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Filing a Civil Lawsuit in the UAE: Step-by-Step
A practical guide to civil court procedure in the UAE: jurisdiction, time-bars, fees, evidence, hearings and judgment enforcement.
Legal Ledger Team
5 min read
May 9, 2026
UAE civil cases follow a three-tier system: Court of First Instance → Court of Appeal → Court of Cassation.
Before filing
- Confirm jurisdiction (mainland, DIFC, ADGM).
- Check limitation periods — most commercial claims are 10 years; labour claims are 1 year from end of service.
- Pre-litigation notice via legal counsel.
Filing the claim
The statement of claim is filed in Arabic with court fees of ~6% of claim value (capped). All evidence must be translated by a court-certified translator.
Enforcement
Once a final judgment is obtained, execution is filed at the Execution Court. Bank accounts, properties and assets can be attached.
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