Construction Contract Disputes: Arabic Translation

The contractor stopped work. The developer withheld payment. Both sides hired lawyers. The contract is 120 pages of FIDIC Red Book conditions with particular conditions, schedules, a bill of quantities, and three years of variation orders. All in English. The case is going to Dubai Courts. Every page needs to be in Arabic.

Construction disputes are among the most document-intensive cases in UAE courts. The contracts are long. The supporting documents — variation orders, payment certificates, consultant reports, site instructions — add hundreds of pages. All drafted in English. All needed in Arabic for court.

Why Construction Contracts Are in English

The UAE construction industry operates in English by convention. FIDIC conditions (Red Book for building, Yellow Book for plant, Silver Book for turnkey) are published in English. The consultants, engineers, and quantity surveyors communicate in English. The contractual chain — from developer to main contractor to subcontractor — uses English documents.

This creates no problem until a dispute reaches court. Dubai Courts, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and all mainland courts operate in Arabic. The judge reads Arabic. The court record is in Arabic. The pleadings are in Arabic.

The 120-page English contract must become a 120-page Arabic document before the judge can consider it.

What Needs Translation

A typical construction dispute file includes:

The Main Contract

The FIDIC-based contract with particular conditions specific to the project. This is the core document — 40 to 80 pages of conditions defining rights, obligations, timelines, and payment terms.

Key clauses that drive most disputes:

• Clause 8 (Commencement, Delays, Suspension) — who caused the delay
• Clause 12 (Measurement and Evaluation) — how work is valued
• Clause 13 (Variations and Adjustments) — who authorised the changes
• Clause 14 (Contract Price and Payment) — who owes what
• Clause 15 (Termination by Employer) — whether the termination was valid
• Clause 20 (Claims, Disputes, Arbitration) — procedural requirements

The translation of these clauses must use the established Arabic legal equivalents. FIDIC has an Arabic edition, and the terminology should align where applicable.

The Bill of Quantities

The BOQ lists every item of work with descriptions, units, quantities, rates, and amounts. A typical BOQ runs 20 to 50 pages of line items. Payment disputes often come down to how specific BOQ items were measured and valued.

Translating the BOQ is time-consuming but necessary when payment is in dispute. Each line item — “supply and fix 12mm tempered glass partition, including aluminium framing, silicone sealant, and all hardware” — must be rendered accurately in Arabic.

Variation Orders

Variation orders (VOs) authorise changes to the original scope. They include:

• The description of the changed work
• The reason for the variation
• The cost impact (additions and omissions)
• The time impact
• The consultant’s approval or instruction

Each VO is a separate document, typically one to three pages. A project with 50 VOs means 50 individual translations. These are critical because most construction disputes centre on unauthorised variations, undervalued variations, or variations that were performed but never formalised.

Payment Certificates

Interim payment certificates (IPCs) and final payment certificates document what was certified for payment. These are typically one to two pages each, issued monthly. The gap between what was applied for and what was certified is often the evidence that supports the claim.

Consultant Reports and Site Instructions

The engineer’s or consultant’s reports, site instructions, and correspondence form the factual record of the project. These are evidence of what was instructed, what was approved, and what was rejected.

Translation Timeline and Cost

A full construction contract file for court is a major translation project:

Total for a medium dispute: 150-300 pages, 5-10 working days for translation.

The court’s evidence submission deadline does not wait for translation. Instruct the translator the moment litigation becomes likely, not when the court sets the deadline. Early preparation also allows the lawyer to review the Arabic translation against the English original before submission.

Arbitration vs Court

Many construction contracts include an arbitration clause. DIAC (Dubai International Arbitration Centre), ADCCAC, or ICC arbitration can proceed in English if both parties agree and the arbitration rules permit it.

If the arbitration proceeds in English, translation is not needed during the proceedings. But if the losing party challenges the award or the winning party seeks enforcement through UAE courts, the arbitration award and key documents must be translated into Arabic for the court enforcement process.

Contact Channels

For MOJ-certified Arabic translation of construction contracts, variation orders, and dispute documents:

• WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217
• iMessage: +971 50 862 0217
• Email: info@onlinetranslation.ae
• Phone: +971 50 862 0217
• Walk-in: Palm Jumeirah Mall, Dubai

Send the contract or document set. We provide a page count, timeline, and fixed quote. Construction terminology is handled by translators familiar with FIDIC conditions and UAE construction law.