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Distributor Agreement Legalization for Arab Countries
Your distributor in an Arab country often needs a legalized copy of your agreement to register as your official distributor, import your products under their own license and register them with the health or standards authority. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce stamps the agreement and completes the apostille or embassy route the destination requires.
Signed before a notary, then one of two routes. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria accept a distributor agreement with a Secretary of State apostille. The other Arab countries require the Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State and the embassy. Many local registries also want the chamber stamp on the agreement.
What a Distributor Agreement Is
A distributor agreement is a contract between a U.S. supplier or manufacturer and a local company. The distributor buys your products and resells them in a defined territory, usually under its own name and at its own risk. Unlike a commercial agent, it takes ownership of the goods. Legalization confirms the signatures and seals on the agreement, not its commercial terms.
Exclusive distributor
The only company allowed to sell your products in the territory.
Most commonNon-exclusive distributor
One of several distributors in the same market.
FlexibleSole importer
Imports and clears your products, then supplies local resellers.
ImportAuthorization letter
A shorter letter confirming the distributor, often requested with the agreement for product registration.
SupportingChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where your distributor operates 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)
Embassy fees for distribution contracts differ from country to country. We confirm the exact amount when you order.
How a Distributor Agreement Is Legalized
- Finalize and signYour authorized officer signs every page that needs a signature or initials, in person before a U.S. notary. Your distributor signs their counterpart in their own country.
- Chamber stamp, where requiredIf the country where your distributor registers asks for chamber certification, our stamp goes on before the state step. It costs $35 and is done the day the agreement arrives.
- Secretary of StateWe take the notarized agreement to the Secretary of State that commissioned the notary. If your distributor is in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain or Algeria, the state’s apostille is the last step.
- U.S. Department of State and embassyDistributors in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the other embassy countries need two more stamps: the U.S. Department of State over the state seal, then the destination’s embassy in Washington. UAE agreements go to VFS Global for the UAE Embassy and are then certified by MOFA.
- Returned to youWe courier the finished agreement to you or straight to your distributor, ready for the Arabic translation and the registration file.
Common mistakes: an agreement that doesn’t list the products or brands, a territory that doesn’t match the country of registration, missing initials on some pages, or an expiry date that comes before the product registration is finished. Fix these before you sign, because a legalized agreement can’t be edited.
Required Documents
What to send us
- One signed original per country, notarized in person, with the product annex attached.
- Company papers your distributor requests, typically good standing and the board resolution approving the appointment.
- 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 one at checkout.
What to include in the agreement
- The full legal names and addresses of both companies
- Products or brands covered, as an annex if the list is long
- Territory, exclusivity and the start and end dates
- Signers’ names and titles, matching your board resolution
Documents That Go With the Agreement
Certificate to Foreign Government (CFG)
FDA export certificate needed with registrations for food, drugs and devices.
Federal routeProcessing 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 |
Timing starts when the signed agreement reaches us. You’ll see our service fee and return courier at checkout. For a current estimate for your country, give us a call.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Recognized stampOur stamp is recognized by the Arab League, and distributors’ registries can verify its unique number online.
Checked before you signWe review the signature pages, annexes and supporting documents so the agreement is legalized only once.
Several countries at onceAppointing distributors across the region? We run each country’s original through its own route in parallel.
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
Distributor Agreement Legalization: Common Questions
What is the difference between a distributor and an agency agreement?
A distributor buys your products and resells them in its own name. An agent sells on your behalf and earns a commission. Both are legalized the same way, but registries may file them differently.
Does the distributor agreement need the chamber stamp?
It depends on where your distributor registers. Several Arab chambers and ministries won’t file a foreign distribution contract without a U.S. chamber stamp, so we usually add ours ($35, done the day it arrives) before the state step.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled distributor agreement?
Four: Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and, since July 9, 2026, Algeria. A distributor in Oman still needs embassy legalization, because Oman excluded business documents from the apostille in 2021.
One agreement covers several Arab countries. How many originals do I need?
Usually one original for each country, because each embassy legalizes its own original and each registry keeps it. Sign as many originals as there are countries.
Does the agreement need an Arabic translation?
In most cases. The distributor’s registry works in Arabic, so a sworn translator in the country translates the legalized agreement. Drafting the agreement in English and Arabic side by side avoids that extra step.
Appointing a distributor in an Arab country?
Send us the agreement before you sign. We’ll check it and confirm the route for every country it covers.
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
