The task
The client was a trading company in Almaty. The debtor was a distributor incorporated in Dubai as an LLC. It accepted deliveries but withheld payment for more than a year, citing slow sales. Our task was to recover the price of the goods and penalty interest for late payment.
As the company's director said in his review, he doubted it could be done from Almaty. That is a common concern: people assume a UAE dispute means constant trips to Dubai. In practice these matters run remotely.
How recovering a debt from a Dubai company usually works
We do not disclose the internal details of client matters, but this is the typical sequence in such cases:
- Diagnosis. We review the supply contract, invoices, delivery records, correspondence and any acknowledgement of the debt. We check the debtor: is its licence active, who are the shareholders, are there signs of assets being moved. We establish which court has jurisdiction and which law applies.
- Power of attorney. The client signs a power of attorney at home; it is legalised for the UAE and translated into Arabic. See Powers of attorney and legalisation.
- Formal demand. A formal notice setting out the debt and penalty. Some debtors pay at this stage or negotiate a schedule.
- Court. Where the debt is documented, a fast-track payment order may be available; if the merits are disputed, a full claim is filed. Interim measures, including freezing the debtor's accounts, can be sought in parallel so that funds are not moved away.
- Enforcement. Once judgment is obtained, an execution file is opened: accounts and assets are attached, funds are collected and paid to the client.
For stages and pricing, see Debt recovery in the UAE.
The result
AED 1.38M was recovered — the price of the goods together with penalty interest. The whole process took 7 months. The matter ran remotely throughout, and the client received a progress report every week.
Every case is different: timing and outcome depend on the evidence, the debtor's stance and whether it has assets. If you are in a similar position, start with a diagnosis — within 1–2 days we will assess your prospects and quote a fee.
FAQ
Yes. The case runs on a power of attorney signed in your country and legalised for the UAE, with meetings held by video.
Typically a success fee of 10–25% of the amount recovered plus a fixed element. Government fees and translations are paid separately and listed in the estimate.
If it is provided for by the contract or by law and correctly calculated, yes — it is claimed together with the principal debt.