Commercial debt recovery in the UAE
Legal support for unpaid commercial debts: contract and invoice review, payment demands, settlement terms and assessment of appropriate dispute-resolution steps.
Discuss this matter
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Establish the debt and choose a proportionate response
An unpaid invoice is the start of an enquiry, not the whole evidential record. The agreement, performance, acceptance, payment history and any objections need to be considered together.
The appropriate recovery route depends on the documents, the parties and the competent forum. Notice requirements, contractual dispute clauses and relevant time limits should be checked before action is taken. Recovery prospects also depend on practical enforcement considerations.
How the firm can assist
The firm can assess the legal basis of a claim, help organise the evidence and develop a proportionate strategy. This may involve a reasoned demand, negotiation, a documented payment arrangement or coordination of proceedings.
- Review contracts, invoices, acknowledgements and evidence of delivery or performance.
- Prepare correspondence and negotiate repayment or settlement terms.
- Assess forum, procedural options and the steps needed to pursue or enforce a claim.
- Signed agreements, invoices and statements of account.
- Delivery records, correspondence and any acknowledgement of the debt.
- Debtor identity, dispute details and known procedural deadlines.
An initial outline is enough. Detailed records can follow through a process agreed with the firm.
Questions clients often ask
Can the firm guarantee recovery?
No. Liability, available evidence and the debtor’s position affect the outcome. Advice should address both the legal merits and the practical value of taking action.
Can a negotiated payment plan protect my position?
It can provide a clearer framework if properly documented. Authority, amounts, deadlines, default consequences and any release should be considered before agreement.
Define the mandate
Clarify your objectives, the jurisdictions involved and any immediate deadline.
Review the legal position
Examine the relevant documents and identify the decisions requiring advice.
Agree the next steps
Set out the work, professional responsibilities and practical sequence.
Experience with a personal point of contact
Hyam El Hachem is an Attorney at Law with the Beirut Bar Association. Following her training at Awada Tyan Law Firm, she established her own firm in 1996 and expanded her practice to the UAE in 2005.
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