Q: What happens if I bounce a cheque when paying for something?

Q: I am the managing director of a company. A creditor is threatening to put a travel ban on me. I have not issued a cheque to this creditor. Can he really put a travel ban on me?

Q: Hi madam, If a lot of cheques equal to AED 300,000 have been bounced and cases are filed and a travel ban imposed, what will be the punishments or consequences to be faced if caught? I can't afford to pay back even 1,000 Dhs. Will I have to pay the full amount? Please advise. Thanks

Q: Hello, I am 3 months behind on my bank loan with FGB. I have told them that I can pay up 2 months on THURSDAY 2nd Nov 2017. The loan is in my business name and they are threatening to deposit the security cheque of 330,000 Dhs for the outstanding full balance of 250,000 Dhs. Can they do that? Is that even legal?

Q: Good day, Look forward to your kind legal advice for my query below. I am a resident of Dubai (Indian national) and I have an outstanding loan of AED 120000 with ADCB bank and they had bounced my security cheque on 15.11.2017 with amount mentioning AED 1400000 as I have defaulted last 3 EMI's (including November). I tried my best by consulting bank's collection executives saying I can pay 1 EMI right now and remaining in next few days but no use. What will be the lead time for them filing a case against me? Can I walk out of police station by paying fine? If yes, how much? If sentenced, then how many days/months will I be in jail? My residence visa expired on 17.11.2017 and company said they will renew in next few days. Will it affect me coming out by surrendering passport? Can I change job & visa if I have a case against me open? Looking forward to your kind advice and suggestions so I can plan accordingly. Many Thanks, HK

Q: Hi Sir, Good day. If a person had a police case due to an unpaid loan, and he already paid fines at the police station, will there be an automatic travel ban for the defaulter? Thank you in advance.

Q: Hello, About the new insolvency law for a natural person, does this also include Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) owners? I am specifically asking about those businessmen who have business loans from banks and unable to service the loan, where the banks file a criminal case against the owner known as bounced cheque case. Are these businessmen also covered under the insolvency law, so that they get a chance to sort out their debts?

Q: Dear sir/madam, I have a loan with a bank in the UAE. When I left, my gratuity was used as payment but I still owe some money. I tried to pay since going back to my home country but it has been financially hard. Recently, the bank filed a court case. They sent me the documents. I have every intention of paying but I can't right now and I have decided that the only way to pay is to just come back to the UAE. My question is: Can I use the new insolvency law to get into the country if I am offered a job in the UAE?

Q: Hi Sir, I am living in Pakistan now, I have a credit card debt of AED 50,000 from a bank, but no security cheque was deposited. Now, the local credit recovery companies are calling me and giving me threats regarding a civil case. Can they put a civil case against me in Pakistan?     Thanks

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.

The UAE travel ban may be imposed on a person on various grounds, for instance, as the result of criminal offences, unpaid loans, breach of immigration laws or family matters. Implications of such a ban can be financially severe and daunting for the affected person. This article aims to give readers a clear understanding of what is the UAE travel ban, what are the grounds and procedures for its imposition and removal, how to check if the person is banned from travelling and other related topics.

The management of individual financial affairs is crucial and all the actions must be weighed down while committing to any financial liability. Whether it's job loss that may have lead to financial failure or the opposite, one must be aware of the personal liability which will not diminish by paying fines for cheque bounce cases. There are two major types of liabilities, criminal liability and civil liability. Each has its own significance, hence, must be dealt with accordingly.

An interview-format article covering the topic of loans and bounced cheques in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

An interview-format article covering the topic of the travel ban and reasons leading to it in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

يلعب الشيك دوراً مهماً في الحياة اليومية سواء في ميدان المعاملات التجارية أو في ميدان المعلامات المدنية باعتباره أداة وفاء والتزام تحل محل النقود في التعامل بين الافراد. ونظراً لهذه الأهمية فقد أصبح أكثر الأوراق التجارية انتشاراً وتداولاً بين الناس، على الرغم من حداثته نوعاً ما. فالشيك لم يبق كما كان في بداية عهده أداة لسحب الودائع المصرفية لحساب الساحب ذاته، بل أصبح أداة وفاء تحل محل النقود سواء على النطاق الداخلي بالنسبة للمعاملات التي يقوم بها الأفراد داخل الدولة فحسب وزادت أهميته.

I believe that there is a similarity between medicine and law, and just as there is a way to ask a question to a doctor to get the most accurate and correct answers from him, which ultimately helps you receive the correct diagnosis, and therefore the correct treatment, there is a way to ask a lawyer.

Dealing with financial difficulties can be overwhelming, but the UAE provides a comprehensive legal framework to manage bankruptcy and insolvency in a way that benefits both debtors and creditors. Understanding these laws and how they work can make a huge difference in navigating the process successfully.

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

The provisions of this Decree by Law amend the Federal Law No. (18) of 1993 by replacing Clause (4) of Article (379) as well as Articles (600), (617), (641), (642), (643), (644), and adding new articles numbered (635) Bis, (641) Bis (1), (641) Bis (2), (641) Bis (3), (641) Bis (4), (643) Bis (1), (643) Bis (2), (644) Bis (1) and (644) Bis (2). The Decree-Law also repeals Articles (401), (402) and (403) of the Federal Law No. (3) of 1987.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law, known as the "New UAE Penal Code", governs criminal actions in the United Arab Emirates. The New Penal Code repeals the previous UAE Penal Code (Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 Promulgating the Penal Code).