Q: Dear Mrs Khan, I have recently received a Post Dated Bank Cheque from one of my new clients, the cheque date is Thursday 19th Apr 2018. Today, I called this client to find out that they are not answering calls, and when I went to their office I found it closed and many of their suppliers in the corridors complaining about their Bank Cheques that were bounced back (rejected). The owner of this company seems to have already left the UAE and none of his employees is answering the phone. So most probably the bank cheque that they gave me (AED 57250) will bounce back Thursday. So I want to start taking action now. I sold them 10000 boxes of 15 Kg lemon, which they stored in a third-party cold storeroom in Dubai. I went and found that the lemon is still there. Please, could you tell me how can I legally get back my lemon as I'm 100% sure I will not be paid? Thanks in advance and please feel to ask should you need more details.

Q: I have a bounced cheque issued by a person who has already left the country and closed his local bank account. I filed a criminal case with the police some time ago, but there is no result till now. Can I do something else to get the money?

Q: My debtor took cash and purchased his personal flight tickets by my credit cards and went back to Ireland. The total amount is 5000€, and I only have the Whatsapp message to prove that he agreed that he owes me 5000€. He failed to return me money for 7 months. He agreed to return me money on 26th of June, but he failed again. Afterwards, he is not responding to any text or calls regarding paying the debt. He even threatens me to report me to the police because I try to contact him and his family regarding this issue. Should I send him a letter as before legal action? However, I don’t know his address in Ireland. I only found his company’s contact and address. Should I contact his company regarding his debt issue?

Q: Hello, I hope you're all doing well during this tough time. I have a question in regards to bounced cheques, specifically corporate cheques. I have a cheque for AED 800,000, and it has bounced. The owner of the corporate has asked for a month to pay back. However, I am worried he will leave the country and not honour his obligation. My questions are fairly simple: 1) Am I to put a case on the individual who signed it or the corporate? 1) If I put a criminal and civil case on the corporate right now and he's unable to settle amicably, can I put a travel ban on the owner (who signed) as it is a corporate case? 2) Does the new insolvency law as of late 2019 also apply to corporates? 3) Is the owner personally liable if the company doesn't have assets or cash?

Q: I have been supplying goods to a popular retail group in the UAE. They had retail shops in almost all the malls in the UAE. Recently, they ceased operations and closed down all their shops. I have pending payments to collect from them as well as we have a lot of stock lying at their closed down shops. How can I pursue them legally to clear all my dues and take the stocks back? Kindly advise.

Q: I have been supplying goods to a popular retail group in the UAE. They had retail shops in almost all the malls in the UAE. Recently, they ceased operations and closed down all their shops. I have pending payments to collect from them as well as we have a lot of stock lying at their closed down shops. How can I pursue them legally to clear all my dues and take the stocks back? Kindly provide me your valuable advice!

Q: I have invested a substantial amount of money in a private school in Sharjah. It is owned and managed by my former department head. I am a "loan investor" of the school which was established in 2017. They issued me 2 cheques which are due on Sept. 17, 2021. When I contacted her (my former head), she said that I should wait until the end of the month of September. The problem now is, she is no longer responding to my calls or messages through FB Messenger. Even calls from my brother who is residing in Dubai are also denied. She is ignoring my effort to talk to her. What advice can you give me in this regard? By the way, I am residing now in Bangkok, Thailand. The cheques issued and the contract are in the name of my brother since he is residing in Dubai. Please give me some advice on how to deal with this concern. Thank you!

Q: Hi, I hold an execution file from Dubai Court for a bounced cheque. The debtor (defendant) fled the country to his home country, Ethiopia. What are some scenarios that can help with my case? For instance, is this execution order enforceable in Ethiopia? I’m unsure if the UAE has a judicial treaty with Ethiopia. Can someone advise, please? Regards,

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 how to increase chances of getting your invoices paid in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

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.

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.

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.