Can the debtor reopen the merits during UAE enforcement?

No. Recognition is not a re-hearing. The grounds for refusal are limited to those in Article V of the New York Convention or the equivalent Federal Arbitration Law provisions, and UAE courts have grown more rigorous in policing that limit.

Disputes · Enforcement

Enforce a foreign arbitral award against UAE assets.

Dubai-licensed counsel for award creditors. New York Convention. Riyadh Convention. GCC Convention. DIFC Courts conduit route. Onshore courts. Pre-recognition attachment when the asset is at risk.

Book a 15-minute scoping call Read the playbook

Is this you?

You hold a final arbitral award from an ICC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, DIAC, arbitrateAD, or other tribunal.
The respondent has UAE bank accounts, a UAE branch, real property in the UAE, or a UAE subsidiary.
You need recognition and execution in UAE onshore courts, the DIFC Courts, or both — and you need to move before the assets do.
Your home counsel is in London, Paris, Geneva, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Riyadh, or New York and you need a Dubai-licensed firm to run the UAE leg.

Our enforcement playbook

Asset trace. We confirm the UAE asset (bank account, branch, real estate, shares) before we file a single page.
Route selection. Onshore courts under Federal Law 6 of 2018, or DIFC Courts as conduit, or both in parallel. The decision turns on speed, cost, and the asset location.
Pre-recognition attachment. Where the evidence threshold is met, we file the precautionary attachment in parallel with the recognition petition so the debtor cannot move funds while the petition is pending.
Recognition petition. Authenticated, translated, attested. Filed with the supporting documents the court will actually ask for.
Defending refusal arguments. Article V grounds are narrow. We brief them tightly so the bench can refuse them tightly.
Execution. Garnishment, sale of attached assets, or whatever the asset profile requires.
Cost recovery. We file the cost submission so the enforcement leg pays for itself wherever possible (see Cabinet Decision 75/2020 guidance).

Forums we file in

DIFC Courts

Common-law, English-language. Conduit jurisdiction for onward onshore execution where appropriate.

Dubai onshore courts

First Instance, Appeal, Cassation. Arabic-language proceedings. Recognition under Federal Law 6/2018.

ADGM Courts & AD onshore

Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts (common-law) and AD onshore Commercial Court.

Northern Emirates courts

Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, UAQ, Fujairah. Often under-served — we cover all of them.

Scope your matter with the partner.

15 minutes. No fee. We give a written route assessment within 48 hours of the call.

Your name Email Phone (optional) Issuing forum of the award Approximate award amount (USD) Confirmed UAE asset of debtor? Brief description of the matter (no privileged info) I consent to Noura Almaazmi Advocates & Legal Consultancy contacting me about this enquiry. I have read the privacy notice. (UAE PDPL — Federal Law 45/2021.)

Frequently asked

How long does enforcement take?

Working ranges: onshore courts 6–14 months from filing to execution; DIFC Courts conduit route can be faster where appropriate. Every matter turns on its facts — we give a written estimate after the scoping call.

Can I attach a UAE bank account before recognition?

Yes, in appropriate cases. UAE law permits pre-recognition precautionary attachment when the evidence threshold is met and the applicant posts security. We file the attachment in parallel with the recognition petition.

What if the seat state isn't a NYC signatory?

Routes still exist: the GCC Convention, the Riyadh Convention for Arab League states, bilateral treaties (e.g., UAE-China 2004), and onshore principles of comity. We map the route in the scoping call.

Can the debtor reopen the merits?

No. Recognition is not a re-hearing. The grounds for refusal are narrow and well-policed by the UAE bench.