Statement of Claim

A statement of claim is the document that opens a civil case in the UAE onshore courts. It identifies the claimant and defendant, sets out the facts, the legal grounds, and the precise relief requested, and attaches the supporting evidence. In onshore courts it must be filed in Arabic, so foreign-language contracts and correspondence need legal translation before filing. It matters because UAE judges decide largely on the documents: a vague or incomplete statement of claim can sink an otherwise strong case, and amending claims later is restricted. You meet it the moment you sue or are sued — defendants receive it through court service and must respond within the deadline set by the court. Lawyers spend significant effort framing it correctly, since it fixes the scope of the dispute, the parties, and often which court and circuit will hear the matter.