Terms and Conditions
The rules that govern the use of Mahara: your rights and obligations, whether you hire or you deliver, in plain language.
Last updated: 17 May 2026
Language notice: this English text is provided so that international members can read our terms in full. The Arabic version remains the legally binding reference. Where the two differ, the Arabic text prevails.
Strict rules for anyone delivering services (anti-fraud against clients).
Strict rules for clients (anti-fraud against freelancers).
1. Acceptance of these terms
By using the Mahara platform (the «Platform») or creating an account on it, you confirm that you have read and agreed to these terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.
2. Eligibility
To register, you must be:
- 18 years of age or older.
- Legally able to enter into binding contracts in your country.
- Not banned from the Platform for a previous violation.
3. Account types
The Platform supports two kinds of account:
- Developer / designer (the «freelancer»): provides professional services for payment.
- Client: requests services and pays for them.
A single account may switch between the two roles at any time.
4. Freelancer obligations
- Deliver work of professional quality that matches the published description.
- Respect the agreed deadlines.
- Keep the client's information and intellectual property confidential.
- Communicate respectfully and professionally.
- Never publish work that is not their own, and never claim expertise they do not have.
- Comply with the laws applicable in their own country and in the client's country.
5. Client obligations
- Provide clear and complete requirements.
- Pay the agreed amount on time.
- Communicate respectfully and professionally.
- Never request illegal or unethical services.
- Respect the freelancer's intellectual property before payment is completed.
6. Prohibited uses
The following are strictly forbidden on the Platform:
- Fraud or deception in any form.
- Publishing illegal, racist, or hate-inciting content.
- Impersonating another person.
- Attempting to breach the Platform or bypass its restrictions.
- Sending spam or unsolicited promotional messages to members.
- Contacting the other party directly in order to bypass the Platform commission (this results in a ban).
- Publishing personal contact details in public descriptions before a project is accepted.
6.1: Off-platform activity (express disclaimer)
Critical legal notice: Mahara provides full protection (escrow, mediation, refunds, dispute resolution) ONLY while both communication and payment stay inside the Platform.
In the following cases, every Mahara guarantee falls away and the Platform carries no liability whatsoever:
- Communication outside the Platform: any conversation that moves to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, private email, a phone call, or any channel other than Mahara's official messaging is considered a departure from the Platform's protection.
- Payment outside the Platform: any transfer made outside Mahara's escrow system (cash, a direct bank transfer to the freelancer, Western Union, or any other method) is considered a private transaction between two parties, with no connection to Mahara.
- Verbal or private agreements: any agreement made outside the Platform, or not recorded in the order system, is one Mahara does not recognise and cannot enforce.
Once you leave the Platform:
- The Mahara team cannot intervene in any dispute.
- Neither party can claim a refund through the Platform.
- No quality or delivery guarantee applies.
- Liability rests entirely with the two parties involved.
- Both accounts may be suspended or terminated if an attempt to bypass the Platform is discovered.
Our recommendation: always keep communication and payment inside Mahara. Protection, refunds, and mediation all depend on staying on the Platform.
7. Intellectual property
- The Mahara name, logo and design are our exclusive property.
- Portfolio work a freelancer publishes remains theirs. By hosting it on the Platform they grant us a non-exclusive licence to display it for promotional purposes.
- Work delivered to a client transfers to that client once payment is complete, unless the project agreement says otherwise.
8. Fees and payments
- Platform commission: 7% of the project value, deducted from the freelancer's share.
- Accepted payment methods: bank transfer and Sham Cash only. All payments pass through the Platform's escrow system.
- Payment timing: the client pays the full project value up front, and it is held in full by the Platform (escrow) until the project is delivered completely. After delivery and client acceptance, the amount is released to the service provider's account (less the 7% Platform commission).
- Hourly work: the full weekly block is funded up front (hourly rate × weekly cap). Time-log approval records the work but never releases funds; release occurs only after the client explicitly accepts the final delivery.
- Disputes: in the event of a dispute we apply a fair mediation process (see clause 10).
- Taxes: each party is responsible for their own taxes in their own country.
9. Cancellation and refunds
- Before work starts: a full refund within 24 hours of payment.
- While work is in progress: a partial refund in proportion to the work completed, after review by the mediation team.
- After delivery: the client has a 3-day review window to request revisions. After final acceptance, payment is final.
10. Dispute resolution
When a dispute arises:
- First: we encourage direct dialogue between the two parties.
- Second: either party may request mediation by the Platform team (free of charge); we review the evidence from both sides.
- Third: the Platform's decision is binding on the Platform, but it does not prevent either party from pursuing the matter through the courts.
11. Suspension or termination
We may suspend or terminate your account in cases including:
- Violation of these terms.
- Fraud or harmful conduct.
- Repeated serious complaints.
- Inactivity for more than 3 years.
You may delete your account at any time from your account settings.
12. Disclaimer
Mahara is an intermediary between freelancers and clients. We do not guarantee the quality of every service, and we are not liable for damages arising from the acts of a third party on the Platform. Our maximum financial liability in any dispute equals the value of the project concerned.
13. Amendments
We reserve the right to amend these terms. Material changes will be announced 30 days before they take effect. Continuing to use the Platform means you accept the updated version.
14. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Syrian Arab Republic. We also comply with the applicable international data-protection laws, including the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users resident in the European Union where it applies to them.
15. Contact us
Legal questions: info@mahara.sy