How to enforce a catch order on a tenant back in Dubai despite a travel ban?

It is likely that the travel ban was not fully registered or circulated, which allowed the tenant to enter. We recommend that you immediately approach the Execution Department of the court that issued the judgment to request:

- Confirmation that the ban orders are circulated in the border control systems.

- Activation of seizure and enforcement procedures on his assets inside the country.

- Filing a request for an arrest order/detention if necessary, to ensure pressure for settlement or payment.

We can submit and follow up on all procedures on your behalf. Please contact us via WhatsApp or share your number, and we will get in touch with you.

To activate the travel ban and arrest warrant against the tenant in Dubai, contact the court that issued the warrants and provide them with information about the tenant's presence in Dubai.

The court will then direct the relevant authorities to activate them. To track the two orders, ask the court to send a direct request to the Dubai Police to receive the arrest warrant and activate the ban.

To ensure payment, request that the tenant's assets in Dubai be frozen through the Enforcement Court, if available.

Contact me, I can help you [-----------].

Dear Client,

Thank you for sharing the update on your case and your concerns regarding the tenant who has re-entered Dubai despite the travel ban and catch order.

1. The tenant can re-enter the UAE despite the travel ban if the ban was not properly recorded or updated in the immigration system, or if the ban is specific to certain emirates and the tenant entered via a different emirate’s port. Sometimes, administrative delays or errors can lead to such breaches.

2. To activate and enforce the catch order now that the tenant is physically in Dubai, you should immediately notify the Execution Court that issued the eviction and catch order. Provide them with the new information about the tenant’s presence. The court or the enforcement officers will coordinate with Dubai Police to detain the tenant under the issued catch/travel ban order.

3. For enforcing payment settlement, besides travel ban and license blocking, you may pursue asset attachment and bank account freezing through the Execution Court. The court can authorize seizure and auction of tenant assets and can also impose additional penalties for non-compliance with the payment orders.

It is important to work closely with the Execution Court and Dubai Police to follow up regularly on enforcement actions. If needed, legal counsel assistance may be required to ensure all procedural steps are properly completed and enforcement measures remain effective.

Please let me know if you need help drafting formal follow-up requests to the court or police.

Best regards,

Abdul Wahied

Good morning, and thank you for your inquiry!

Please note the following points regarding your case:

- Re-entry Despite Travel Ban or Catch Order

A travel ban or catch order only takes effect once it has been formally executed and circulated through the immigration system. If the ban or order was issued but not yet activated in the federal database, or if the tenant entered through an emirate before the notification reached all entry points, it is possible for the individual to re-enter the UAE.

- Activating the Catch Order

You should follow up directly with the Execution Department of the court that issued the order. Provide them with any updated information about the tenant’s presence in Dubai (such as location or contact details) and request immediate enforcement. The Execution Judge can coordinate with Dubai Police to detain the tenant in accordance with the order.

- Further Enforcement for Payment

Ensure the execution file is current and that the judgment amount and 6% execution fees (capped at AED 30,000) are fully recorded.

Request the court to freeze the tenant’s bank accounts, salary, and movable assets if this has not already been done.

You may also seek attachment of any vehicles or other property registered in the tenant’s name.

Our office can follow up with the Execution Department on your behalf to confirm that the catch order and travel ban are properly activated and to file the necessary applications for asset seizure and collection of the outstanding amount.

Kindly share the latest court documents and any new details on the tenant’s whereabouts so we can proceed without delay.

Best regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

Regarding the tenant’s presence in the UAE despite the issuance of an arrest order, there are a couple of possible explanations:

- The arrest order may have been issued after the tenant had already returned to the country, which is why he was not stopped at the borders.

- Or the tenant may have never left the country in the first place, and has remained inside the UAE even after the order was issued.

In all cases, arrest and travel ban orders are not automatically enforced unless they are followed up with the competent authorities to ensure proper circulation and activation through police and immigration systems.

Required Steps for Execution

- File a request with the Execution Department at court to circulate the arrest order to the police.

- Follow up with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to locate the tenant.

- Proceed with enforcement through the Rental Disputes Center to activate seizure and execution against the tenant’s furniture or any other assets.

- Submit additional applications for attachment of bank accounts, vehicles, or trade licenses if available.

Our Role

This matter requires continuous and precise follow-up with the court, the police, the CID, and the Rental Disputes Center. Our office is ready to undertake all these procedures on your behalf for a fixed professional fee of AED 5,000 only.

Immediately inform the Dubai Civil Execution Section about the tenant’s presence.

Ensure all supporting documents (eviction order, catch order, travel ban request) are ready.

Follow up with immigration and police to prevent further travel or asset transfer.

Good morning,

Thank you for your message and the details you shared!

To address your queries step by step:

A travel ban or catch order does not prevent someone from entering the UAE; it restricts their ability to exit. This is why your tenant could re-enter but will not be able to leave the country until the ban is lifted or the case is settled.

Since you already have a catch order, the next step is to coordinate with the court bailiffs and Dubai Police to activate and implement it. Practically, this involves submitting an execution request to enforce the order so the authorities can trace and detain the tenant once his location is verified.

Alongside the catch order, we can also push forward with enforcement proceedings—such as attaching and selling the tenant’s movable/immovable assets, freezing bank accounts, and placing liens on any active licenses or vehicles. This ensures maximum pressure is maintained until your outstanding dues are settled.

I strongly recommend we act quickly to file the necessary execution applications and liaise directly with the enforcement department so no time is lost. I can assist you throughout this process to make sure your rights as a landlord are fully protected and the recovery is pursued without delay.

You may reach me directly on WhatsApp or phone at [-------------] so we can discuss the urgent action plan and proceed accordingly.

Dear questioner,

While the UAE's legal and immigration systems are highly integrated, there can sometimes be delays in the automated systems between different authorities (like the court and immigration at the airport) or in the manual process of registering a federal case.

It's also possible that the travel ban was not fully processed or activated at the time the tenant was outside the country. However, once a person with a live "catch order" is identified within the UAE, the order can be executed.

Your next step is to go to the court that issued the order and formally inform them that the tenant is back in the country.

If you need our assistance in your matter, kindly share your WhatsApp number.

Thank you for contacting us via Legal Advice Middle East!

Your case is clear and strong, especially since you already have an eviction order, a list of the tenant’s belongings, and enforcement measures such as a travel ban and license blocks. We have managed similar landlord–tenant cases where, despite a ban or catch order, the tenant re-entered the UAE.

First, it is possible that the tenant exited before the travel ban was formally registered in the immigration system, or that the ban is linked to specific emirates only. In some cases, tenants re-enter on a new visa before enforcement is updated across all systems.

This does not invalidate your catch order, but it does mean you must now notify the enforcement department that the debtor is physically in the country.

Second, the correct procedure is to approach the execution section of the Rental Dispute Center (or the civil court enforcement department, depending on where your case is filed) with proof that the tenant is currently in Dubai.

The enforcement team can then activate the arrest warrant (catch order) through Dubai Police, ensuring the tenant is apprehended when located. We have seen this step move quickly when supported by clear details such as the tenant’s mobile number, workplace, or residence location.

Third, to secure payment, you can proceed with full execution against the tenant’s assets—bank accounts, vehicles, trade licenses, and the listed furniture. If he is arrested under the catch order, the court will typically pressure him to settle the outstanding rent and enforcement costs to secure release. The hidden risk is inactivity: if you do not push the enforcement unit, the order remains on file without being executed.

The most strategic move now is to immediately file a follow-up execution petition with the court, attaching your evidence that the tenant is in Dubai, and request urgent activation of the catch order.

Our office can handle this on your behalf, liaising directly with the court enforcement officers and police until the order is carried out.

Good morning,

Thank you for reaching out!

Regarding your case, it is important to clarify that a travel ban or catch order does not always guarantee that the individual cannot re-enter or remain in the UAE, as implementation depends on the specific enforcement measures taken by the authorities.

To activate the catch order now that the tenant is in Dubai, you will need to follow up directly with the competent court and enforcement department to execute the order.

As for recovering outstanding payments, further enforcement actions are available, but the strategy will depend on the tenant’s current status and assets in the UAE.

To ensure effective execution and protect your rights, we recommend booking a consultation or issuing a power of attorney so our office can handle the matter on your behalf.

The tenant is under a travel ban, not an entry ban. On the contrary, an entry ban would actually harm your interests. However, the police should have arrested him upon arrival.

You can go to the investigations department and confirm that he has come to Dubai, and provide them with an address if you have one.