Litigation
التقاضي
Litigation is the process of resolving a dispute through the courts. In the UAE, civil litigation typically begins with the claimant filing a statement of claim with the Court of First Instance through the electronic case management system, paying the required court fee (calculated as a percentage of the claim value with a ceiling), and serving the defendant. The court then proceeds through exchange of memoranda, optional expert reports, and — in most civil and commercial cases — a judgment rendered largely on the papers rather than after oral hearings. Proceedings are in Arabic; foreign-language documents must be translated by a legally sworn translator. Judgments of the Court of First Instance can be appealed to the Court of Appeal and, on points of law, to the Court of Cassation.
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التقاضي هو إجراء حلّ النزاع عبر المحاكم. يبدأ التقاضي المدني في الإمارات عادةً بتقديم المدعي صحيفة دعواه إلى محكمة الدرجة الأولى عبر نظام إدارة القضايا الإلكتروني، وسداد الرسم المقرر (احتساب نسبة من قيمة الدعوى مع حد أقصى)، وإعلان المدعى عليه. ثم تنتقل الدعوى عبر تبادل المذكرات، وتقارير الخبراء عند الاقتضاء، ثم يصدر الحكم في أغلب الدعاوى المدنية والتجارية استناداً إلى الأوراق دون مرافعة شفهية. تجري الإجراءات بالعربية، وتُترجم المستندات بلغات أجنبية من مترجم قانوني محلّف. ويمكن الطعن في حكم محكمة الدرجة الأولى أمام محكمة الاستئناف، ثم على نقاط القانون أمام محكمة التمييز.
Related terms
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Liquidation
Liquidation is the formal process of winding up a company: collecting its assets, paying creditors in order of priority,
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
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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