Service · Lucent Legal
Debt recovery lawyer in the UAE
If a contract, invoices or a cheque back up the debt, the UAE offers a fast track called a Payment Order: the court rules in about 3 working days. We check whether the debtor has assets, choose the procedure and follow through until the money reaches your account.
When people come to us
- A counterparty ignores invoices or the contract.
- A cheque bounced.
- You lent money to someone and only have the WhatsApp chat as proof.
- You won in court but haven't been paid.
- The debtor plans to leave the UAE.
What we do
- We check the documents and the debtor's assets: licence, accounts, property. A judgment against a company with no assets is just paper.
- We send a written demand or a legal notice.
- We file a Payment Order when documents prove the debt, or a regular claim otherwise. In court a UAE-licensed advocate represents you.
- We ask for interim measures: an account freeze and a travel ban on the debtor.
- We run enforcement: freezing accounts and assets, suspending the debtor's licence.
Timelines and what drives the cost
A Payment Order takes about 3 working days once the debtor has had a written demand for at least 5 days. After judgment the debtor gets about 7 days to pay, then enforcement starts.
The court fee on a commercial claim in Dubai is usually 6% of the amount, capped at about AED 40,000. UAE law allows success fees: legal reviews cite a cap of about 25% of the amount recovered, in writing only. We agree the fee format after the review.
Why Lucent Legal
- An honest assessment first. If you have no case, you hear it at the review, before you pay anything.
- UAE-licensed advocates. We handle the review, strategy, paperwork and negotiations; in court you are represented by an advocate licensed in the UAE whom we work with.
- English and Russian. We explain your case in plain language.
- Confidential. Your documents and messages stay with us.
- Office in Dubai: Oxford Tower, Office 307, Business Bay. LUCENT LEGAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCIES CO. L.L.C, DET licence No. 1192929.
FAQ
Can I recover a loan without a receipt?
Yes. UAE courts accept WhatsApp messages and bank statements as evidence of a debt.
Is a bounced cheque a criminal case?
Since 2022, usually not: insufficient funds lead to civil recovery. Criminal charges remain for a closed account, forgery and fraud. The cheque itself works as an enforceable instrument, so the creditor can go straight to enforcement.
How long do I have to recover a commercial debt?
Between merchants, 5 years from the due date. The clock restarts if the debtor acknowledges the debt in writing or pays part of it.
What if the debtor left or is hiding assets?
The court can freeze accounts, cars and property and ban the debtor from travel. That's why we check assets before filing: without them a claim may not pay off.
Can I recover a company's debt from the director personally?
Usually not; the company is liable. The exceptions are a personal guarantee, a cheque the director signed, and wrongful trading.
Related guides
- UAE Company Not Paying Its Invoices: How to Recover the Debt
- Someone Owes You Money in the UAE: How to Recover a Personal Debt
- Cheque Bounce Case in the UAE: Criminal or Civil, Punishment and Travel Ban
- You Won the Case, the Debtor Isn't Paying — What Now
- Legal Notice in the UAE: How to Send a Demand Letter That Actually Holds Up
- Does a debt in the UAE expire? The statute of limitations in 2026
This material is for information only and is not legal advice. UAE law changes — a lawyer will assess how it applies to your situation.