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Agency Agreement Legalization for Arab Countries
Appointing an agent or distributor in an Arab country usually means registering the agreement with that country's ministry of commerce or chamber of commerce. The registry will only accept a U.S. agreement once it is legalized. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce stamps your agreement and takes it through the apostille or embassy route the destination requires.
Two routes, depending on the country. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria accept an agency agreement with a Secretary of State apostille. The other Arab countries require the full chain: Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, then the embassy. Many registries also ask for the chamber stamp on the agreement.
What an Agency Agreement Is
An agency agreement is a contract in which a U.S. company (the principal) appoints a local company (the agent or distributor) to represent, sell or distribute its products or services in a defined territory. In many Arab countries, a registered agreement is what lets the agent import, bid on tenders and register your products. Legalization confirms the signatures and seals, not the commercial terms.
Commercial agency
The agent represents your brand and earns a commission on sales in the territory.
Most commonDistribution agreement
The distributor buys your products and resells them, often with exclusivity.
TradeService agency
A local company represents you for services, contracting or tenders.
ServicesChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where the agreement will be registered to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Jordan
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Kuwait
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Lebanon
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Oman (business documents since 2021)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State apostille
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Tunisia
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Yemen ($120, or $170 rush)
Embassies charge commercial-document rates for agency agreements, and the fee depends on the country. We confirm the current fee with your order.
How an Agency Agreement Is Legalized
- Sign before a notaryYour company's authorized officer signs the agreement in person before a U.S. notary. The notary's seal goes on the signature page. Your Arab agent signs and certifies their signature in their own country.
- Chamber stamp, where requiredMany Arab ministries and chambers ask for the Arab American Chamber of Commerce stamp before they register an agency. It costs $35 and is done the same business day.
- Secretary of StateThe state where the notary is commissioned certifies the notary. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria this certificate is the apostille, and the process ends here.
- U.S. Department of State and embassyFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the state seal, and the embassy in Washington, D.C. legalizes the agreement. For the UAE, it goes to the UAE Embassy through VFS Global and then to MOFA.
- Returned to youSent back with tracking, ready for translation and registration by your agent.
Common mistakes: signing with an e-signature, missing pages or initials, a signer whose authority the registry can't confirm, or an agreement that doesn't name the products and territory. Registries reject these even after the agreement has been legalized.
Required Documents
What to send us
- The original agreement, signed by your officer in person before a notary, with every page included.
- Supporting company documents the registry asks for, usually a certificate of good standing and a board resolution.
- Your online order for the destination country, paid online or through Pay Invoice.
- A prepaid return label: a FedEx or UPS air waybill, or a USPS Priority Mail envelope with tracking. You can also buy a label at checkout.
What registries look for in the agreement
- The full legal names and addresses of the principal and the agent
- The products, brands or services covered
- The territory, exclusivity and duration
- The signers' names and titles, matching the board resolution
Documents That Go With the Agreement
Certificate of Good Standing
Proves your company is active. It's a state record, so order a certified copy.
Certified copyProcessing Time and Fees
Chamber stamp
| Arab American Chamber of Commerce stamp | $35 per document |
| Processing | Same business day |
Apostille and embassy
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | State apostille, no embassy |
| Embassy countries | Embassy fee by country |
| Example: Yemen | $120, or $170 rush |
Times are counted from the day we receive your agreement. Our service fee and return shipping are shown at checkout. Call us for the current timeline for your country.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Arab League recognizedOur stamp is accepted by Arab chambers that register agencies, and each stamp can be verified online.
Reviewed before signingWe check the signature page, the notarization and the supporting documents before anything is submitted.
One order, every stepChamber stamp, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State and embassy, all in one order.
Where to Send Your Agreement
Maryland office (fastest)
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd., Annapolis, MD 21409
(410) 349-1212
Washington, D.C. headquarters
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1, Washington, DC
(202) 347-5800
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
Agency Agreement Legalization: Common Questions
Does an agency agreement need the chamber stamp?
Often, yes. Many Arab ministries and chambers that register commercial agencies ask for the Arab American Chamber of Commerce stamp on the agreement. We add it for $35, the same business day, before the agreement continues to the state and embassy.
Who signs the agreement before the notary?
The U.S. principal's authorized officer signs in person before a U.S. notary. The Arab agent usually signs separately in their own country, and their signature is certified there.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled agency agreement?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (since July 9, 2026). Oman requires embassy legalization for business documents since 2021, and the other Arab countries require the full embassy chain.
Do I also need a board resolution or power of attorney?
Usually. Registries often ask for a board resolution approving the agency and confirming who may sign, and a certificate of good standing for the U.S. company. Legalizing them together saves a second round.
Does the agreement need an Arabic translation?
Usually yes. Registration authorities generally require a certified Arabic translation, prepared in the destination country after legalization. Some companies sign a bilingual English–Arabic agreement from the start.
Appointing an agent in an Arab country?
Send us the agreement before you sign. We'll check it and confirm the route for the country where it will be registered.
Case 1 Examples
Business documents
Federally Issued documents
Case 2 Examples
Commercial Document:
Case 3 Examples
Personal Document:
Mailing
If you are using FedEx or UPS, please include a self-addressed air waybill for the return of your document.
Alternatively, you may use a USPS Priority Mail envelope with prepaid postage and a tracking number.
If you do not have a FedEx or UPS account, you can purchase an air waybill through this site in the next step.
Arab American Chamber of Commerce Headquarter Office
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 347-5800
1 888-939-ARAB
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd.Annapolis MD, 21409
(410) 349 - 1212
