Arabic Telecom T&Cs: Cancellation Fee You Didn't See

You’re leaving Dubai. Or switching providers. Or just tired of your monthly internet bill. You call to cancel. They say you’re in a 24-month commitment. You’ve been with them for 14 months. The early termination fee is the remaining 10 months, hundreds of dirhams you didn’t expect. You say you never agreed to that. They say you signed the Arabic T&Cs.

What the Arabic terms say

Telecom contracts in the UAE follow a standard pattern. The sales staff walks you through the monthly price and the speed tier. You sign a form. That form has Arabic terms and conditions that typically include:

• Commitment period. 12 or 24 months from activation date.
• Early termination fee. Calculated as a percentage of remaining monthly charges or a fixed penalty amount.
• Auto-renewal. The contract may auto-renew for another term unless you give written notice 30 days before the end date.
• Equipment charges. If you received a router or set-top box, the equipment cost may be charged on cancellation.
• Service level terms. What the provider guarantees (or doesn’t) about speed and uptime.

The “I’m leaving the UAE” waiver

Both major providers have provisions for customers leaving the UAE permanently. If you can show a cancelled visa or exit stamp, the early termination fee may be waived or reduced. But this isn’t automatic. You need to ask, and the specific terms vary by contract.

Knowing what your Arabic contract says about departure waivers gives you leverage. If the contract includes a departure clause, quote it. If it doesn’t, you know upfront that the fee will apply and can factor it into your departure budget.

Before you sign, or before you cancel

If you’re signing a new telecom contract, send the Arabic T&Cs for contract translation first. If you’re trying to cancel and facing an unexpected fee, translate the contract to understand your position. The fee may be negotiable if you know the exact terms.

This same pattern: Arabic terms you can’t read creating surprise fees, appears in rental contracts, gym memberships, and insurance policies. In each case, the Arabic version is the binding one. A certified legal translation of any Arabic contract protects you from surprise clauses.

Need your telecom contract translated before cancelling? Send it on WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217. Know the exact terms before you call to cancel.