Buying a stake: 5–13 weeks
A guide from our practice for a small company: due diligence 2–4 weeks, the agreement 1–2, closing and entry in the register 2–6. Closing usually takes the longest.
15 services
UAE law works differently from Russian or English law: several court systems, Arabic as the language of proceedings in the onshore courts and its own deadlines. We take on planned work — contracts, employees, company checks — and resolve problems once they have already arisen, together with UAE-licensed advocates.
Service finder
A dispute, a debt, a police summons, a judgment with no money — these services are easy to confuse, and the choice determines the deadlines and the route. Answer four questions: we will show where such cases start and why.
01Who is the problem with?
02What has happened so far?
03What do you want to achieve?
04What supports the claim?
Answer the questions — we will show what fits and why.
Disputes and Litigation
A contract has been breached or a claim has been filed against you
Debt Recovery
A counterparty or borrower won’t pay back the money
Corporate Disputes
A partner is siphoning off money or blocking management
Criminal Cases
Summoned by the police, reported or accused
Enforcement of Judgments
You have a court judgment or arbitral award, but no money yet
Personal Debts
A private loan isn’t being repaid — or it is being claimed from you
Rental
A dispute with a tenant or landlord — the RDC route
Developer Disputes
Delayed handover, defects, refunds
Divorce and Custody
Divorce, children, relocating with a child, a visa after divorce
Fits
Disputes and Litigation
A contract has been breached or a claim has been filed against you
30 days
to appeal and to file in cassation
6%
Dubai Courts fee, capped
Why
Keep your messages restrained: for an insult in a messenger, even in private correspondence, the cybercrime law provides for imprisonment and/or a fine starting at AED 250,000.
Fits
Debt Recovery
A counterparty or borrower won’t pay back the money
3 working days
for a payment order, by law
Cheque
an enforceable instrument — no claim needed
5 years
limitation period for a debt between merchants
Why
Correspondence is written evidence: in 2024, the Dubai Court of Cassation (case No. 468/2024) recognised WhatsApp correspondence as a $400,000 loan agreement.
Fits
Corporate Disputes
A partner is siphoning off money or blocking management
10%
stake needed to demand an LLC meeting
8 days
to file the main claim after an asset attachment
3 forums
mainland court, arbitration, DIFC and ADGM
Why
Does the partner owe you personally under a loan or an IOU, rather than owing the company? Then you don’t need corporate tools — this is debt recovery.
Fits
Criminal Cases
Summoned by the police, reported or accused
72 hours
from arrest to the prosecutor’s decision
15 days
to appeal after the verdict
Arabic
language of the case; an interpreter is your right
Why
Records and interrogations are in Arabic, and an interpreter is your right by law. Do not sign a record without a translation.
Since 2022, a bounced cheque has been an enforceable instrument, not a criminal case. What is punishable: closing the account, instructing the bank not to pay, a deliberately incorrect signature and forgery.
Fits
Enforcement of Judgments
You have a court judgment or arbitral award, but no money yet
7 days
for the debtor to pay after notification
15 years
a judgment remains enforceable
1/4 of salary
maximum deduction from the debtor
Why
A travel ban obtained during the dispute will be lifted if enforcement is not started within 30 days of the final judgment.
Fits
Personal Debts
A private loan isn’t being repaid — or it is being claimed from you
AED 50,000
above this, a loan is proved by a document
from AED 10,000
debt at which the court may impose a travel ban
15 years
general limitation period
Why
Fits
Rental
A dispute with a tenant or landlord — the RDC route
3.5%
RDC fee on the annual rent
12 months
eviction notice for the end of the contract
90 days
notice of new terms
Why
Is the property in DIFC? It has its own tenancy law and its own court — the RDC does not hear such disputes.
Fits
Developer Disputes
Delayed handover, defects, refunds
10 years
liability for the structure
1 year
warranty on building systems
30 days
DLD notice before termination
Why
Fits
Divorce and Custody
Divorce, children, relocating with a child, a visa after divorce
No fault
divorce for non-Muslims
First hearing
where a divorce is usually decided
Until 18
joint custody under the civil law
Why
The UAE is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on child abduction: a dispute over relocating with a child is resolved before departure.
Services in this section
Preventive legal work
Contracts and Transactions
Drafting, review and negotiation — EN + AR
EN + AR
Two versions with a prevailing-language clause
1 June 2026
The new Civil Transactions Law is in force
Employment Matters
Hiring and dismissing employees, employment contracts — with minimal risk of MOHRE claims
30–90 days
Statutory notice period for termination
Up to 6 months
Probation — only once with an employer
Company Due Diligence
Checking a business before you buy it: assets, debts, litigation risks
2–4 weeks
Typical time to review a small company
30 days
LLC partners’ pre-emption right on a share
Legal Audit
A company check-up: contracts, corporate documents, licence — a report with risks
15 days
To update UBO data after a change
AED 10,000
Fine for late corporate tax registration
We assess the situation and propose a route
Disputes and Litigation
A contract has been breached or a claim has been filed against you
30 days
To file an appeal or a cassation appeal
6%
Fee for a claim in the Dubai Courts — with a cap
Debt Recovery
A counterparty or borrower won’t pay back the money
3 working days
For a payment order, by law
Cheque
An enforceable instrument — no lawsuit needed
Corporate Disputes
A partner is siphoning off money or blocking management
10%
Stake needed to demand an LLC general meeting
8 days
To file the main claim after an asset attachment
Criminal Cases
Summoned by the police, reported or accused
72 hours
Maximum from arrest to the prosecutor’s decision: detention or release
15 days
To appeal after the verdict is pronounced
Enforcement of Judgments
You have a court judgment or arbitral award, but no money yet
7 days
For the debtor to pay after notification
5 working days
For an order on a foreign judgment — by law
Property deals and disputes in the UAE
Buying and Selling
Property and transaction checks before signing
4%
DLD fee for registering the transfer
AED 2 million
Golden Visa threshold through property
Rental
Disputes with a landlord or tenant — the RDC route
90 days
Notice of changed terms before the contract ends
12 months
Notice of eviction at the end of the contract
Developer Disputes
Construction delays, quality, refunds
10 years
Developer’s liability for the structure
1 year
Warranty on building systems from key handover
Personal and family matters
Inheritance and DIFC Wills
Estate planning and wills
6 types
Of DIFC wills — from a full will to digital assets
½
To a non-Muslim spouse without a will; the rest to the children equally
Personal Debts
Recovering private loans — or defending against claims
AED 50,000
Above this amount, a loan is proved by a document, not by witnesses
From AED 10,000
A debt for which the court may impose a travel ban
Other Private Matters
Family and immigration matters — together with GOFIRM visa support
No fault
Non-Muslim divorce — without proving harm or the spouse’s consent
First hearing
Where a non-Muslim divorce is usually decided
In the UAE, onshore courts, financial centre courts and arbitration operate side by side — under different rules and in different languages. Where a dispute will be resolved is usually decided by the contract, long before the dispute itself.
Onshore courts — in Arabic
Federal and local courts, for example in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, apply UAE civil law. Proceedings are mainly written, and documents are filed with a legal translation into Arabic.
DIFC and ADGM — common law
The courts of DIFC and ADGM work in English on the common law model. You can go to the DIFC Courts even without a connection to the centre — if the parties have chosen them in writing.
Arbitration — by agreement
Only if the parties have agreed to arbitration in writing. The parties choose the language and the arbitrators, and the award cannot be reviewed on the merits — only challenged on narrow grounds.
Prevention costs less than an incident
A reviewed contract, an audit or due diligence costs less than any dispute. If an incident has already happened, the first days are decisive: deadlines, evidence, what has been said and signed.
Expert tip
Before signing a contract in the UAE, check three lines: the governing law, court or arbitration, and the language with its order of precedence. They decide where and in what language you will litigate.
Violetta AbsalyamovaHead of Legal Practice · Business support and legal mattersHow to choose
A contract, hiring or dismissal, checking a company before buying it, an audit — planned work with a clear scope and timeline. A lawsuit, a debt, a conflict between partners, a police summons — an incident: we start by assessing deadlines and evidence.
Look at the dispute clause in the contract: arbitration, DIFC or ADGM take the dispute out of the onshore court. No clause — the onshore court. Employment disputes start with MOHRE, rental disputes in Dubai with RDC.
Negotiations and settlement are possible at any stage — compare them with the cost of going through all instances. In criminal cases, reconciliation ends the case only for offences listed in the law: breach of trust, insult, defamation — yes; fraud — no.
An appeal in a civil case — 30 days, in an urgent matter — 10, against a criminal verdict — 15; a defamation complaint is accepted within 3 months of learning of it and its author. The general limitation period is 15 years, between merchants — 5.
One contract or one dispute is a one-off service at a fixed price or by stage. If contracts, employees and decisions come in a steady stream, the “Business Counsel” subscription is more cost-effective: the lawyer knows the company and steps in before a problem arises.
Routes
Common tasks that no single service covers: what follows what, how long it takes by law and in practice, and what you have in hand after each step. Amounts are fees of courts, authorities and registration centres, excluding professional fees; indicative as of October 2026.
A demand in Arabic and English with a payment deadline of at least 5 days, then an order — on the documents, without hearings. If there is a risk of assets being moved out — an attachment before judgment and a claim within 8 days.
You get: a payment order or an execution file on the cheque
Objections to the amount or quality, or counterclaims, make it a dispute on the merits, and a claim is needed instead of an order. Whether to go through the conciliation centre or straight to court is decided at the consultation, case by case.
You get: a court judgment
After notification, the debtor has 7 days to pay; then the court traces and attaches accounts, real estate, cars and shares. A bank responds to a court request within 7 days.
You get: an execution file and attachment of the assets found
Enforcement of the judgment
from 2 months to 2 years
Based on UAE court practice — it depends on whether the debtor has assets. An attachment imposed before the judgment has to be converted into enforcement as soon as the judgment becomes final — we check the deadline for your case.
The company’s debts, taxes, employees, disputes and permits. The findings feed into the price, the deal terms and the seller’s warranties.
You get: a risk report
Seller’s warranties and closing conditions. In a mainland LLC, the other partners have a pre-emption right on the share — 30 days from notice of the price.
You get: a signed share purchase agreement
For the company and third parties, the share passes only once it is entered in the commercial register. Then — the licence, the articles, the bank and the UBO details, within 15 days.
You get: the share registered in your name
Until entry in the register
≈ 5–13 weeks
A guide from our practice for a small company; closing usually takes the longest.
Before the deposit, we verify the title deed with DLD and check the seller, any mortgage and the NOC. You become the owner on the day of registration with DLD.
You get: a title deed in your name
Freehold property in your name worth AED 2 million or more at purchase price is the basis for a 10-year visa; mortgaged and off-plan property we check against ICP requirements. The application through DLD is filed in person while you are in the UAE.
You get: a 10-year residence visa
Without a registered will, assets in the UAE are divided under the default rules, and accounts are frozen until a court decision. A DIFC will can be signed by video link from any country.
You get: a registered will
The main cost of the deal
4% DLD
The transfer fee is paid on the day of transfer. Plus the trustee office fee of AED 2,000 or 4,000 and VAT; broker and mortgage costs are separate.
Deadlines
The countdown starts from the event: a judgment, an attachment, a notice, the handover of keys. Missing a deadline usually costs not a fine but a right — to appeal, to keep an attachment, to file a complaint. Deadlines are under federal and Dubai laws; DIFC and ADGM have their own rules.
30 days
Each appeal in a civil case — 30 days from the day after the judgment; in urgent matters, 10 days to appeal; since 2026, the grounds must be set out in the appeal itself. An action to set aside an arbitral award seated on the UAE mainland — 30 days from notification of the award.
3 months
Such cases are opened only on the victim’s complaint — within 3 months of learning of the offence and the offender. After that, the complaint will not be accepted.
1 year
The developer warrants mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for a year from handover, and receives the 5% escrow retention only a year after the units are registered to buyers. Report defects in writing before the period runs out.
Days
72 hours
Detention
48 hours with the police and 24 hours for questioning by the Public Prosecution — then detention or release. Each stage of detention is an opportunity to apply for release.
8 days
Claim after an attachment or travel ban
If the court attached assets or banned the debtor from travel before a claim was filed, the main claim must be filed within 8 days — otherwise the attachment and the ban lapse.
15 days
Appeal against a verdict
From the day the verdict is pronounced. For cassation — 30 days from the appeal judgment.
15 working days
Challenging a MOHRE decision
In employment disputes of up to AED 50,000, the ministry’s decision is enforced like a court judgment if neither party files a claim in court within this period.
Weeks and months
30 days
A developer terminates the contract
For late payment, a developer can terminate the contract only through DLD, and the buyer has 30 days to cure the default.
30 days after a demand
Eviction for non-payment
A tenant is evicted before the contract ends if they have not paid within 30 days of a demand sent through a notary or by registered mail.
90 days before the contract ends
New tenancy terms
Notice of changes to the terms, including the rent, must be given no later than this, unless the contract provides otherwise.
3 months
Serving a payment order
The order lapses if it is not served on the debtor within 3 months — so the debtor’s current address and phone number are established before filing.
Years
2 years after leaving
Employment claims
Claims for rights under the labour law are not heard once 2 years have passed since the employment ended.
5 years
Claims between merchants
From the date performance was due; before 2023, the period was 10 years. A partial payment or a reconciliation statement makes it harder for the debtor to rely on the limitation period.
15 years
General limitation period
For civil claims, including private loans. Retained in the new Civil Transactions Law, in force since 1 June 2026.
15 years
Enforcement of a judgment
A judgment can no longer be enforced once 15 years pass without enforcement — counted from its issue or from the last enforcement action.
FAQ
Violetta Absalyamova — Business support and legal matters
In the onshore courts — UAE-licensed advocates: that is how the law works. We work together with them: we prepare the position, evidence and translations and remain your point of contact. In the DIFC and ADGM Courts and in arbitration, the range of representatives is wider, including foreign lawyers.
Violetta Absalyamova · Business support and legal mattersNext step
A contract, a company check, a dispute, a debt, a criminal case or a personal matter — tell us what is happening. We will tell you which service fits, where the case will be heard and what stages the budget will consist of.
Violetta AbsalyamovaHead of Legal Practice · Business support and legal matters
15 services