Arabic and English contracts in Qatar: which version prevails, which law applies and which court decides?

Does a contract in Qatar have to be in Arabic?

Qatari law requires Arabic for specific contracts and documents, not for every contract; Arabic is the official language of the State (Article 1 of the Constitution).

Law No. 7 of 2019 on protecting the Arabic language requires ministries, government bodies and public institutions to use Arabic in their contracts and documents, and extends this to associations, private institutions, private institutions of public benefit and State-funded bodies (Article 2). The article does not mention commercial companies. Contracts between the State and other states or international organisations are in Arabic, or in another language with an Arabic translation attached (Article 4).

The law does not say which version prevails in a two-language contract. Other laws set the rule for particular documents:

Which language do Qatar's courts work in?

Arabic is the language of Qatar's courts (Article 68 of Civil and Commercial Procedure Law No. 13 of 1990, and Article 18 of Judicial Authority Law No. 8 of 2023). Parties or witnesses who do not know Arabic may be heard through a sworn translator.

At the Investment and Trade Court, foreign-language documents must come with an Arabic translation. The case management office checks the claimant's documents and allows up to ten days to complete anything missing (Article 17 of Law No. 21 of 2021). The defendant attaches translations to its reply, due within 30 days of notification (Article 19).

A certified translation is required in other settings:

• Documents presented to a notary or for authenticating signatures: a certified Arabic translation by a translator registered or accredited with the Ministry of Justice (Notarisation Law, Articles 7 and 22).
• A foreign-language arbitral award submitted for enforcement: an Arabic translation from an accredited body (Arbitration Law, Article 34).
• A document notarised abroad, to be accepted and deposited in Qatar: authentication abroad and by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, plus a certified Arabic translation (Article 1 of Minister of Justice Decision No. 157 of 2024).

What can a prevailing-language clause do, and what can't it?

A prevailing-language clause states which text of a bilingual contract governs if the Arabic and English versions differ. Under the Civil Code, a contract is the law of the parties (Article 171), clear wording is applied as written, and unclear wording is read for the parties' common intention (Article 169). The clause records the parties' own answer on which text expresses that intention, and can say the other version is for reference only.

What the clause cannot do:

• Change a rule the law already sets: the Arabic text prevails for company founding contracts and employment contracts.
• Change the court's language: an English text still needs an Arabic translation at the Investment and Trade Court, even when it prevails.
• Fix an arbitration's language, a separate choice for the parties or, failing that, the tribunal (Arbitration Law, Article 22).
• Displace public order (Civil Code, Article 38).

Neither the Civil Code nor the Arabic Language Law deals with these clauses in private contracts, so their effect in a dispute turns on interpreting the contract as a whole.

Which country's law governs a contract with a foreign party?

Qatar's Civil Code lets the parties choose the law that governs their contract (Article 27 of Law No. 22 of 2004). Without a choice, the law of their common domicile applies, and if their domiciles differ, the law of the country where the contract was made. Real estate contracts follow the law of the property's location.

A foreign company is governed by the law of the country of its actual main management centre, but by Qatari law if its main activity is in Qatar (Article 12). A chosen law also has limits:

• Foreign rules that conflict with public order or morals in Qatar are not applied, and Qatari law applies instead (Article 38).
• Only the chosen law's internal rules apply, not its conflict-of-laws rules (Article 37).
• A special law or an international treaty in force in Qatar takes precedence (Article 33).
• Qatar's courts apply Qatari rules of jurisdiction and procedure, whatever law governs the contract (Article 32).

Arbitrators apply the rules of law the parties chose (Arbitration Law, Article 28). The QFC Civil and Commercial Court applies the chosen law unless it sees serious reasons not to, and must not apply it against public order and morals in Qatar (Rule 11 of its 2025 Rules).

Which court or forum hears the dispute?

In Qatar, commercial contract disputes go to the Investment and Trade Court, disputes involving a QFC entity can go to the QFC Civil and Commercial Court, and arbitrators decide if the parties agreed in writing to arbitrate.

The Investment and Trade Court may serve a party abroad by any suitable means under the Supreme Judicial Council's rules, and hear parties by video link (Articles 15 and 25). Under the Procedure Law, a party domiciled abroad gets a 60-day distance period (Article 12). The QFC Court usually works in English, though the parties may proceed in Arabic (Rule 3.1 of its Rules).

If one party sues despite an arbitration agreement, the court rules the claim inadmissible when the other raises the agreement before any defence on the merits (Arbitration Law, Article 8). See arbitration in Qatar.

A clause choosing a foreign court is a different route: the judgment must later meet Qatar's enforcement conditions, including reciprocity and that Qatar's courts were not exclusively competent (Article 13 of Judicial Enforcement Law No. 4 of 2024; see enforcing foreign judgments). The Procedure Law text on Al Meezan has no general article on choice-of-court clauses, so check the clause's effect before signing.

Checklist for a bilingual contract

Before signing, check these points. For payment, penalty and termination clauses, see reviewing a contract before you sign.

When should you speak to a lawyer?

Signs it is worth getting advice before you sign:

• The two versions were prepared separately, or you cannot read one of them.
• The contract does not say which version prevails, or its choice conflicts with the law.
• The other party is a foreign company and its signatory's authority is unclear.
• The contract chooses foreign law, a foreign court or arbitration abroad.
• One party is a QFC entity or a public body.

Questions people ask