The civil court in Dubai hears civil and commercial claims. The federal Civil Procedure Code governs the court process. Dubai’s judicial fees law sets the filing fees, including a separate payment schedule for smaller commercial claims.
Quick Answer
The civil court in Dubai handles civil and commercial disputes within its jurisdiction. Claims usually begin before the Court of First Instance, while eligible decisions may be challenged before the Court of Appeal or Court of Cassation.
Under Dubai’s judicial fees law, the general first-instance fee is 6% of the claim value, subject to minimum fees and applicable caps. Commercial claims valued at AED 500,000 or less have a separate initial-fee and post-judgment payment schedule.
The ordinary civil appeal deadline is generally 30 days, or 10 days for urgent matters. Before filing, confirm the correct forum, calculate the applicable court fees and check whether a payment order or another procedure is required.
How the civil court in Dubai handles claims
- Courts of First Instance hear civil claims unless the law assigns them elsewhere. A single judge can hear cases of any value (Civil Procedure Code, Articles 24 and 29). Judgments on claims of AED 50,000 or less are generally final, subject to exceptions such as jurisdiction or nullity (Article 160).
- An urgent matters judge can issue provisional orders without deciding the merits (Article 27).
- The Court of Appeal hears eligible appeals. The usual deadline is 30 days, or 10 days for urgent matters (Article 161).
- The Court of Cassation hears eligible challenges to appeal judgments in claims above AED 500,000 or with no stated value. The filing period is 30 days (Articles 175 and 178).
- Dubai’s Rental Disputes Center handles tenancy disputes within its jurisdiction. Article 25 allows emirates to establish committees with exclusive jurisdiction over qualifying rental disputes.
Need to File a Civil Case in Dubai?
Discuss your dispute, supporting documents and the appropriate court or legal procedure with Leaders Advocates. Confirm jurisdiction and filing requirements before starting proceedings.
Court fees in Dubai
Dubai Law 21 of 2015, as amended in 2019, sets the first-instance fee for civil and commercial claims, except personal status claims.
- The general first-instance fee is 6% of the claim value, with a minimum of AED 500. For ordinary claims of AED 500,000 or less, the cap is AED 20,000 (Article 14(a)).
- For commercial claims of AED 500,000 or less, the claimant pays 6% at filing, subject to an AED 500 minimum and an AED 5,000 cap. After final judgment, 6% of the amount awarded is collected from the judgment debtor, subject to an AED 500 minimum and an AED 15,000 cap (Article 14(b)).
- The cap rises to AED 30,000 for claims over AED 500,000 through AED 1 million. It rises to AED 40,000 for claims above AED 1 million (Article 14(a)).
- A claim without a stated value is treated as an AED 200,001 claim for fee purposes (Article 15(a)).
- The court refunds 50% of the fee if the claimant abandons the case or settles at the first hearing before pleadings begin. The dispute must not have been presented first to the conciliation center (Article 12(b)).
- The party ordered to pay costs bears the fees, and it can object to the amount within 8 days of being notified with the executory copy (Article 13).
- The loser pays the costs, including lawyer’s fees assessed by the court (Civil Procedure Code, Article 133).
Dubai Civil Court Filing Fees Compared
The following table summarises the judicial fee categories and thresholds described above.
| Claim or fee category | Fee calculation or rule | Legal reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary civil claim up to AED 500,000 | 6% of claim value, minimum AED 500, capped at AED 20,000. | Article 14(a) |
| Commercial claim up to AED 500,000 — filing stage | Claimant pays 6%, minimum AED 500, capped at AED 5,000 at filing. | Article 14(b) |
| Commercial claim up to AED 500,000 — after final judgment | 6% of the awarded amount collected from the judgment debtor, minimum AED 500, capped at AED 15,000. | Article 14(b) |
| Claim above AED 500,000 through AED 1 million | General 6% calculation, subject to an AED 30,000 cap. | Article 14(a) |
| Claim above AED 1 million | General 6% calculation, subject to an AED 40,000 cap. | Article 14(a) |
| Claim without a stated value | Treated as a claim valued at AED 200,001 for court fee purposes. | Article 15(a) |
| Eligible first-hearing settlement or abandonment | 50% refund where the statutory conditions are satisfied. | Article 12(b) |
| Objection to court costs | The party ordered to pay costs may object within 8 days of notification with the executory copy. | Article 13 |
Unsure How Much Your Dubai Civil Case Will Cost?
Court fees can depend on the claim value, case category and applicable fee caps. Discuss your proposed claim and filing requirements with Leaders Advocates.
How to file a civil case in Dubai
- Check whether the dispute belongs in the civil court, the Rental Disputes Center or arbitration.
- Consider a payment order for a written debt of a fixed amount that is due. Give the debtor at least five days to pay (Civil Procedure Code, Articles 143 and 144).
- Prepare the claim with the documents and evidence, and calculate the fee.
- File the claim and attend the hearings, or have a licensed lawyer appear for you.
- After judgment, appeal within 30 days or enforce through the execution judge.
Our civil lawyers in Dubai can prepare the claim and appear for you at the hearings.
Check the Correct Filing Route
Not every dispute should begin as an ordinary civil claim. The correct procedure may depend on whether the matter involves a tenancy dispute, arbitration agreement, qualifying payment order or another specialised jurisdiction. Filing in the wrong forum can create additional procedural complications.
Preparing a Civil Claim or Payment Order in Dubai?
Discuss your agreement, claim documents, payment records and the applicable court procedure before filing. Leaders Advocates can help assess the legal route and required evidence.
Related reading
Official sources
Need Legal Help With a Civil Court Case in Dubai?
Leaders Advocates can discuss civil and commercial disputes, court jurisdiction, filing fees, payment orders, appeals and judgment enforcement. Speak with our team about the appropriate legal procedure for your case.
