Q: Dear Mrs Khan, I have recently received a Post Dated Bank Cheque from one of my new clients, the cheque date is Thursday 19th Apr 2018. Today, I called this client to find out that they are not answering calls, and when I went to their office I found it closed and many of their suppliers in the corridors complaining about their Bank Cheques that were bounced back (rejected). The owner of this company seems to have already left the UAE and none of his employees is answering the phone. So most probably the bank cheque that they gave me (AED 57250) will bounce back Thursday. So I want to start taking action now. I sold them 10000 boxes of 15 Kg lemon, which they stored in a third-party cold storeroom in Dubai. I went and found that the lemon is still there. Please, could you tell me how can I legally get back my lemon as I'm 100% sure I will not be paid? Thanks in advance and please feel to ask should you need more details.

Q: I received bad/bounced cheques from a client in the amount of AED108000 and need to have a civil lawsuit to claim this amount.

Q: Hi, I have filed a case against my client for the returned cheque of 45k. He got released after paying a fine. How can I file a civil case and which department should I approach?

In the UAE, cheque bounce is a very frequent problem faced by people during their span in the country. It is covered under the purview of Commercial Transactions Law, and legal implications/penalties can be financially severe and daunting for more “serious” offenses. Bounced cheque issues may arise in a variety of commercial transactions, including but not limited to, companies’ exchanges, bank loans, property rents or purchases, and individual transactions.

This Law applies to merchants, as well as to all acts of commerce carried out in the UAE by any person even though he be not a trader. Commercial matters regarding which specific Federal laws are issued shall be subject to the provisions of such laws, and to the provisions hereof which do not contradict with said laws.

The law promulgates UAE Civil Procedures Code (Civil Procedure Law) which governs civil procedures in the United Arab Emirates, including the prosecution before the courts, litigation and execution.