Court of Appeal
محكمة الاستئناف
The Court of Appeal is the second level of the UAE onshore courts, which re-examines judgments issued by the Court of First Instance. An appeal must be filed within the deadline that runs from the judgment or its service, and it can reopen both the facts and the law: the appeal court may re-weigh evidence, appoint a new expert, accept new documents within limits, and replace the first judgment entirely. It matters because UAE litigation is genuinely two rounds — first instance outcomes are frequently adjusted on appeal, so neither a win nor a loss below is final. You meet it when either party is dissatisfied with the first judgment, in everything from commercial and construction disputes to employment and rental appeals. Its judgments can, in turn, be challenged before the Court of Cassation, but only on points of law.
Also in
محكمة الاستئناف هي الدرجة الثانية في المحاكم المحلية بالإمارات، تعيد النظر في الأحكام الصادرة عن محكمة أول درجة. يُرفع الاستئناف خلال الميعاد القانوني من صدور الحكم أو إعلانه، ويعيد طرح النزاع واقعاً وقانوناً: فللمحكمة إعادة وزن الأدلة وندب خبير جديد وقبول مستندات في حدود معينة وإلغاء الحكم الأول كلياً. وأهميتها أن التقاضي في الإمارات جولتان فعليتان، إذ كثيراً ما تُعدَّل نتائج أول درجة استئنافياً، فلا يُعد الحكم الابتدائي نهائياً كسباً أو خسارة. وأحكامها قابلة للطعن بالنقض/التمييز لكن في مسائل القانون فقط.
Related terms
Court of First Instance
The Court of First Instance is the entry level of the UAE onshore court system, where civil, commercial, labour, real es
Counterclaim
A counterclaim is a claim the defendant files back against the claimant inside the same case, instead of starting a sepa
ADJD (Abu Dhabi Judicial Department)
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) runs the emirate's local court system and justice services — the Abu Dhabi coun
Appeal
An appeal is a challenge to a judgment of the Court of First Instance brought before the Court of Appeal. Under the UAE
Attachment (Seizure Order)
An attachment is a provisional court order that places a debtor's assets — bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, shares,
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof determines which party must prove a disputed fact. The UAE rule is that the claimant proves the obli
Related legislation
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
Federal Decree by Law No. (42) of 2022 Promulgating the Civil Procedure Code
Cabinet Resolution No. (109) of 2023 Regulating the Real Beneficiary Procedures
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