Q: I have four credit cards which I am using last 5- 6 years. My financial situation has currently changed dramatically, and I am not in a position to repay the minimum payments. Until the last month, all the payments were accurate. All four credit cards entitle to use AED 100,000. As per my knowledge, the bank will file a case against me and I would like to know what actions can I take to avoid prison. In addition, I think I need a lawyer so that he can take care of my documents and release me if they will catch me. Could you please tell me what will the next step be? How can I get a court decision in my favor and obtain a police clearance certificate after all this? Thanks.

Q: I have 3 bank debts in UAE and they already filed the case against me. Is there any possibility that arrest will happen in any other GCC countries? Right now I am working in Qatar.

Q: Greetings, I was terminated by my company in May 2016 because they were cutting the number of staff. I had a credit card with 10,000AED that I used fully. I was unable to reach the bank and so far I have never received any call or email from them. I was struggling with unemployment all this time and couldn’t pay my debt, I have no intentions to not pay because it’s Haram/prohibited in my religion. Recently, I got a job offer in another GCC country and I want to go there and pay my debt using my salary. My question is, will I be arrested in that GCC country at the airport? I don’t know if a police case has been filed against me or not, what I know is I am morally obligated to pay my debt and the only way I can do it is if I start that new job, my family is poor and my country has no job opportunities. I’m afraid to be detained and sent to the UAE, this will not solve the issue, nobody will be able to pay for me and jail won’t solve the problem. Any help is greatly appreciated. Regards.

Q: Do GCC countries have an extradition treaty? If they don't, does the UAE have an extradition treaty with Bahrain?

Q: I am a UK passport holder. Can you assist me? I worked in the UAE, Abu Dhabi. Two years ago, I lost my job and returned to the UK but I was unable to keep up payments on my loan and credit cards after my end of service money run out. The banks started hounding me when I could not keep up payments and threatened to raise a civil case and a GCC travel ban. I do not know if they went through with this or not and what the consequences would be if there are a travel ban and a civil case raised in the UAE or GCC countries. I now have the chance of a job in Qatar and a chance to make some money again to try and pay off my debt in the UAE. Can I enter Qatar? Would I be arrested? Am I at risk and should not take the job? What are my options? I can not start to pay back any UAE money until I get a job and start earning again. Please advise! Thanks!

Q: What is GCC ban for defaulters? Can a person who is outside the UAE and having this ban travel to other GCC countries besides the UAE?

Q: Good day! I have a personal loan in the UAE, which I haven’t finished paying yet. I’ve never missed any payment when I was still working there back in 2018. I had to go back to my home country and fix some of my personal problems. I was planning to go back to work again in any GCC countries except the UAE because I want to first clear my loan from there and head back soon. Is it possible I’ll get arrested in other GCC countries because of my loan in the UAE? I got a job offer and I want to settle that loan ASAP. Please advice!

Q: I left Dubai in 2017 & I have a loan amount of 35 to 40 thousand USD from a Bank. Now I want to travel to Qatar for work propose. Can I travel to Qatar? If I tell I can work & pay the debt from there.

س: السلام عليكم، كنت موجود في الإمارات وصدر ضدي تعميم بسبب قضية مالية. الآن أنا خارج الدولة وحصلت على فرصة عمل في السعودية. هل سيُقبض عليّ عند دخول السعودية أو أي دولة خليجية أخرى؟ شكرًا

Q: I left Dubai and came back to the UK following the loss of my Mom. I then did not return to the UAE as my company terminated my contract (did not cancel my visa). However, I had a loan and a credit card which as yet I have not been able to repay. Despite contact with the bank, no agreement has been reached, and no claim has been made against me to the court. Can I transit through any other GCC country if I have unpaid debts in the UAE? Thanks

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.

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.

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.