Burden of Proof

The burden of proof determines which party must prove a disputed fact. The UAE rule is that the claimant proves the obligation and the party alleging release from it proves that release — in practice, whoever asserts something must evidence it, primarily with documents. UAE courts give documentary evidence decisive weight; witness testimony is restricted in commercial matters above modest values, and electronic records, signed acknowledgments and official documents carry particular force. It matters because cases are won by paper: a party with a clear contract, signed delivery notes and bank records usually beats a party with a plausible story. Shifting devices exist — presumptions, the decisive oath, and court-ordered expert investigations. You meet it when deciding whether to sue at all: a UAE lawyer's first assessment is not whether you are right, but whether you can prove you are right with admissible documents.