What is a debt collection agency allowed to do in the UAE when chasing me?

A collection agency has no enforcement powers at all — it cannot arrest you, seize property, ban travel or enter your home. Only a court can do those things. An agency's lawful role is to contact you and negotiate payment on the bank's behalf, and that is where its authority ends. Repeated daily calls, phoning your workplace reception and contacting relatives about your debt go beyond legitimate collection: depending on the conduct, this can amount to harassment or an unlawful disclosure of your private affairs under UAE law, and threats or abusive language can be reported to the police. Practical steps: move the conversation to writing, ask for a full statement of what is owed, and negotiate directly with the bank itself — the agency is only its agent, and banks often agree settlements or schedules directly. Complain in writing to the bank about the agency's conduct, and if it continues, escalate to the Central Bank's consumer protection channels. When you settle, pay against a written settlement and insist on a discharge letter confirming the debt is closed. If the pressure tactics persist, a single letter from a lawyer to the bank often ends them quickly.