Bilingual Contract Drafting in Egypt: Why Foreign Clients Need Court-Ready Agreements

Contract Drafting for Foreigners in Egypt

Balancing International and Local Law

Contract drafting for foreigners in Egypt requires reconciling international business expectations with Egyptian legal procedure. Our approach ensures clauses on payment, liability, and dispute resolution are enforceable in Egypt while remaining clear for non-Arabic speakers. We draft both texts in parallel — not a translation after the fact.

Common Scenarios

• Real estate: reservation agreements, sale & purchase, lease, usufruct, and developer addenda.
• Corporate: shareholders’ agreements, JV agreements, franchise & distribution, and service contracts.
• Employment: bilingual offers, employment contracts, confidentiality & IP assignment, non-compete.
• Family & private: settlements, gifts, powers of attorney related to personal or property matters.

Prepared in the UK: drafting and client communication are handled from the UK; filing, signing, and registration steps in Egypt are coordinated through the lawyers the company cooperates with in Egypt.

Dual Language Agreements Egypt

Eliminating Translation Risks

Drafting dual language agreements Egypt directly avoids the risks of post-signature translation errors. Each clause is created in parallel, with numbering, definitions, and references aligned, ensuring negotiations stay efficient and enforceability is never in doubt. We also include clear language-hierarchy logic when required (e.g., “Arabic controls for Egyptian authority filings”).

Application Across Industries

From commercial distribution contracts to employment packages and real estate deals, dual-language drafting builds clarity. The Arabic version satisfies local procedure, while the English version allows international stakeholders to monitor compliance and performance.

Arabic English Contract Lawyer Egypt

Specialised Drafting Skills

Engaging an Arabic English contract lawyer Egypt means access to legal specialists who understand both Egyptian court requirements and international business needs. Each draft covers jurisdiction, governing law, remedies, and compliance while being linguistically accurate and negotiation-friendly.

Execution Support

Through the lawyers the company cooperates with in Egypt, we provide support for signatures, notarisation, and registry processes. You receive Arabic texts that are registry-ready, and English texts that keep foreign parties fully informed.

Court-Ready Contracts in Egypt

Practical Enforceability

Drafting court-ready contracts Egypt requires attention to evidence, formalities, and dispute clauses. We prepare bilingual documents with accurate signatory details, annexes, and registry-ready Arabic texts, making them valid in court and reliable for business use.

Reducing Dispute Risks

• Aligned definitions and clause numbering across both languages.
• Clear governing law and jurisdiction/arbitration path suitable for the client’s case.
• Signature blocks matching passport/ID data, with initials where needed for annexes and key terms.

Bilingual Drafting Process (Foreign Clients)

1. Scoping & term-sheet: objectives, parties, payments, milestones, warranties, exit.
2. Parallel drafting: Arabic and English created together; terminology & numbering aligned.
3. Review & negotiation: tracked changes in English; mirrored changes in Arabic.
4. Final legal checks: registry requirements, stamp-duty notes, notarisation path.
5. Execution pack: signing instructions, PoA if needed, annex templates, translation notes.
6. Filing/registration (where applicable): coordination in Egypt via cooperating lawyers.

Documents & Data We Usually Need

• Passports/IDs of signatories; corporate documents if a company is a party.
• Property or licence references (if applicable), and any existing MoUs or heads of terms.
• Payment method & schedule; delivery/milestone definitions; governing law preference.
• Any prior Arabic drafts or official forms required by a specific registry.

Language Hierarchy & Consistency

In transactions filed with Egyptian authorities, the Arabic text often controls in case of discrepancy. Where suitable, we add a language-hierarchy clause noting that Arabic governs for filings, while the English version is equally authentic for interpretation between the foreign parties. We also ensure consistent terminology and cross-references across both texts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Translating after signing — creates inconsistency and questions on enforceability.
• Leaving gaps on payment, delivery triggers, or remedies — invites disputes.
• Using generic translation of legal terms — terms of art must be aligned in both languages.
• Ignoring registry formats — some filings need specific Arabic layouts/annexes.