Dubai · Sharjah · Abu Dhabi · Ajman · RAK · All 7 Emirates
Unpaid invoices, disputed LPOs, contract breaches, WhatsApp agreements gone wrong — UAE civil courts handle all of these. You may have more rights than you think, even without a formal written contract. Many business disputes in UAE are resolved within weeks with the right legal approach.
Our advocates work with SMEs, trading companies, contractors, and service providers across all UAE emirates in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Hindi.
Car damage, hidden defects, personal contracts, compensation claims — UAE civil law protects individuals against financial loss caused by another party's failure. Even a WhatsApp agreement is legally binding in UAE under the 2022 Evidence Law and the 2021 Electronic Transactions Law.
We represent individuals across all UAE courts — from small claims to high-value compensation — in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Hindi.
Federal Decree-Law No. 25/2025 introduces new pre-contractual good faith duties, updated liability rules, and revised limitation periods. We apply the latest law to every case.
From unpaid invoices to WhatsApp disputes — UAE civil courts handle all of these. You may have a stronger claim than you think.
Goods delivered or services rendered — client refuses to pay. We issue formal legal demand, file with Dubai Courts, and pursue execution. 9% annual interest applies from the due date. Many undisputed invoice cases are resolved within weeks through summary court proceedings.
See debt collection page →An LPO is a legally binding commitment to purchase goods or services. If the buyer refuses to pay after receiving goods or services — or refuses to accept delivery without justification — you have a direct civil claim. LPO disputes are extremely common in UAE's trading sector and rarely need a separate written contract.
Non-payment, non-delivery, quality failure, missed deadlines, contract termination without cause. UAE Civil Code governs all written and electronic contracts. Remedies include: specific performance (force the other party to fulfil the contract), damages, or contract rescission with full refund.
No written contract? A deal agreed over WhatsApp or email is legally binding in UAE under the 2022 Evidence Law and the 2021 Electronic Transactions Law. Dubai Court of Cassation confirmed this in Cassation No. 468/2024 for a USD 400,000 WhatsApp loan agreement. We prepare and authenticate electronic evidence for court.
Bought a vehicle and discovered hidden damage, mechanical defects, or undisclosed accident history? Under UAE Civil Code (Aib Khafi — hidden defect provisions), the seller is obligated to disclose known defects. Your rights: rescind the contract for a full refund, or claim a price reduction proportional to the defect.
Financial losses caused by another party's breach or negligence. Direct losses, consequential losses, and lost profits are all claimable in UAE civil courts if properly documented. We quantify your full loss, prepare the evidence, and pursue the maximum compensation. Personal injury cases are handled separately.
Not sure if you have a civil claim?
Get a free case assessment →Many people assume that without a signed written contract, they have no legal case. This is wrong. Under UAE law, agreements made over WhatsApp or email are legally binding and fully enforceable in court.
Two parties exchanged messages on WhatsApp about a USD 400,000 loan — no signed contract, no formal documentation. The Dubai Court of Cassation ruled that the WhatsApp conversation was valid, binding evidence of a contract. This landmark ruling confirmed that UAE courts accept WhatsApp as a primary source of contract evidence.
Article 53 — any information exchanged via IT means is admissible evidence if it can be obtained clearly. Article 54 explicitly lists emails and instant messages as accepted electronic evidence types.
Federal Decree-Law No. 46/2021 — electronic signatures, documents, and contracts are legally valid. An offer made electronically and accepted electronically constitutes a binding contract under UAE Civil Code.
Keep the original messages exactly as they are. Do not edit, delete, or forward. Courts may reject evidence that shows signs of tampering.
All electronic evidence must be printed and officially translated to Arabic before submission to UAE courts. We handle the certified translation.
If the other party disputes the authenticity of messages, a technical expert witness report may be required to confirm the origin, timestamp, and integrity of the messages.
For a WhatsApp exchange to be a valid contract, it must show: offer (one party proposes terms), acceptance (other party agrees), and consideration (something of value exchanged). We identify these elements in your messages.
If your dispute involves no written contract — only WhatsApp messages, verbal agreements, or email exchanges — your claim is still valid. We assess your electronic and witness evidence, identify the provable contract terms, and build the strongest possible case for civil court. Get a free assessment — we'll tell you if you have a case.
Most civil disputes in UAE are resolved before reaching a full trial. Here's exactly what happens at each stage — and where we create the most value for you.
A formal legal notice sent by our advocates to the other party — demanding payment, performance, or resolution within a specified period (typically 15–30 days). This step is mandatory before filing in most UAE courts and demonstrates good faith. Importantly, many disputes settle at this stage — the cost and speed of resolution is far better than going to court. The notice also tolls (pauses) the limitation period clock.
Civil claims are filed electronically through the Dubai Courts portal (or the relevant emirate's court portal). The claim includes: statement of facts, legal grounds, evidence bundle, and relief sought. The court assigns a case number and schedules the first hearing. Small claims (under AED 500,000) may go to the Summary Court for faster resolution.
Both parties submit pleadings, evidence, and legal arguments in writing. The court may request an expert committee for technical disputes (construction, accounting, engineering). WhatsApp and email evidence is submitted here — printed, translated to Arabic, and authenticated. Each round typically takes 3–6 weeks.
The court issues its judgment — awarding the claimed amount plus 9% annual interest from the date of default, legal fees, and court costs in most cases. If the defendant still doesn't pay, the judgment becomes an execution writ — we immediately file for bank account freezes, asset seizure, and travel bans through the Execution Court.
Either party can appeal the First Instance judgment within 30 days. The Court of Appeal reviews both facts and law. If you won at First Instance but the other party appeals — we defend your judgment. If you lost — we assess the grounds for appeal and advise honestly on the prospects.
Missing the limitation deadline means your case is dismissed — regardless of how strong your claim is. Check your deadline before doing anything else.
Federal Decree-Law No. 25/2025 replaces the 1985 Civil Code from 1 June 2026 and may affect some limitation periods. We apply the current applicable law to every case — always confirm your deadline with a lawyer before relying on general guidance.
Limitation is not automatically applied — the other party must raise it as a defense. But if they do, your case will be dismissed regardless of merits.
Sending a legal demand notice can toll (pause) the limitation period clock in many cases — one of many reasons to act early.
UAE has no single comprehensive limitation statute — periods are scattered across the Civil Code, Commercial Code, Labour Law, and specific laws. Always verify with a lawyer.
We check your limitation deadline in the first consultation — free. If you're close to the deadline, we can file an emergency application immediately.
Every emirate has its own civil court. We file and represent clients before all of them — in person or remotely.
Dubai Courts handle the largest volume of civil and commercial cases in UAE. All filings are fully electronic through the Dubai Courts portal. The Summary Court handles smaller claims rapidly. DIFC Courts cover civil disputes involving DIFC-registered entities and international parties who opt for common-law jurisdiction.
Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) handles civil matters. ADGM Courts handle common-law civil disputes within the Abu Dhabi Global Market. Abu Dhabi frequently sees large-scale commercial and construction civil disputes.
Sharjah has a large trading and manufacturing sector — LPO disputes, invoice claims, and contract disputes are common. High Pakistani and Indian expat business owner population. We handle Sharjah civil cases in Urdu and Hindi.
Ajman civil courts are underserved — fewer law firms handle civil cases here compared to Dubai. Faster timelines in many cases. We file and represent clients before Ajman Civil Court for all dispute types.
Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain fully covered. Civil judgments from any emirate are enforceable across all UAE. We handle cross-emirate execution when the debtor has assets in a different emirate from where the case was filed.
Outside UAE but have a civil claim against a UAE-based party? We represent non-resident claimants remotely. UAE judgments can also be enforced abroad through bilateral agreements. Foreign judgments can be enforced in UAE courts.
Civil judgments from any UAE emirate are enforceable across all UAE. We handle cross-emirate execution when the debtor moves or holds assets in a different emirate.
Civil cases require practical strategy — not just legal knowledge. We focus on the fastest, most cost-effective route to recovering what you're owed.
Our first step on every civil case is a carefully drafted legal demand notice. In our experience, the majority of unpaid invoice and LPO disputes are resolved at this stage — without ever filing a court case. This saves you months of time and significant legal fees. We are direct and honest about when a court case is necessary and when it isn't.
Many of our clients come to us thinking they have no case because they never signed a formal contract. In most cases, they do. We specialise in building civil claims from WhatsApp conversations, email chains, LPOs, and verbal agreements — identifying the offer, acceptance, and consideration elements that make an agreement legally enforceable in UAE courts.
Many clients only claim the unpaid invoice amount. We claim the full picture: principal amount + 9% annual interest from default date + consequential losses + legal fees + court costs. On large commercial disputes, the interest and damages claim can be significant. We quantify everything before filing.
A significant proportion of UAE's SME sector is run by Pakistani and Indian expats — many of whom deal with disputes that involve informal arrangements, mixed-language agreements, and cultural business practices. We understand this context and work with it. No judgment, no jargon — just practical legal support in your language.
Tell us your situation — we assess it and respond within 1 hour. Confidential, no obligation, no judgment.
We review your situation and tell you if you have a claim — no charge, no obligation.
A real advocate contacts you — not a bot, not an assistant.
WhatsApp agreements, LPOs, verbal deals — we assess all of them.
Explain your full situation in your own language.
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WhatsApp: +971 52 179 5170 Call: +971 52 179 5170 info@ittihadlegalconsultants.comEverything you need to know about civil cases, contracts, and your rights in UAE — answered plainly.
Yes. UAE courts accept verbal agreements, WhatsApp conversations, email chains, LPOs, and electronic communications as valid contract evidence. The Dubai Court of Cassation confirmed in Case No. 468/2024 that a WhatsApp conversation about a USD 400,000 loan was a valid, enforceable contract. No formal written contract is needed.
Yes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 46/2021 (Electronic Transactions) and Federal Decree-Law No. 35/2022 (Evidence Law), WhatsApp messages are legally valid and admissible as contract evidence.
An LPO (Local Purchase Order) is a legally binding commitment to purchase goods or services. If the buyer refuses to pay after delivery, you have a direct civil claim — no separate contract needed. We issue a demand notice and file if not resolved. LPO disputes are among the most common civil cases in UAE's trading sector.
Yes. Under UAE Civil Code hidden defect provisions (Aib Khafi), sellers must disclose known defects. If you discover hidden damage after purchase, you have two remedies:
Federal Decree-Law No. 25/2025 replaces the 1985 Civil Code from 1 June 2026. Key changes:
After judgment, apply to the Execution Court. Tools available:
Still have questions?
Ask our advocates — it's free →Civil cases often connect to other legal matters. Our advocates handle all of these across UAE — simultaneously where needed.
After a civil judgment, we file with the Execution Court — bank freezes, travel bans, asset seizure to enforce payment.
When a civil dispute escalates to criminal charges — breach of trust, fraud. Criminal + civil claims run simultaneously.
Dishonoured cheques connected to civil disputes. Execution Court + civil claim filed simultaneously for maximum recovery.
Civil claims connected to property — contractor disputes, developer defaults, construction defects, deposit recovery.
Employment contract disputes, unpaid salaries, civil claims for compensation arising from wrongful termination.
Commercial contract disputes, shareholder disagreements, corporate civil liability. Business-to-business dispute resolution.
Free confidential assessment — we identify the right legal approach for your situation.
