Key takeaways
- Dubai Courts e-services accounts are open to individuals, companies and advocates' offices.
- Documents presented to UAE courts must be in Arabic or translated by a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice.
- After you register, the court reviews the file, then you pay the fee and receive a case number and hearing date.
- Court fees depend on the case type and, for most claims, the claim value.
- Apart from close relatives, representing others in court requires a licensed advocate.
Step by step
- 1. Open an e-services account. Individuals register with UAE PASS; companies use the trade license and an authorisation letter or POA for the person acting.
- 2. Prepare the statement of claim in Arabic, with the facts, the legal basis and what you're asking for.
- 3. Register the case online with your contact details, case type and topic, claim amount, and every party's details, including any lawyer.
- 4. Attach evidence: contracts, invoices, correspondence, with legal translations where needed.
- 5. Court review. Dubai Courts' Central Services Section reviews the registration and sends it back for final confirmation and payment.
- 6. Pay the fee and receive the case number and first hearing date.
Documents you'll need
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Statement of claim | In Arabic, signed |
| Identity documents | Emirates ID or passport; trade license for companies |
| Authority to act | Company authorisation letter or POA; advocate's POA if represented |
| Evidence | Contracts, invoices, emails, messages, with Arabic translations |
| Parties' details | Names and contact details of every party on both sides |
Fees and language
The UAE government portal says the plaintiff pays the court fee after submitting the documents. The amount depends on the case type and, for most claims, the claim value. Documents in another language must be translated into Arabic by a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice.
If you can't afford advice, Dubai Courts runs a Free Legal Consultation Program with Dubai law firms for financially distressed individuals (not companies), offered once for the same subject.
Common filing mistakes
- Filing in the wrong forum: rental disputes go to the Rental Dispute Center, labour claims start with MOHRE, and some claims must first go through Dubai Courts' Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes.
- Missing parties' details or contact information.
- Evidence not translated into Arabic.
- A claim amount that doesn't match the evidence.
- Missing the defence deadline: under Article 48 of the Civil Procedure Code, the defendant submits its defence within 10 business days of being served.
How we help
Global Sky PRO is not a law firm and doesn't give legal advice. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022, representing clients before the courts is reserved for licensed advocates, apart from limited exceptions for close relatives. We type statements and memos in Arabic from your instructions, arrange legal translations and organise your evidence for you or your advocate to file. See case registration and court memo format.
Sources
- Dubai Courts: e-services account registration
- Dubai Courts: remote case registration guide (PDF)
- UAE government portal: civil cases
- Dubai Courts: Free Legal Consultation Program
- UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022
Official sources checked on 7 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.