Last verified: 2026-08-29 · Source: primary legislation and official status tables

Recovering a debt from a debtor in United Arab Emirates

What applies, what it realistically takes, and where the limits are.

Confirmed parameters

Only values checked against a primary source appear here. Where a parameter has not been confirmed, it is left out rather than estimated.

Parameter: Limitation period for claims between merchants
Value: 5 years from the due date of the obligation
Source: Federal Decree-Law 50/2022 art. 92, in force 2 January 2023; the law is listed as Active on uaelegislation.gov.ae
Last verified: 2026-08-30

Parameter: Commercial Transactions Law promulgation and entry into force
Value: Official Gazette No. 737 of 10 October 2022; in force 2 January 2023
Source: Federal Decree-Law 50/2022, listed as Active on uaelegislation.gov.ae
Last verified: 2026-08-31

Parameter: DIFC judgments are enforceable in Dubai without a separate deputation request
Value: Dubai Law 2 of 2025 art. 32, in force 14 March 2025
Source: Law No. 2 of 2025 on the DIFC Courts, official PDF on dlp.dubai.gov.ae and difccourts.ae; replaced DIFC Law 10/2004 and Dubai Law 12/2004
Last verified: 2026-08-31

The applicable route for this jurisdiction is recorded as bilateral. The New York Convention applies to arbitral awards.

DIFC as conduit; Decree 29/2024 Conflicts Tribunal narrowed the route.

The Debt Check is free and tells you whether the claim is worth pursuing.