Key takeaways
- Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah run their own judicial departments; the government portal lists Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain under the federal system, though Sharjah set up its own Judicial Department in 2024.
- Dubai Courts lists "Inquire the Case Details" among its e-services for registered users; individuals register through UAE PASS.
- Abu Dhabi's court inquiry form asks for the file number and year, and RAK Courts searches by court, case type, year and case number.
- The government portal says Dubai Police's Circulars and Travel Bans service checks for travel bans linked to financial cases in Dubai only, using your Emirates ID number.
- A criminal complaint starts with the police, which usually refer it to the prosecution within 48 hours; the prosecution refers it to court if the accused's involvement is proven.
Which authority holds your case
The UAE government portal (updated 20 October 2026) says Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah run their own judicial departments, while Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain follow the federal system, overseen by the Ministry of Justice. Sharjah has since set up its own Judicial Department (Emiri decree, 23 October 2024), so a Sharjah court case inquiry may use its new channels.
| Authority | Handles | Inquiry channel | Asks for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Courts | Court cases, including criminal cases the prosecution refers | "Inquire the Case Details" in e-services for registered users | Account sign-in (UAE PASS for individuals) |
| Rental Dispute Center (Dubai) | Rental disputes | Track Your Case: website and Dubai REST app, free | Case number or mobile number |
| Dubai Police | Police reports; travel bans from financial cases | Circulars and Travel Bans: website and app, free | Emirates ID number (per the government portal) |
| Dubai Public Prosecution | Criminal cases the police refer | "Inquire about a case", linked on the government portal | Not listed on the portal |
| Abu Dhabi Judicial Department | Courts and public prosecution | Website and app (UAE PASS), inquiry forms, Estafser | File type, number and year, ID card number; Estafser: unified number |
| RAK Courts | Court cases | Courts e-services, after subscribing | Court, case type, year, case number |
| Federal: Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain | Federal courts and prosecution | Ministry of Justice website and app, listed as e-service channels; UAE Public Prosecution cases inquiry | Not listed on the portal |
| Sharjah Judicial Department (set up 2024) | Courts in Sharjah | Judicial Department digital services, launched January 2026; case inquiry steps not published | Not published |
For civil claims, the portal says jurisdiction generally lies where the defendant lives. Labor claims start with MOHRE, which decides claims up to AED 50,000, subject to challenge in court.
Case inquiry by case number
A case inquiry by case number is the most direct check in the UAE. Dubai Courts issues the number, with a first hearing date, once a case is registered and the fee is paid (Dubai Courts' 2014 registration guide).
- 1. Find the number and year. Use the case number the court issued when the case was registered.
- 2. Pick the right court. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and RAK each run their own system.
- 3. Dubai court case inquiry by case number. Sign in to Dubai Courts e-services and open "Inquire the Case Details". For rent cases, RDC's Track Your Case takes the case number or your mobile number.
- 4. Abu Dhabi. Sign in with UAE PASS on the ADJD website or app, or send the Court Inquiries form with the file type, number and year; ADJD replies.
- 5. Ras Al Khaimah. Subscribe to RAK Courts e-services, then search by court, case type, year and case number.
Case inquiry by Emirates ID or passport number
Dubai Police case inquiry by Emirates ID. The government portal says Dubai Police's free online service, on its Circulars and Travel Bans page, uses your Emirates ID number and covers travel bans linked to financial cases in Dubai only. Call 901 for further inquiries.
Abu Dhabi. ADJD says a valid Emirates ID is a prerequisite for all its transactions, with exceptions in specific cases, and its inquiry forms ask for your ID card number. Estafser lets Abu Dhabi residents check whether the Public Prosecution has claims against them, using their unified number.
Passport number. None of the official inquiry pages we checked offers a case inquiry by passport number alone. Dubai Courts accepts a passport copy as proof of identity when you register, and the inquiry then runs inside your account.
Case status inquiry: police, prosecution or court
A criminal case moves through three bodies, so a case status inquiry depends on where it sits. The portal says a criminal case starts with a complaint to the local police, who usually refer it to the prosecutor's office within 48 hours. The Public Prosecution investigates and, if the accused's involvement is proven, refers the case to the competent court.
- Police status. Whether a report is open or referred. The Dubai government portal lists a "Police Report Enquiry" service.
- Prosecution status. Investigation and charging. In Abu Dhabi, ADJD shares complaint status through its website, app, SMS or email, and call center.
- Court status. Hearings and the verdict, through the court's inquiry service.
Case inquiry vs travel ban check
A case inquiry looks up a case you're a party to, usually by case number or through your account. A travel ban check looks for bans against you. The portal says you may have a travel ban if you have a pending legal case, and that Dubai Police's check covers financial cases in Dubai only. See how to check for a travel ban.
If you can't find your case
- Check the emirate and the stage. A complaint still with the police or prosecution won't appear in a court inquiry.
- Abu Dhabi. If a case is missing from your account, use "Link Cases to My UAE Pass Account" (individuals only), or call 600 599 799 (+971 2 651 2222 from abroad).
- Dubai Courts. Its Customers Charter lists the call center and WhatsApp on 04 334 7777.
- A lawyer. Dubai Police's Lawyers Platform (20 January 2026) lets lawyers and legal consultants link powers of attorney to registered cases and inquire about circulars and travel bans.
Global Sky PRO is not a law firm, court, police or prosecution service. We can't see case records or influence a case, and we don't give legal advice. We help with legal typing, legal translation, case registration support and paperwork for bounced check cases. Read how to file a case in Dubai Courts.
Sources
- UAE government portal: the federal judiciary
- UAE government portal (beta): criminal cases
- UAE government portal: check if you have a travel ban
- Dubai Courts: e-services account registration
- Abu Dhabi Judicial Department: FAQs
- Ras Al Khaimah Courts: e-services user manuals
- Rental Dispute Center: Track Your Case
Official sources checked on 13 November 2026. This guide explains published rules in plain English and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we check the current position for your case before you act.