How to Write Cheque Amounts in Words

Why cheques need amounts in words

A cheque shows the amount twice: once in figures and once in words. If someone alters the digits, the written amount is the reference banks use for clearing. In the Gulf and wider Arab world, the pay line typically uses فقط … لا غير (only … and no more) to prevent interpretation as a higher value.

Cheque fraud often targets the numeric box. A clearly written amount line — matching the figures exactly — is your first defense and a routine check at the teller window.

Standard cheque format

Arabic: فقط [amount in words] [currency] لا غير

English: Only [amount in words] [currency]

Some cheques also include “Pay to the order of …” / «لأمر …». Our check converter can append payee name, date, and bank for a complete line.

Writing decimals on cheques

Include subunits when the amount has fils, halalah, or cents:

• SAR — riyals + halalah (هللة)
• AED / KWD / BHD — dirhams/dinars + fils (فلس)
• USD / EUR — dollars/euros + cents

Step-by-step

1. Enter the exact cheque amount (match the figures box).
2. Choose currency and Arabic or English output on Amount in Words.
3. Copy the Check Format line.
4. Add payee and date if your bank requires them via Tafqit Check.
5. Verify both boxes before signing — figures, words, and payee must align.

Examples

Amount	Arabic check line (excerpt)
5,000 SAR	فقط خمسة آلاف ريال سعودي لا غير
1,250.75 SAR	فقط ألف ومئتان وخمسون ريال سعودي وخمس وسبعون هللة لا غير
10,000 AED	فقط عشرة آلاف درهم إماراتي لا غير

English: 10,000 AED → Only ten thousand UAE dirhams

Bank review tip

Policies differ by bank and account type. Confirm whether your branch expects Arabic only, bilingual wording, or English on international accounts. When in doubt, call your relationship manager before issuing high-value cheques.

Crossed vs. bearer cheques

The amount-in-words rules are the same whether the cheque is crossed, bearer, or order. Crossing affects who can deposit, not how you spell the amount.

Related tools: Tafqit Check Converter · Amount in Words · Cheque amounts overview

Corporate treasury cheque policies

Treasury departments typically maintain a dual-signature matrix keyed by amount bands. The pay line in words is part of the control environment — alteration of digits after signatures is detectable when words are precise and match. Standardize on Tafqit Check for all outgoing cheques above the petty-cash threshold so payee name, date, bank, and amount line share one grammar engine. Branch staff should not improvise Arabic phrasing for large SAR payments; centralized conversion reduces returns from clearing centers.

Policy should state: figures box, legal amount line, and payee field must be completed before signatures; no gaps in the amount line where digits could be inserted; use Arabic for domestic SAR cheques unless the account agreement specifies English. International USD accounts often require English Only format from Amount in Words with Check Format.

Order cheque versus bearer instruments

Order cheques name a payee; bearer cheques do not. Amount-in-words rules are identical — فقط … لا غير still applies. Crossing (“account payee only”) affects deposit rights, not spelling. For payroll cheques distributed to employees, bulk-generate amount lines via bulk converter, print a reference sheet, and copy carefully onto each cheque stub. Mismatch between stub and cheque face is a common HR audit finding.

Cheque type	Pay line format	Converter setting
Domestic SAR	فقط … ريال سعودي لا غير	Check Format, Arabic
Corporate AED	Arabic or English per bank	Tafqit Check
USD international	Only … US dollars	Check Format, English

Training materials should link to cheque examples, writing cents on cheques, and common mistakes for teller-window staff.

Stale-dated and replacement cheque procedures

When a cheque expires or payee name changes, void the original and issue a replacement — never white-out the amount line. The replacement amount in words must be regenerated even if the numeric value is unchanged, because payee and date fields on Tafqit Check may differ. Dual-signatory policies often require the second signer to initial corrections; most banks reject initialled amount lines outright. Document void reason in the register and attach fresh converter output to the payment packet for amounts above your materiality threshold.

Petty-cash replenishment cheques drawn to “Cash” or “نقداً” still require precise words — fraud schemes target generic payees. Limit cash payee cheques by amount cap in policy and require manager approval with converter printout attached.