stays responsible unless the clause says otherwise. |
| Change of control | تغيّر السيطرة | Triggered by a change in ownership of a party; render "control" with the clause’s own definition. |
Disputes, Language and Confidentiality
| English term | Arabic (UAE usage) | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| Governing law | القانون الواجب التطبيق / القانون الحاكم | Which law applies. Not the same as jurisdiction. |
| Jurisdiction | الاختصاص القضائي | Which court hears the dispute; "exclusive jurisdiction" is الاختصاص الحصري. |
| Arbitration | التحكيم | The arbitration agreement is اتفاق التحكيم; the tribunal is هيئة التحكيم. |
| Seat of arbitration | مقر التحكيم | A legal place, not just the hearing venue (مكان انعقاد الجلسات). |
| Amicable settlement | التسوية الودية | Often a required first step before court or arbitration. |
| Prevailing language | اللغة المعتمدة / اللغة التي يُعتد بها | Says which version wins if they differ; both versions still need to match. |
| Confidentiality | السرية | Confidential Information is المعلومات السرية, defined once. |
| Non-compete / Non-solicitation | عدم المنافسة / عدم الاستقطاب | Keep the time and territory limits exactly as written. |
| Intellectual property rights | حقوق الملكية الفكرية | Licence is ترخيص; assignment of IP is نقل ملكية or التنازل عن الحقوق. |
Common Mistakes in Contract Translation
- Synonyms for defined terms. "Services" becomes الخدمات on page 1 and الأعمال on page 9. In a dispute, that inconsistency is an argument.
- Termination and rescission merged into إلغاء. The everyday word hides a real legal difference.
- Numbers that do not match. Figures, percentages and amounts in words are checked against each other in both languages.
- Dropped negatives and exceptions. "Save as otherwise provided", "except", "not" and "unless" carry the clause.
- Common-law labels rendered literally. Consideration, without prejudice and equitable relief need the UAE concept or a careful explanatory rendering.
- No prevailing-language clause. Decide which version prevails, then make sure the two still match. See bilingual contract drafting vs translation.
What is the Arabic for force majeure in UAE contracts?
القوة القاهرة. UAE law treats force majeure as impossibility of performance. Translate the clause’s list of events and its consequences in full, because the contract may go further than the general rule.
Is liquidated damages the same as a penalty clause in Arabic?
Both are usually rendered as التعويض الاتفاقي or الشرط الجزائي. Under UAE law the judge can adjust agreed compensation to match the actual loss, so the English distinction between a valid sum and a penalty does not transfer directly.
How do you translate governing law and jurisdiction into Arabic?
Governing law is القانون الواجب التطبيق (or القانون الحاكم); jurisdiction is الاختصاص القضائي. They answer different questions and should never share one Arabic phrase.
Can I use this contract glossary instead of a translator?
Use it to read and check. A contract that will be signed, filed or used in court needs a translator who knows both legal systems and can see each term in context.
Which language prevails in a bilingual UAE contract?
Whichever the contract says. Before an onshore UAE court the Arabic text is what the court reads, so even an English-prevails contract needs an accurate Arabic version.
How much does Arabic–English contract translation cost?
Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available for many documents. The final price depends on the word count of your contract.
How SWLT Helps
We translate and review contracts between Arabic and English for companies, law firms and individuals, and we keep a consistent bilingual term list for clients with repeat agreements. See legal translation in the UAE and commercial contract translation in Dubai.
Disclaimer
This glossary is a language reference, not legal advice. The right Arabic or English term always depends on the context of the document, the governing law and the authority that will read it, and laws, forms and official terminology change. For advice on your rights or obligations, consult a lawyer licensed in the UAE; for a document you will submit, use a licensed legal translator.
Get Your Contract Translated
Send us the contract, tell us where it will be used and which language should prevail, and we will confirm the price and delivery time. Smart World Legal Translation – Sole Proprietorship L.L.C. (SWLT) is a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translation company in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, led by Dr. Hani Elimam. Our federal accreditation is accepted across the UAE, including by Dubai Courts, and we hold exclusive interpretation contracts with the UAE Federal Courts and the Federal Public Prosecution. Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available for many documents. Send us the document on WhatsApp (+971 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.