What a Maldivian Partnership Deed Contains
In the Maldives, a partnership deed is a formal written agreement between two or more individuals or entities who decide to carry on a business together and share its profits and losses. It is usually drafted in Dhivehi using the Thaana script and sets out the terms that govern the partnership. A standard deed identifies the parties as “First Party” and “Second Party” (often alongside their full names and identification details), defines the nature of the business, the capital each partner contributes, the ratio in which profits and losses will be shared, and the duties and powers of each partner. Many deeds also incorporate references to Maldivian partnership law and the Companies Act, especially when the partnership is structured alongside a private limited company. Signing clauses, witness attestations, and the date of execution complete the document.
Common Dhivehi Terms and Script in a Partnership Deed
Vocabulary Table
Below are terms that appear repeatedly in Dhivehi-language partnership deeds, with their romanised form and the usual English equivalent.
| Dhivehi (Thaana) | Romanisation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ފުރަތަމަ ފަރާތް | Furathama Faraaiy | First Party |
| ދެވަނަ ފަރާތް | Dhevana Faraaiy | Second Party |
| ޝަރީކު | Shareek | Partner |
| ކުންފުނި | Kunfuni | Company |
| ޕްރައިވެޓް ލިމިޓެޑް | Private Limited | Private Limited (company) |
| ޑިރެކްޓަރ | Director | Director |
| އެއްބަސްވުމެއް | Ebbasvumeh | Agreement |
| ޤާނޫނު | Qaanoonu | Act / Law |
| ހިއްޞާ | Hissa | Share (capital) |
| ފައިދާ | Faidhaa | Profit |
Understanding Thaana Script
Thaana, written right-to-left, is the unique script of the Dhivehi language. Its character set is based partly on Arabic and Indic numeral forms, but unlike Arabic it is always used with full vowel diacritics, which makes it highly phonetic. When an AI translation engine processes a scanned partnership deed, it must first recognise Thaana characters accurately, including the diacritics that distinguish similar-looking letters, and then map them to English words. The Thaana script presents a digital challenge because many OCR engines are not trained extensively on it. Lekhak’s AI pipeline uses a multi-agent approach that includes Thaana-specific OCR, so the deed is read character by character before translation begins.
Why Translate a Dhivehi Partnership Deed to English?
English translation becomes essential the moment the Maldivian partnership crosses a border. Entrepreneurs registering a subsidiary or branch in a Commonwealth country, or applying for business visas that require proof of an existing venture, often need an English version for foreign company registrars and immigration authorities. Law firms conducting due diligence prior to investment or acquisition, and banks evaluating loan applications secured by partnership assets, also request English translations. Even for internal use, partners who are not fluent in Dhivehi need an accurate English rendering to review their rights and obligations. In all these situations, a quick, reliable AI translation can give you a working document in minutes, while a certified translation becomes necessary for official lodgement.
AI Translation vs Certified Translation: When Each Fits
Lekhak’s instant AI translation is built for speed and comprehension. In under a few minutes you get a DOCX file that faithfully renders the Dhivehi text into clear English, preserving the original layout and essential legal terminology. This output is ideal for internal review, preparing a visa application shortlist, or sharing a draft with your lawyer or business partner. It is not a signed certificate of accuracy, and for final submission to a government agency, court, or foreign business registry you will likely need a certified translation that attests to its completeness and correctness. Lekhak can arrange a certified translation on-demand for those cases; notarisation, apostille, and embassy attestation are separate steps you complete with the relevant government authorities.
What Lekhak’s AI Translation Produces
When you upload a PDF or clear image of your Dhivehi partnership deed to Lekhak, the platform performs Thaana OCR, extracts all the text, translates the entire document into English using the Gemini‑powered pipeline, and returns a downloadable DOCX file. Structure such as tables, signatures, and numbered clauses is preserved; the English text sits in the same positions as the original. The output contains the full English translation, while common identifiers are replaced with placeholders for personal data where the AI cannot be certain. Below is an illustrative snippet of what you might see.
| Dhivehi Original | AI Translation (English) |
|---|---|
| ފުރަތަމަ ފަރާތް: [NAME] | First Party: [NAME] |
| ދެވަނަ ފަރާތް: [NAME] | Second Party: [NAME] |
| ރަޖިސްޓްރޭޝަން ނަމްބަރ: [REGISTRATION NO] | Registration Number: [REGISTRATION NO] |
| ތާރީޚް: [DATE] | Date: [DATE] |
The instant output is yours to review, edit, and use immediately, but it does not bear a translator’s certificate. For formal dealings, you can request Lekhak’s certified translation path, which adds a signed statement of accuracy prepared by a professional linguist.
Notarisation, Apostille, or Embassy Attestation for Maldivian Documents
Many organisations abroad will not accept a certified translation alone; they also require the underlying deed to be notarised or carry an apostille or embassy attestation. These processes authenticate the document itself, not just the translation. As the document owner, you arrange notarisation with a Maldivian notary public and then follow the legalisation chain depending on the destination country.
Apostille for Hague Convention Countries
For countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, you can obtain an apostille from the designated Maldivian authority, typically the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The apostille certifies the signature and seal of the Maldivian notary or registrar, making the document valid abroad without further embassy steps. If the translated document is also required to carry an apostille, you may need to affix the apostille to the original deed and then have the certified translation cover both. For Indian use, the Ministry of External Affairs apostille process applies after the Maldivian apostille; always check the latest MEA guidance.
Embassy Attestation for Non-Hague Countries
When the destination country is not a Hague Convention signatory, embassy attestation is necessary. After notarisation in the Maldives, the document must be legalised by the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the embassy or consulate of the destination country located in Male’. Each embassy sets its own fee and timeline, so plan accordingly. Remember that a certified translation can be prepared alongside the original and presented during attestation; Lekhak’s on‑demand certified translation can supply a signed language‑pair certificate if needed, but you coordinate the attestation steps directly with the authorities.
How to Obtain a Duplicate of Your Maldivian Partnership Deed
If you have lost the original or need an extra copy for translation, you can request a duplicate from the issuing body in the Maldives.
Requesting from the Ministry of Economic Development
In the Maldives, partnership deeds are typically registered with the Ministry of Economic Development. To obtain a duplicate, submit a written request stating the registration number, the date of the deed, and the names of the parties. You will need to provide identification and possibly a letter of authorisation if you are acting on behalf of the partnership. There is a fee, and processing time varies; contacting the ministry directly through their official channels gives you the most current details.
If You’re Outside the Maldives
If you are abroad, you can authorise a representative physically present in Male’ to collect the duplicate on your behalf. A notarised power of attorney, attested by the Maldivian embassy in your country of residence, is often required. Some professional service providers in the Maldives can assist with the retrieval and courier of the document, but the responsibility for arranging the duplicate rests with the deed’s owners. Once you have the certified copy, you can upload it to Lekhak for instant AI translation or request a certified translation for official use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Dhivehi partnership deed?
A partnership deed written in the Dhivehi language that defines the terms of a business partnership in the Maldives. It typically includes party names, capital contributions, profit-sharing ratios, and governance clauses, and is registered under Maldivian law.
Why translate a Maldivian partnership deed to English?
English translation makes the deed usable for foreign business registration, visa applications, bank financing, legal due diligence, and partner comprehension. It converts a Dhivehi-only document into a universally recognised format for international use.
Does Lekhak’s AI translation produce a legally certified document?
No. The instant AI output is a faithful, machine-generated translation in DOCX format, ideal for review and preparation, but it does not include a signed certificate of accuracy. For official submissions, a certified translation is required.
When do I need a certified translation instead of the instant AI output?
You need a certified translation for formal filings with government agencies, courts, company registrars, or for visa applications that explicitly demand a translator’s declaration. Lekhak can arrange certified translation on-demand when you require it.
How does Lekhak’s AI handle Thaana script and right-to-left layout?
The platform uses specialised OCR for Thaana characters, including full vowel diacritics, and then translates the text while preserving the original document structure. The output DOCX keeps the layout intact, with English text placed as logically as possible.
How long does AI translation take?
The AI translation completes within minutes of upload. Unlike traditional service providers, Lekhak delivers the translated DOCX directly to your dashboard or email, ready for immediate download, review, and editing.
Can Lekhak provide notarisation or apostille for my document?
Lekhak does not perform notarisation, apostille, or embassy attestation. Those are separate legal procedures you arrange with Maldivian notaries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or embassies. A certified translation from Lekhak can be part of the chain you submit for attestation.
How can I obtain a duplicate copy of my partnership deed from Male’?
You can request a duplicate from the Ministry of Economic Development in Male’ by providing the registration number and party names. If you are abroad, a notarised power of attorney and an authorised representative are usually needed.
What is the difference between apostille and embassy attestation?
An apostille authenticates the document for use in Hague Convention countries through a single certificate. Embassy attestation involves additional steps: legalisation by the Maldivian foreign ministry and then the destination country’s embassy, which takes more time and involves more fees.
Is my document data secure when using Lekhak?
Lekhak processes all files on secure cloud infrastructure that follows industry-standard encryption. Uploaded documents are used solely for translation and are not shared with third parties; once you delete the file from your dashboard, it is removed from active storage.
Related: pricing
Try Lekhak free
AI-powered translation & typing for poorly scanned documents.
250 free credits at signup · Instant DOCX · 125+ languages · No credit card
Related guides
Hindi to English Partnership Deed Translation: AI vs Certified Options
Marathi to English Partnership Deed Translation for Registration
English to Marathi Partnership Deed Translation for Business Registration
Hindi to English Partnership Deed for Dissolution: AI vs Certified
Italian to English Partnership Deed Translation for Company Registration
