Q: There are a few bounced cheque cases filed in Dubai police stations before 2021. I would like to know, are the cases closed automatically as per the new cheque laws, effective from January 2, 2022? Please advise

Q: So there is this new law applicable on Jan 2, 2022, where convicts of bounced cheques will all be cleared and found innocent. Question 1: Will this apply to civil cases that have passed all stages and are under execution? Question 2: Will all this be cleared automatically or are there procedures to be done by the convict to fix and if so what are they? Thank you.

Q: Hi Mam, I had a bounced cheque criminal case, but I have paid the fine and got the clearance letter from Dubai Prosecution for the case. Is that ok or do I need to remove my name from somewhere else as I am traveling to the UAE and wanted to know if I will have any issues? Looking forward to your guidance. Thanks for your support.

Q: Hello, Please help, I was not able to pay my loan within 3 months for the amount of 841 monthly, because I had to undergo a major caesarian operation. The balance amount of my loan is only like 17 thousand, and the bank deposited the 40,400 security cheque on my account so it will be bounced. I can arrange the overdue balance, but the fines of the bounced cheque they raised are giving me a heavy load to settle. They keep adding interest on my payment since before, even when I'm paying monthly regularly. Please help and advise. They said they will proceed to court. The interest is giving me too much heavy financial crisis.

Q: I had defaulted on cheques with some banks in the UAE, and now they are saying that they will go for a civil case. If they go for a civil case, what are the consequences? Is there any travel ban or any issues in renewing the visa?

Q: Hi! I have a bounced cheque in 2016 however, the bank has not filed a case against me. I am not sure why though, as I have checked with the police station and they said that my record is clear. Recently, I have been receiving calls from a debt collection agent and he is threatening me that a case will be filed immediately if I don’t agree to settle. My question is, can they still file the case even though it has been 6 years since my cheque has bounced? Hope someone can answer, please. Thank you.

Q: Hello, I need urgent advice. I left the UAE 2 years ago with an outstanding amount of a personal loan. The collection department called me the first month after that to discuss my situation and I continued to pay my monthly installments with a bank transfer without any unpaid till now. Is there any possibility that the bank has taken any legal action against me despite the information mentioned above? Is there a travel ban since I plan to travel soon to the UAE? Thanks in advance!

Q: Dear sir/madam, Would I get a visit visa to enter the UAE if I have a pending loan from a UAE bank?

Q: Hi sir, I am from India. I was previously in the UAE before the COVID-19 pandemic, but unfortunately, I was unable to return due to the pandemic. However, I recently came back to the UAE on a visit visa. Unfortunately, my visa expired yesterday, and I was stopped by immigration officials. They told me that I need to go to the Dubai court because I have a cheque bounce case registered against me. I am currently unemployed, and I do not have any suggestions. However, I previously committed to the bank that I would pay the amount once I get a job.

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.

What shall I do if I have a bounced cheque? You need to contact your lawyer as soon as possible to issue a travel ban against the person who issued the bounced cheque. It should be noted that time plays a very important role in bounced cheque cases.

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.

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.