Civil Claims & Financial Claims

Civil claims in the UAE are now governed by a new Civil Transactions Law, which replaced the 1985 Civil Code on 1 June 2026. Which rules apply to your claim can depend on when the underlying contract or event took place.

Old law or new law. The new law does not, as a general rule, apply retroactively. Contracts concluded before 1 June 2026 may still be assessed under the previous Civil Code, while transitional rules govern limitation periods that had not yet expired.

Compensation follows actual loss. Unless the law or the contract provides otherwise, compensation is assessed on the damage actually suffered. Courts may reduce agreed compensation that is excessive, and the new law expressly recognises moral damage.

Evidence decides the claim. Written contracts, correspondence, invoices, transfers and messages carry significant weight. A claim is generally stronger when the debt is documented and the amount can be calculated with certainty.

Procedure has tightened. Amendments to the Civil Procedure Law in force from 1 January 2026 require an appeal to set out its grounds when it is filed. Deadlines and formal requirements should be planned from the outset.

Where a debt is fixed, due and proven in writing, a payment order may be a faster route than a full claim. Before acting, it is worth assembling the documents, confirming the amount and checking whether the contract contains an arbitration or jurisdiction clause.

Legal framework
Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 (Civil Transactions Law)
Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 (Civil Procedure Law), as amended including by Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025
Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2022 (Law of Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions)

The competent court depends on the emirate: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah have their own judicial departments, while Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain fall under the federal courts. Matters connected with the DIFC or ADGM may follow different rules.