Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
6 available 6 • View allA client is not ready to receive the goods after its arrival
1
Q: Hello,
We are a procurement company that sources furniture from abroad. Our payment terms with one of our clients are 50% advance, and 50% upon delivery.
The goods have arrived in Dubai and have been in a warehouse for months. The Client is not ready to receive the goods and is refusing to pay the warehouse charges.
What can we legally do?

Oct 26, 2020
510
Holding the final payments for provided services due to a mistake
1
Q: While closing the contract and final payments are overdue, the client is claiming that they will not release such overdue payment because of a mistake that my technician did during his performance of activity which falls under our scope of work.
This mistake had cost the client around 100k AED as fine from ADDC plus another 100k AED against modification of the work done by the client after the mistake happened to comply with ADDC requirement.
Does my client have the right to do so, knowing that there is no limit of liability clause in our contract but our contract is under the UAE law?
Please advise.

Feb 20, 2019
496
Claiming an outstanding debt from a client in Dubai
1
Q: Hi,
We run a small consulting and design firm in Cape Town, South Africa. We recently were commissioned by a client in Dubai to develop their brand strategy and revise their website.
The last 25% payment is due and the client refuses to release this payment. It's a small amount of around $2500. What are our options without finding ourselves in debt?
Thank you

Aug 23, 2018
467
A client cancels the contract and refuses to pay. What to do?
1
Q: Dear sir/madam,
We were contacted by a large firm in the UAE. We agreed, put a contract, and got an LPO from a client. It was a 6-week project.
We started & followed all the processes, got approvals for each task as per the approved project plan, did revisions they requested. For a few items, we needed the client's feedback or inputs but they didn't provide them at all.
For 4 weeks, we sent reminders, calls, emails. No response or updates. It was affecting us; 6 weeks is over.
Today, we got an email saying they are canceling the PO and not paying at all. The PO clearly states "partial payment" is included. Our contract states delays caused by clients are their fault and are payable. We have full proof of work, emails & records.
We want to take legal action and get compensation for all work done, delays, time wasted, and damages as we had to stop other work.
Please advise!

Nov 3, 2021
299
A client terminates the contract without fulfilling the obligations. What to do?
1
Q: Dear sir/madam,
I have a contract with a client who has terminated it but they do not want to pay for either the fee for the delay in the first payment (which is included in the contract) nor for the 1 month which is pending due to the 30 days termination period stated in the contract.
Kindly advise on my rights regarding both parts.
Thanks!

Jan 4, 2022
245
How to defend a revenge case raised by a client company that refuses to pay our fees?


0
Q: I run a technical services LLC company in Dubai. A construction company had not paid us our work payment. So I left the work and made a court case for the recovery but my case was refused by the court.
Now that the company revengefully made a false court case against my company and is claiming recovery of 70000 dirhams because of leaving work, today is my hearing.
I already stopped all work in my company due to huge losses. My trade license is already expired and my visa is about to expire on 11.3.24. I will cancel my visa also.
In this condition, what should I do?
Please advise and help me.
M.



Feb 27, 2024
75
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • View allFederal Law No. (18) of 1993 Issuing the Commercial Transactions Law 19
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.
Sep 7, 1993
33057
Federal Law No. (11) of 1992 Concerning Issuance of the Civil Procedures Code 42
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.
Feb 24, 1992
75386
Federal Law No. (5) of 1985 On the Civil Transactions Law of the United Arab Emirates 96
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.
Dec 15, 1985
148520

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Other answers by
How can we claim our money back if the cheque we received have bounced for insufficient funds? 0
We received a cheque which has now bounced. We have tried for over a month and a half now to get a new cheque from the person, and every day he says the next day.
We need the money now. We have been to the police station, and they said they can not do anything as the reason the cheque bounced is "Insufficient funds."
We have been to Al Barsha - Dubai Courts, and they said there is nothing they can do about it.
We are not sure what we can do. We need the money asap to pay our kids' school fees, let alone all the interest we have lost.
Apr 28, 2025
33
After 11 months of work, how many leave days is an employee entitled to? 0
Hello,
I want to inquire regarding my leave privileges. I am now 11 months in my company. How many leaves am I privileged to?
Based on Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regulating labour relations and its executive regulations, you are entitled to a paid weekly rest for not less than one day, as specified in the work contract or the work regulation.
The Council of Ministers may increase the weekly rest day stipulated in this article. The Decree-Law and its executive regulations also stipulate that you are entitled to an annual leave with full pay as follows:
- Thirty days for each year of your extended service.
- Two days per month in respect of any employee with more than six months and less than one year of service.
- Leave for parts of the last year of your service in case it is terminated before you use your annual leave balance.
Now my question is: do I have 22 days I can use? Can someone explain to me in detail?
Thank you!
Apr 28, 2025
28
What can I do if I got a judgment in absentia for selling medicine without a license? 0
I got an order of 6 months imprisonment and deportation for a judgment in absentia by the Sharjah court for selling medicine without a license. I was not involved in the case directly; my friend used my car, and he had my bank card.
They made a confession that they were working for me and made a false claim that they had transferred money to me. As I am outside the country, I came to the UAE to solve my case.
I got detained at the airport, and the CID asked me some questions. I mentioned they didn’t transfer me a single Dihram, so he let me go, as the case was already open for appeal.
In the first instance court, they gave me the same verdict, then I appealed and attached documents like bank statements and my company details, which were not mentioned before.
They gave a date for the judgment, but it was not issued, and they gave the next date. I have been suffering a lot for the last 3 months here in the UAE and for 6 months back home.
So my question is that what will happen next?
Will the case be open for retrial, and will the CID be convinced by my logic?
Can they drop charges, or now the court decide only?
Apr 25, 2025
41
Can I keep my daughter's physical Emirates ID if the custodian already has the digital copy? 0
Hello,
Can I keep my daughter's physical Emirates ID with me? I already provided the digital copy to the custodian, my ex-wife.
Or should I hand it over to her?
Apr 24, 2025
30
What legal action can a company take to recover an amount from a non-paying customer? 0
Hello,
We are a building materials trading company based in the UAE. We supplied materials worth AED 50,000 to a customer around 8 months ago, but despite repeated follow-ups and reminders, no payment has been made to date.
We would appreciate guidance on the following:
1. What legal action can we take to recover the amount?
2. What documents should we have ready (e.g., delivery notes, invoice, emails)?
3. How long does the legal process typically take in the UAE for such cases?
4. Is there a recommended timeline or deadline after which legal steps should be initiated?
Thank you in advance for your advice!
Apr 25, 2025
48

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Other answers by
How to liquidate a free zone company after the death of one partner 2
I am a company owner In Shams free zone of 50 per cent share and have a partner visa. My partner was a Russian who went to Russia and died.
When I went to the free zone to cancel my visa and close the company, they have asked me to get his attested death certificate and NOC from his heirs.
The problem I am facing is his family doesn’t want to give the death certificate nor they want to give NOC. Now my resident visa validity is over and I am on fine every day.
Neither the free zone is cooperating nor the partner's family. What is the other way I can cancel my visa and close the company?
Can someone guide me, please?
Apr 19, 2021
727
How the objection of a client be dealt with after being notified for termination by DLD? 2
I have been notified by DLD that I am in breach of an off-plan sales agreement, and the developer wishes to terminate the agreement.
The date on the notice is March 9, 2021, and I received it from the developer on March 11, 2021. The notice says I have 30 days "from the date of being notified" to make the outstanding payment.
On the termination notice from DLD, a list of objections is present. One of the objections states that the developer must hand over the final SPA to me.
In this case, I have not received the final SPA from the developer. I made an objection in writing to the DLD pointing this fact out and sent it via email, and received a confirmation of the same from DLD by return e-mail on April 6, 2021.
30 days from March 9th is April 8th, or from March 11th is April 10th. Does the developer have to respond to my objection before the DLD will allow them to terminate the agreement?
In this case, will the time I have to make the payment be extended by any period?
Apr 19, 2021
1450
Opening a trustee with wife and signing a postnuptial agreement 1
I would like to open a trustee with my wife and sign a postnuptial agreement.
Apr 19, 2021
494
Closing a business while the local service agent is not reachable 2
Hi,
We have a professional services license (2 partners) + 1 local service agent registered with DED, Dubai.
The partners wish to close the business because of unavoidable circumstances. We wish to proceed with all the necessary paperwork for cancellation.
Unfortunately, the local service agent is not available. We have been trying to connect to him multiple times but have not been able to reach him.
The due date for the renewal of the company is coming up and we want to proceed with all the paperwork for cancellation prior to that.
Kindly advise us about the options if the local service agent is unavailable.
Apr 19, 2021
831
Returning to the UAE to run business after being convicted with a crime 6
Hi,
I want some information regarding my uncle. He was arrested in November 2015 and was in prison until 13 June 2016 when he was deported to Pakistan.
The reason for the arrest was that my uncle had his own business in Sharjah and he was involved in a case where his employee accused him of attacking him and other allegations. He was arrested and convicted.
He needs to reenter the country as he has his business in Sharjah but I believe he is blacklisted/banned. How can I find out if he is blacklisted/banned and how can it be removed to allow my uncle to reenter the country and take over his business?
Is there any way of helping to resolve this issue?
I know that if he enters on a visa, he could be arrested at the airport, and don’t want that to happen.
Thank you!
Apr 5, 2021
537
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