--- title: "RERA Dispute Arabic English Contract Difference" description: "Your bilingual tenancy contract says one thing in English and another in Arabic. At RERA, the Arabic version wins. What to check before it becomes a problem." url: "https://onlinetranslation.ae/blog/rera-dispute-arabic-english-difference/" lang: "en-AE" --- [](/blog)Back to Blog *Daily Blog* # RERA Dispute and Your Contract Says Something Different in Arabic Than English 5 min read You have a rental dispute. You pull out your tenancy contract — the bilingual one with Arabic on the right and English on the left. You read the English side. It seems clear. Then you file a case at RERA. And the ruling goes against you because the Arabic side says something different. This is not a rare scenario. Bilingual contracts in the UAE are drafted by typing centres, property management companies, and sometimes landlords themselves. The two versions are supposed to say the same thing. They often don't. ## The Arabic version is the one that counts Under UAE law, when there's a conflict between the Arabic and English versions of a legal document, the Arabic text prevails. This isn't a suggestion — it's a fundamental principle of UAE legal proceedings. RERA's Rental Dispute Settlement Centre applies this rule consistently. Most tenants who don't read Arabic never check the Arabic side. They read the English, sign the contract, and assume both sides match. The assumption holds until it doesn't — usually during a dispute when money is at stake. ## Where the discrepancies hide Most of the contract will match. The rent amount, the property address, the landlord's name — these are usually identical. The differences tend to appear in the clauses that matter most during disputes: - Early termination. The English might say "either party may terminate with 2 months' notice." The Arabic might say "the tenant may terminate with 3 months' notice and a 2-month penalty." That extra clause changes everything. - Maintenance responsibilities. English says "landlord handles major repairs." Arabic may define "major" differently, or include a spending threshold before landlord responsibility kicks in. - Security deposit refund. English says "refunded upon vacating." Arabic might add conditions — no outstanding utilities, professional cleaning receipt, inspection within 7 days. - Rent increase terms. The Arabic may reference specific RERA calculator thresholds. The English may omit this entirely. These aren't deliberate traps in most cases. They're the result of one language being drafted first, then loosely translated into the other by someone at a typing centre. The English is often a summary, not an exact mirror. ## What to do before you sign If you're about to sign a bilingual tenancy contract and you don't read Arabic, get the Arabic portion independently translated. Not by the landlord. Not by the typing centre that drafted it. By a separate [](/legal/contracts/lease)certified translator who can confirm whether the two versions match. This costs far less than losing a dispute because a clause you didn't know existed was hiding in the Arabic text. ## What to do if you're already in a dispute If you're preparing to file at RERA or respond to a landlord's claim, get the Arabic section of your contract translated immediately. You need to know what the [](/legal)legally binding text actually says before you argue your case. If your contract has a discrepancy and you've been relying on the English version, your case may look different than you think. RERA will read the Arabic. Your response should be based on what the Arabic says — not what you assumed from the English. If you also need supporting documents translated for your RERA filing — [](/blog/eviction-notice-arabic-translation)eviction notices, correspondence, or [](/blog/guarantee-letter-arabic-translation)guarantee letters — those need to be in Arabic as well. Need your tenancy contract's Arabic section translated? Send it on WhatsApp — [+971 50 862 0217](https://wa.me/971508620217). We'll show you what the Arabic actually says before your RERA appointment. ## Common questions ### Which version of a bilingual contract is legally binding in the UAE? The Arabic version. When the Arabic and English texts contradict each other, UAE courts and RERA apply the Arabic text. This applies to tenancy contracts, employment contracts, and all bilingual legal documents. ### What are common discrepancies between Arabic and English in tenancy contracts? Early termination penalties, notice periods, maintenance thresholds, security deposit conditions, and rent increase terms are the most common areas where the two versions differ. These differences usually result from loose translation at the drafting stage. ### Can I get my tenancy contract independently translated to check for discrepancies? Yes. A [](/resources/moj-vs-certified)certified translation of the Arabic section shows you exactly what the binding text says. This is useful before signing a renewal or before filing a RERA dispute. ### Check what your Arabic contract actually says Send your bilingual tenancy contract via WhatsApp. We'll translate the Arabic section so you know exactly what you signed. [WhatsApp Your Contract](https://wa.me/971508620217) +971 50 862 0217 [Your document concierge](/about/#concierge-model) — we review before you pay. ## Related [](/legal/contracts/lease) ### Lease Agreement Translation MOJ-certified translation for tenancy contracts and Ejari [](/blog/landlord-contract-arabic-signed-anyway) ### Signed an Arabic Contract? What it means when the Arabic version is legally binding [](/legal) ### Legal Translation Services MOJ-certified legal translation for UAE courts and government