When you need a debt recovery lawyer in the UAE
A typical story from our clients in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the EU: the goods have shipped or the work is done, and a Dubai partner has been promising to pay “next week” for months. The longer you wait, the greater the risk the debtor moves money out, closes the company or leaves the country.
Debt recovery in the UAE follows local rules: onshore court proceedings are in Arabic, documents need certified translation, and picking the right procedure is the lawyer's job. We handle all of it remotely — you can stay in Moscow, Almaty, Tashkent or Europe.
Routes to recovering a debt
Demand letter and negotiation
A formal demand from a UAE lawyer often changes a debtor's behaviour. At this stage you can agree a repayment schedule and get the debt acknowledged in writing. The pre-action stage usually takes 2–6 weeks.
Payment order
A fast-track procedure under the UAE Civil Procedure Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022) for undisputed debts: the claim is evidenced in writing, the amount is fixed and payment is due. The court decides on the documents without a full trial. The debtor must first be served with a payment demand, and can challenge the order once it is issued.
Court claim
If the debt is disputed, or includes penalties, damages or several contracts, we file a full claim in the emirate's courts or in the DIFC/ADGM courts, depending on the contract. More on the process: litigation in the UAE. If the contract has an arbitration clause, the dispute goes to arbitration.
Bounced cheques
If the debtor paid with a cheque the bank returned for insufficient funds, in the UAE that cheque can be put forward for enforcement directly, without a separate claim.
Freezing accounts and enforcement
A judgment is only worth something once it is paid. We:
- apply for precautionary attachment where assets are at risk of being moved;
- after judgment, open enforcement proceedings: freezing bank accounts, property and shares in companies;
- where grounds exist, seek a travel ban on the debtor — see UAE travel bans.
If you already hold a Russian or CIS judgment against a UAE company, it must be recognised in the UAE first — see enforcing Russian and CIS judgments in the UAE.
A recent case
A trading company from Almaty had gone more than a year without payment for goods supplied to a Dubai distributor (LLC). We filed a claim with the Dubai courts. The outcome: AED 1.38M recovered with penalty interest in 7 months. Read the case.
Every case is different: the outcome depends on the documents, the debtor's position and whether the debtor holds assets.
Timing and documents
Court recovery usually takes 4 to 9 months depending on the court and the debtor. To assess your case, send us:
- the contract, amendments and specifications;
- invoices, delivery notes, acceptance certificates and proof of shipment;
- correspondence with the debtor, especially anything acknowledging the debt;
- debtor details: name, licence number, emirate.
Fees
For debt recovery we offer a success fee: 10–25% of the amount recovered plus a fixed component. The percentage depends on the amount, the evidence and the stage. Court fees depend on the claim value and are listed separately in the estimate, together with translations. An initial assessment is available at a consultation from AED 750 for 60 minutes.
FAQ
Yes. We act under a power of attorney you can sign in your own country with an apostille or legalisation. Meetings are by video and you get a weekly report.
The pre-action stage usually takes 2–6 weeks; court recovery typically 4 to 9 months depending on the court and the debtor.
A fast-track court procedure for undisputed money claims backed by documents. The court decides on the papers, which is usually quicker than a full claim.
We assess the debtor's assets upfront. If there are none, we will tell you honestly that recovery may not pay off — before you incur costs.
A success fee of 10–25% of the amount recovered plus a fixed component. Court fees and translations are extra, per the estimate.