As the COVID-19 pandemic crisis continues, many in the UAE who are involved in an ongoing dispute or criminal matter or have a potential civil claim are concerned about the impact that the crisis is having on the UAE courts and their operations.
In line with the UAE government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE courts have recently taken measures to protect the health and safety of individuals while ensuring that the litigation process operates as smoothly and continuously as possible. Indeed, some local courts within the UAE have now initiated virtual hearings, which is a first for these courts.
To help address some of your concerns, particularly in respect to proceedings or lodging appeals or what to do if there is a possibility of your counterparty dissipating its assets during this period, we have set out below a guide that aims to provide an overview of the key measures that the UAE courts have taken as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It should be noted that the information contained in the table above may change subject to the evolving situation and the UAE government’s response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to monitor the developments with respect to the UAE courts and provide updates accordingly.
Get in touch
Should you have any queries or concerns regarding the timeframe in which your claim is progressing or if you have a potential dispute that is subject to a deadline or time bar, please contact any of the team members listed below or your usual contact at Stephenson Harwood during this crisis.