What happens if a UAE construction contract has no arbitration clause?

If a UAE construction contract contains no valid arbitration clause, the dispute is generally resolved by litigation before the competent national court rather than by arbitration. For an onshore project, that usually means the local courts of the relevant emirate — for example Dubai Courts or Abu Dhabi Courts — applying the UAE Civil Transactions Law and other federal legislation, with proceedings conducted primarily in Arabic. If the project or parties are connected to the DIFC or ADGM, those common-law courts may have jurisdiction instead. Arbitration in the UAE requires a written agreement to arbitrate; without one, neither party can be forced into arbitration, and a court will normally accept jurisdiction. The contract may still contain other relevant terms — such as a jurisdiction clause, a requirement to attempt amicable settlement first, or an Engineer/dispute-board step — which you should follow before filing. Identify the competent court, check any pre-action conditions, and gather your evidence. Because court procedure and language can be demanding, local representation helps. Compare verified UAE construction-litigation professionals on LEXAI.