What is Tafqit (تفقيط) and why is it required?
Tafqit (تفقيط الأرقام) is the conversion of numeric amounts into written Arabic words. It's required on checks, invoices, contracts, salary records, and legal documents throughout the Arab world - because numbers written in digits can be altered by adding a zero or shifting a decimal point, while words cannot. Saudi banks, UAE banks, and most government forms require the tafqit alongside the numeric amount. The standard format is: 'فقط [number words] [currency] لا غير' - which translates roughly to 'only [amount] no more.'
The Arabic grammar behind Tafqit
Arabic numbers follow complex agreement rules. For numbers 3-10, the digit takes the OPPOSITE gender of the counted noun: with masculine ريال you write 'ثلاثة ريالات' (with ة); with feminine ليرة you write 'ثلاث ليرات' (without ة). For 1 and 2, the number AGREES with the noun: 'ريال واحد,' 'ليرة واحدة.' Numbers 11-99 use the singular accusative form of the magnitude unit ('أحد عشر ريالاً'), while 100+ uses the singular nominative ('مئة ريال'). The connector 'و' (and) joins all parts.
Currency name morphology
Currency names also inflect based on count. For 'ريال' (SAR): 1 = 'ريال واحد,' 2 = 'ريالان,' 3-10 = 'ثلاثة ريالات,' 11-99 = 'أحد عشر ريالاً,' 100+ = 'مئة ريال.' The fractional unit (هللة, فلس, قرش, etc.) follows the same rule. Our calculator handles all 7 currencies (SAR, AED, KWD, EGP, JOD, OMR, USD) including the special /1000 fractional divisor for the Kuwaiti dinar (fils) and the Omani rial (baisa).
Banking 'فقط ... لا غير' wrapper
Saudi and Gulf banks require checks to wrap the written amount in 'فقط' (only) and 'لا غير' (no more). This convention dates back centuries: it prevents anyone from adding text to the line either before or after the written amount, since 'only X no more' is grammatically complete and any addition would be obviously fraudulent. The wrapper isn't legally required for invoices or contracts, but it's universal on checks. Toggle the 'banking style' option to add or remove the wrapper.
Common use cases for Tafqit
Writing checks (cheques) - the most common scenario; banks reject checks without proper tafqit. Drafting contracts - employment, rental, and sales contracts in Arab countries typically include both numeric and tafqit amounts for the consideration/price. Salary and wage statements - particularly for end-of-service gratuities, where the written amount becomes the legal commitment. Court judgments and lawyer's invoices. Government forms - especially zakat declarations and tax filings. Real estate deed transfers - the sale price is usually written in both forms.
Limitations and verification
Our algorithm handles values from 0 to 999,999,999,999 (under one trillion). For higher amounts or non-standard contexts, results may need minor manual adjustment. Some banks prefer 'مائة' (older spelling) over 'مئة' (modern); both are correct, but check your bank's preference. For the iDafa construction (e.g., 'مئتا ألف' vs 'مئتان ألف' for 200,000), our calculator uses the more common modern form. Always verify the output against your bank's or notary's preferred wording before signing high-value documents.
Frequently asked questions
Tafqit (تفقيط) is the conversion of numbers to written Arabic words. It's required on checks, invoices, contracts, and most legal documents in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and across the Arab world - because numbers in digits can be tampered with by adding a zero or shifting a decimal, while words cannot. Saudi and UAE banks reject checks without proper tafqit.
Arabic numbers are read additively, joined by 'و' (and). 1234 = 1000 + 200 + 34, written as 'ألف' + 'مئتان' + 'أربعة وثلاثون' (the ones come before the tens in 34, so it's literally 'four and thirty'). And because 1234 falls in the 11-99 range for the count of ريالاً, the currency uses the singular accusative form (ريالاً not ريال).
It means 'only ... no more.' Saudi and Gulf banks require this wrapper on check amounts to prevent fraud - if someone tries to add words to the written amount, the result is grammatically broken. The wrapper isn't legally required on invoices or contracts but is universal on checks. Toggle the 'banking style' option to add or remove it.
Yes - the calculator correctly handles the /1000 fractional divisor for KWD and OMR. So 1.250 KWD becomes 'دينار كويتي ومئتان وخمسون فلساً' (not 1.250 → 'مئة وخمسة وعشرون فلساً' which would be wrong for KWD).
Different sites use different conventions for edge cases: 'مائة' vs 'مئة' (both correct, older vs modern spelling); 'مئتا ألف' vs 'مئتان ألف' for 200,000 (the iDafa construction has stricter vs looser modern forms); and small spelling preferences. Our output follows the most common modern Saudi banking conventions. If your specific bank prefers different wording, edit the output before signing.
Sources
- Arabic Language Academy in Cairo - Modern Arabic Grammar references— Arabic Language Academy in Cairo
- SAMA / Saudi Central Bank - Cheque and payment regulations— Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
- King Saud University - Arabic Numbers Grammar Reference— King Saud University, Department of Arabic Language
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