Q: Hi. I have a case filed against me by the bank last month end for failing to pay 2 EMIs. I have been unemployed since April 2017 and have managed to pay my EMIs from the settlement I received from my previous company and some other EMIs by borrowing money from friends and families. I have not been able to find suitable employment during this time and I have AED 52,000 to pay the bank (the original amount being AED 254,000). The cheque bounced by the bank is for an amount of AED 77,100.00. My overdue EMI is AED 9,800, while my outstanding is AED 52,000. The 4-year loan will finish tenure by July 2019. Before the case was registered by the bank, I had emailed them (also spoke with their rep) to give me a loan deferment, however, they chose not to respond. Please advise on the next possible actions. I still have not received any calls from any legal authorities. Will I have to face jail term or deportation?

Q: PLEASE REPLY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE UAE CHEQUE BOUNCE CASE (PERSONAL CHEQUE) IF AN INDIVIDUAL FILE A POLICE CASE 1) What will be the minimum jail terms for Cheque bounce case? During jail terms whether he will be on travel ban? During jail term whether he can come out of jail by giving somebody's passport as security? After completing the jail term whether he will be still on travel ban as he has not paid the money against the cheque? If he did not pay the money during police case, how can I get back the money? 2) When he is on jail terms during police case, whether we can proceed with the civil case for cheque bounce? 3) For proceeding civil case whether we have to deposit any amount to court? Your valuable advice will be highly appreciable. Thanks

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: I am planning to visit the UAE, and for that, I want to check my immigration status. I had some liability in the past which I have already paid and hence I don't have any letter from the bank for that. I want to know if I travel to the UAE, would I be facing some issues at the immigration or what will happen? Can somebody help me with this? This all goes back to July 2018. I returned to my home country in July 2018.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.