diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/direction-context.test.ts b/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/direction-context.test.ts
index 2cc29d9c8c..8517d07e2e 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/direction-context.test.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/direction-context.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
-import { getParagraphInlineDirection } from './direction-context.js';
+import { getParagraphInlineDirection, getTableVisualDirection } from './direction-context.js';
 
 describe('getParagraphInlineDirection', () => {
   it('returns undefined for null/undefined attrs', () => {
@@ -49,3 +49,50 @@ describe('getParagraphInlineDirection', () => {
     expect(getParagraphInlineDirection({ paragraphProperties: {} })).toBeUndefined();
   });
 });
+
+describe('getTableVisualDirection', () => {
+  it('returns undefined for null/undefined attrs', () => {
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection(undefined)).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection(null)).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('prefers tableDirectionContext.visualDirection over legacy fields', () => {
+    const attrs = {
+      tableDirectionContext: { visualDirection: 'rtl' as const },
+      tableProperties: { rightToLeft: false },
+    };
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection(attrs)).toBe('rtl');
+  });
+
+  it('falls back past tableDirectionContext when visualDirection is null', () => {
+    const attrs = {
+      tableDirectionContext: { visualDirection: null },
+      tableProperties: { rightToLeft: true },
+    };
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection(attrs)).toBe('rtl');
+  });
+
+  it('falls back past tableDirectionContext when visualDirection is undefined', () => {
+    const attrs = {
+      tableDirectionContext: { visualDirection: undefined },
+      tableProperties: { rightToLeft: true },
+    };
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection(attrs)).toBe('rtl');
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to tableProperties.rightToLeft', () => {
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection({ tableProperties: { rightToLeft: true } })).toBe('rtl');
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection({ tableProperties: { rightToLeft: false } })).toBe('ltr');
+  });
+
+  it('accepts bidiVisual as an alias for rightToLeft', () => {
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection({ tableProperties: { bidiVisual: true } })).toBe('rtl');
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection({ tableProperties: { bidiVisual: false } })).toBe('ltr');
+  });
+
+  it('returns undefined when no signal is present', () => {
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection({})).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection({ tableDirectionContext: {} })).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(getTableVisualDirection({ tableProperties: {} })).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/direction-context.ts b/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/direction-context.ts
index 0374f6d50c..922d7f8031 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/direction-context.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/direction-context.ts
@@ -193,3 +193,38 @@ export function getParagraphInlineDirection(
   }
   return undefined;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Read a table's visual direction (cell ordering axis) from its attributes.
+ *
+ * Prefers the resolved {@link TableDirectionContext} when present, falls
+ * back to the legacy `tableProperties.rightToLeft` (or `bidiVisual` alias)
+ * for compatibility. The AIDEV-NOTE on the fallback branch names the
+ * retirement signal.
+ *
+ * Per ECMA-376 §17.4.1, `w:bidiVisual` affects only cell ordering and
+ * table-visual properties. Cell paragraph inline direction is independent;
+ * use {@link getParagraphInlineDirection} for that axis.
+ *
+ * Consumers should call this instead of reading `tableProperties.rightToLeft`
+ * directly so the source check stays in one place and the resolver can take
+ * over once pm-adapter populates `tableDirectionContext` everywhere.
+ */
+export function getTableVisualDirection(
+  attrs:
+    | {
+        tableDirectionContext?: { visualDirection?: BaseDirection | null } | null;
+        tableProperties?: { rightToLeft?: boolean | null; bidiVisual?: boolean | null } | null;
+      }
+    | null
+    | undefined,
+): BaseDirection | undefined {
+  const fromContext = attrs?.tableDirectionContext?.visualDirection;
+  if (fromContext != null) return fromContext;
+  // AIDEV-NOTE: compat-fallback - used when TableAttrs.tableDirectionContext is absent.
+  // Retire once pm-adapter writes the resolved context onto every TableAttrs site.
+  const tp = attrs?.tableProperties;
+  if (tp?.rightToLeft === true || tp?.bidiVisual === true) return 'rtl';
+  if (tp?.rightToLeft === false || tp?.bidiVisual === false) return 'ltr';
+  return undefined;
+}
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/index.ts b/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/index.ts
index 1762530a11..b1ade37cf9 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/index.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export type {
   RunBidiContext,
   RunScriptContext,
 } from './direction-context.js';
-export { getParagraphInlineDirection } from './direction-context.js';
+export { getParagraphInlineDirection, getTableVisualDirection } from './direction-context.js';
 import type { ParagraphDirectionContext, RunBidiContext, RunScriptContext } from './direction-context.js';
 
 // Export table contracts
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/layout-engine/src/layout-table.ts b/packages/layout-engine/layout-engine/src/layout-table.ts
index ebcf1d8ce7..3f30d140cc 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/layout-engine/src/layout-table.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/layout-engine/src/layout-table.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ import type {
   ParagraphMeasure,
   ParagraphBlock,
 } from '@superdoc/contracts';
-import { OOXML_PCT_DIVISOR, rescaleColumnWidths, resolveTableWidthAttr } from '@superdoc/contracts';
+import {
+  OOXML_PCT_DIVISOR,
+  rescaleColumnWidths,
+  resolveTableWidthAttr,
+  getTableVisualDirection,
+} from '@superdoc/contracts';
 import type { PageState } from './paginator.js';
 import { computeFragmentPmRange, extractBlockPmRange } from './layout-utils.js';
 import { describeCellRenderBlocks, createCellSliceCursor, computeFullCellContentHeight } from './table-cell-slice.js';
@@ -182,7 +187,7 @@ export function resolveTableFrame(
 ): { x: number; width: number } {
   const width = resolveRenderedTableWidth(columnWidth, tableWidth, attrs);
   const explicitJustification = typeof attrs?.justification === 'string' ? attrs.justification : undefined;
-  const isRtlTable = attrs?.tableProperties?.rightToLeft === true;
+  const isRtlTable = getTableVisualDirection(attrs) === 'rtl';
   const effectiveJustification = explicitJustification ?? (isRtlTable ? 'end' : undefined);
   const tableIndent = getTableIndentWidth(attrs);
 
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/table/renderTableFragment.ts b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/table/renderTableFragment.ts
index c1e304bfa4..d8e76cabb8 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/table/renderTableFragment.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/table/renderTableFragment.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import type {
   TableFragment,
   TableMeasure,
 } from '@superdoc/contracts';
+import { getTableVisualDirection } from '@superdoc/contracts';
 import { CLASS_NAMES, fragmentStyles } from '../styles.js';
 import { DOM_CLASS_NAMES } from '../constants.js';
 import type { FragmentRenderContext } from '../renderer.js';
@@ -173,8 +174,7 @@ export const renderTableFragment = (deps: TableRenderDependencies): HTMLElement
 
   // RTL table: w:bidiVisual (ECMA-376 §17.4.1) — cells displayed right-to-left,
   // table-level properties (borders, margins, indent) are mirrored.
-  const tableProperties = block.attrs?.tableProperties as Record<string, unknown> | undefined;
-  const isRtl = tableProperties?.rightToLeft === true;
+  const isRtl = getTableVisualDirection(block.attrs) === 'rtl';
   // Note: We don't use createTableBorderOverlay because we implement single-owner
   // border model where cells handle all borders (including outer table borders)
   // to prevent double borders when rendering with absolutely-positioned divs.
diff --git a/packages/super-editor/src/editors/v1/extensions/table/tableHelpers/tableBoundaryNavigation.js b/packages/super-editor/src/editors/v1/extensions/table/tableHelpers/tableBoundaryNavigation.js
index 8cb87c134a..9afc16779a 100644
--- a/packages/super-editor/src/editors/v1/extensions/table/tableHelpers/tableBoundaryNavigation.js
+++ b/packages/super-editor/src/editors/v1/extensions/table/tableHelpers/tableBoundaryNavigation.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // @ts-check
 import { Plugin, PluginKey, Selection, TextSelection } from 'prosemirror-state';
 import { CellSelection, TableMap } from 'prosemirror-tables';
+import { getTableVisualDirection } from '@superdoc/contracts';
 
 const TABLE_CELL_ROLES = new Set(['cell', 'header_cell']);
 
@@ -168,8 +169,7 @@ function getTableContext($head) {
  * @returns {boolean}
  */
 function isRtlTable(table) {
-  const tableProperties = table?.attrs?.tableProperties;
-  return tableProperties?.rightToLeft === true;
+  return getTableVisualDirection(table?.attrs) === 'rtl';
 }
 
 /**