Below is an overview of UAE Court Procedure which answers some of the most common queries lawyers practicing in the UAE receive from clients.

How do I start a claim before the Court of First Instance?

In order to commence a claim in the UAE, a claim will have to be filed at the relevant court (i.e. the court which has jurisdiction to hear the dispute). The claim needs to set out the basis of the dispute and the remedies sought. A court fee will also need to be paid. This is 7.5% of the value of the claim which is capped at a maximum of AED 30,000 (USD 8,000).

All of the documents filed at court and the claim itself will need to be in Arabic or translated into Arabic by an official translator.

The court bailiff's office will then serve the claim on the defendant and the first hearing date will be set. This is usually 2-3 weeks after the claim has been filed.