Q: Hello Experts, I need your kind advice regarding my loan. I had a loan of 250k and a credit card of 13k with a bank. When I left the UAE in March-20, my cumulative outstanding of both was 160k. Since then, I'm in Pakistan and hasn't come back to the UAE The bank has bounced security cheques and filed criminal cases. Now I have a job offer from Dubai and they already applied for my employment visa. Meanwhile, I'm negotiating with the bank for a one-shot settlement over the telephone. They are asking me to pay 112k one payment for the full and final settlement of both liabilities. They have waived off all the interest and just asking the principal amount in this way. Please advise if 112k is a good deal considering the situation or I should have to get more discount. Also, advise how should I go forward with them (they said, they'll issue a settlement letter/new offer letter, after which I'll submit the payment and then within 2 weeks they'll withdraw the criminal case).

Q: Good evening Sir, I have a rental cheque of amount 30k bounced by my landlord due to insufficient funds. I lost my job and had to come back to my country. Now, I have a new job opening in Dubai. When I checked the immigration system, it showed that I have a case against me for the same amount of AED 30k. How would I be able to come back to Dubai as they will stop me at the airport? I’ve got people saying that as per the new law, I will have to pay a fine up to AED 2000 for a bounced cheque of AED 50k. Is this true? How do I deal with this? Thanks so much in advance. Your legal help is really helpful for all the residents of the UAE.

Q: Hi, I have an outstanding loan of 150,000 in Dubai but I am no longer working in Dubai and currently looking for a job in my home country. My intention is to pay the installment amount in a timely manner but I want the bank to decrease the interest charges. Is it possible for the bank to do so?

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 relationship between tenants and landlords is regulated in Dubai by Law No. 33 of 2008 Concerning the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. The arising rental disputes are referred to Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (“RDSC”) created by Decree No. 26 of 2013 to reconcile between the parties and reach an amicable settlement or seek a final judgment issued and enforced by the RDSC.

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.

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 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.