Can a bounced rent cheque lead to a court case in Dubai?

Yes, a bounced rent cheque can lead to action, though the route has shifted since the 2022 reform. The landlord, as holder of the cheque, can use the post-2022 enforcement path: under Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2020, effective 2 January 2022, an unpaid cheque is an executory instrument the landlord can take, with the bank's non-payment evidence, directly to the execution court to recover the amount. Separately, a rent dispute itself is a tenancy matter; in Dubai, rental disputes are handled through the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC), which deals with landlord–tenant claims including unpaid rent. So a single bounced rent cheque can touch two tracks: enforcement of the cheque and the broader tenancy dispute. Keep your tenancy contract, the cheques and any payment records. Because procedures and fees are set by the courts and the RDC, confirm them directly. If you are a tenant facing this, address it early — settlement is often possible. To understand your position, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.