Recovering a commercial debt in the UAE requires navigating a legal system that blends civil law, Sharia principles, and, in special economic zones such as the DIFC and ADGM, English common law. For documented claims, a payment order can be issued within 3 business days if the creditor first sends a notary-delivered demand. Standard civil proceedings take 6 to 9 months; complex disputes up to 18 months. EU enforcement tools do not apply. Claims below EUR 3,000 are generally uneconomical to pursue in court.

Key Takeaways

The UAE legal system is a hybrid: onshore courts apply a civil law / Sharia framework in Arabic; DIFC and ADGM free zone courts apply English common law in English, with greater predictability for international creditors.
A notary-delivered demand letter is required at least 5 days before filing for a payment order, which can be issued within 3 business days for documented, uncontested claims.
The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention; powers of attorney signed abroad must be notarised, legalised in the home country, and then legalised by the UAE diplomatic mission before use.
All onshore court proceedings are conducted in Arabic; documents in other languages require certified translation.
There is no general bilateral treaty for recognising foreign (including EU) court judgments in the UAE, making it difficult to enforce an overseas judgment without re-litigating the case.

Debt Collection in the United Arabs Emirates