How long does a cheque stay valid in the UAE before it can no longer be cashed?

Move quickly, because you are likely past the window. In the UAE a cheque is generally presentable for six months from the date written on it; after that, banks treat it as stale and will usually decline to cash it. At roughly eight months, expect a refusal. The good news is that the debt itself does not expire with the paper. The cheque remains written evidence that the person owed you money and intended to pay it, so your first step is simply to contact them, explain that the cheque has gone stale, and ask for a replacement cheque or a bank transfer. Most people comply, since the alternative is defending a claim against their own signed cheque. If they stall or refuse, you can still pursue the underlying debt through the courts, with the cheque as a central exhibit — but bear in mind that claims carry limitation periods, so a debt left to sit for years becomes progressively harder to enforce. Keep the original safe and put your replacement request in writing. If the debtor goes quiet, a licensed UAE lawyer can send a formal demand, which often resolves matters without a case ever being filed.