Attachment (Seizure Order)
الحجز
An attachment is a provisional court order that places a debtor's assets — bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, shares, goods — under the court's control so that they cannot be sold or transferred pending the determination of a debt claim. UAE law recognises two categories: preventive attachment, obtained before judgment to secure a claim against the risk of dissipation, which requires an urgent application and normally a bank guarantee; and executory attachment, obtained after final judgment to enforce payment, which is granted as of right through the Execution Court. Attached property remains the debtor's, but is legally frozen; its proceeds on sale are distributed in the order of statutory priorities. Improper attachment exposes the claimant to compensation for damages caused.
Also in
الحجز أمر قضائي تحفظي يضع أموال المدين — حسابات بنكية وعقارات ومركبات وأسهم وبضائع — تحت يد القضاء بحيث لا يجوز بيعها أو التصرف فيها إلى حين الفصل في دين الدائن. ويعرف القانون الإماراتي نوعين: الحجز التحفّظي قبل الحكم لتأمين الحق من خطر تهريب الأموال، ويُقدَّم بعريضة مستعجلة وغالباً بتقديم كفالة بنكية؛ والحجز التنفيذي بعد صدور الحكم النهائي لاستيفاء الحق، ويُصدره قاضي التنفيذ كحق للدائن. تبقى الأموال المحجوزة مملوكة للمدين لكنها مجمّدة قانوناً، وتُوزَّع حصيلة بيعها وفق ترتيب الأولويات المقرر قانوناً. ويؤدي الحجز الكيدي إلى تعويض من يُصاب بضرر نتيجته.
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Related legislation
Law No. (13) of 2020 Regulating the Practice of the Expert Witness Profession before Judicial Authorities in the Emirate of Dubai
Law No. (16) of 2025 Concerning Government Claims in the Emirate of Dubai
Cabinet Resolution No. (132) of 2023 Concerning the Administrative Penalties Imposed on Violators of the Provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. (109) of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of Real Beneficiary Procedures
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