International Lawyers in Dubai

Cross-Border Matters We Handle

Enforcing a Foreign Judgment in Dubai

A foreign judgment is not automatically enforceable in the UAE. The creditor applies to the execution judge, who checks conditions including:

• The foreign court had jurisdiction, and UAE courts did not have exclusive jurisdiction.
• The defendant was properly notified and represented.
• The judgment is final under the law of the issuing country.
• It does not conflict with a UAE judgment or UAE public order.
• Reciprocity or a treaty with the issuing country.

Documents must be legalised and translated into Arabic. In the other direction, UAE judgments can be enforced in countries with which the UAE has treaties, such as India, where the UAE is recognised as a reciprocating territory.

Serving Documents and Gathering Evidence Abroad

Serving a claim on a party abroad, or obtaining evidence from another country, goes through judicial cooperation channels under UAE law and applicable treaties. This can add months to a case, so it should be planned from the start.

Working With Lawyers in Other Countries

For matters needing action abroad, we work alongside lawyers in the other country and coordinate strategy so that steps taken in one place do not damage the case in the other.

Common Mistakes

• Winning a judgment in a country where the debtor has no assets.
• Filing cases in two countries without coordinating them.
• Ignoring a foreign case because "it cannot be enforced here".

See also litigation lawyers and criminal lawyers.