What happens to old bounced cheque cases filed before 2022 in the UAE?

When Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2020 took effect on 2 January 2022, it included transitional effects intended to benefit those affected by the older, stricter regime — reflecting the general legal principle that a more lenient law can apply to pending matters. In practice this meant that many cheque cases that had been treated as criminal under the previous rules were reconsidered in light of decriminalisation, with insufficient-funds bounces moving toward civil enforcement rather than continued criminal prosecution. However, the exact effect on any specific old case depends on its stage, the conduct involved (ordinary non-payment versus bad-faith acts that remain criminal), and the decisions of the court handling it. So you should not assume an automatic outcome; instead, have the current status of your particular file checked with the relevant court or prosecution. If your case involved bad-faith conduct, criminal exposure may remain. To review how the reform applies to your pre-2022 case and what steps to take, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.