Tool Currency Converter

Tool — Currency Converter

What it does

Converts amounts between currencies at spot or historical rates, with particular awareness of MENA currencies and the special complications of the Lebanese Pound (LBP) multi-rate environment. Essential for damages quantification, cross-border contract valuations, and tax calculations in mixed-currency matters.

Setup / auth

• Spot rates: Use a reliable FX data provider (e.g., Open Exchange Rates, Fixer.io, or ECB for EUR base). Always record the source and timestamp in the output.
• Historical rates: Most FX providers offer historical rate APIs going back 10–20+ years. Essential for damages "as of" a specific past date.
• LBP special source: For Lebanese Pound rates, use BDL (Banque du Liban) official rate. Do not rely on generic FX APIs which may return outdated or inaccurate LBP rates.

Supported currencies (primary MENA set)

Inputs

Output schema

{
  "from": "USD",
  "to": "AED",
  "amount": 100000,
  "asOfDate": "2026-05-14",
  "rateUsed": 3.6725,
  "rateSource": "AED/USD peg (fixed)",
  "converted": 367250,
  "advisoryFlags": []
}

{
  "from": "LBP",
  "to": "USD",
  "amount": 1000000000,
  "asOfDate": "2026-05-14",
  "rateUsed": 89500,
  "rateSource": "BDL official rate (post-Feb 2023 unification)",
  "converted": 11173.18,
  "advisoryFlags": [
    "LBP: Multiple rates exist. BDL official rate used (LBP 89,500/USD as of Q1 2026 — verify current BDL circular). For pre-2023 contracts, see LBP historical caveat below."
  ]
}

Lebanese Pound — critical caveats

The Lebanese Pound is one of the most legally complex currency situations globally. Three rates have coexisted:

Pre-2019 contracts denominated in "LBP": These were entered into when LBP was pegged at ~LBP 1,507/USD. Post-2019 devaluation, parties dispute which rate applies to discharge obligations. Lebanese courts have not uniformly resolved this. For any pre-2019 LBP contract, flag that the conversion rate requires expert testimony or court determination — do not present a conversion as settled.

Post-Feb 2023: BDL unified the official and Sayrafa rates. Current official rate is the appropriate default for most calculations from this date forward.

FX pinning for litigation

In litigation, a single FX rate must be fixed ("pinned") for the damages calculation period. Best practices:

• Date of loss: Most common approach — use the FX rate on the date the loss occurred.
• Date of judgment: Sometimes ordered by courts (particularly in DIFC/ADGM/UK proceedings).
• Average over the period: Used for claims accruing over time (e.g., lost profits across 12 months).
• Always cite the FX rate and source in the pleadings or expert report.

Permissions & safety

• Always surface the source and timestamp of the rate used; never present a conversion as "exact" without noting that live rates fluctuate.
• For pegged currencies (AED, SAR, QAR, BHD, OMR), note the peg — the conversion is deterministic.
• For EGP, note that the rate may have moved significantly since the user's reference date.
• Do not use third-party FX data without confirming the provider's data-freshness SLA.

Related skills

• [[tool-calculator-statutory-interest]]
• [[tool-calculator-end-of-service-gratuity]]
• [[tool-calculator-stamp-duty-tax]]
• [[research-damages-quantification]]