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My supplier in Dubai has English-speaking staff; which language should the purchase order use?

English is the safest choice if the supplier's warehouse team reads English. 'Bilingual' prints every label in Arabic and English on a right-to-left page, which helps if your own staff read Arabic. Either way, write the item descriptions in English or with the supplier's SKU codes, because the tool translates only its own labels, not what you type.

Published · 2 min read

What actually changes with each language

  • 'Arabic': Arabic labels, right-to-left page.
  • 'English': English labels such as Buyer, Supplier and Deliver by, left-to-right page.
  • 'Bilingual': every label in both languages, such as 'المورد / Supplier', on a right-to-left page.

The descriptions, addresses and terms you type are never translated. Write an item in Arabic on an English purchase order and it reaches the warehouse in Arabic.

Which one suits your supplier

  1. The warehouse reads no Arabic and you are comfortable in English: choose English. A left-to-right page is easier for someone who reads only English.
  2. The warehouse reads no Arabic, but your accountant or manager reviews in Arabic: choose Bilingual and write the descriptions in English.
  3. The supplier works fully in Arabic: Arabic alone is enough.

Example: 50 perfume boxes from a Dubai supplier

A perfume shop orders 50 display boxes from a Dubai supplier at 38 dirhams each, and the supplier's quote adds tax at 5%. In the Purchase-order generator:

  • Language: English. Currency: AED.
  • Description: 'Display box, black velvet, 12 x 8 cm (SKU DB-1208)', the wording and code from the supplier's catalogue.
  • Quantity 50, price 38, tax rate 5 as stated on the quote.
  • Result: subtotal 1,900.00, tax 95.00, total 1,995.00 AED.

The SKU in the description matters more than the language: warehouse staff search by code, not by wording. The tool knows no country's tax rates, so the rate here comes from the supplier's quote, not from the tool.

After shipping

When the goods arrive you will check them against the supplier's packing list. If you then ship part of them on to a branch or customer, prepare your own packing list in English or both languages with the Packing-list generator, using the same logic to pick the language.

Common questions

Should my business name be in Arabic or English on an English PO?

In English, as the supplier knows you on their invoices. You can add the Arabic name in the address lines if you like.

Does the font show Arabic and English in the same document?

Yes, the embedded font covers Arabic and Latin; only emoji are replaced with '?'.