ENFORCEMENT OF UK JUDGMENTS IN THE UAE

In an effort to improve judicial continuity, on 13 September 2022, the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) Ministry of Justice issued a letter to the Director General of the Dubai courts confirming the enforcement of judgments issued in the courts of the United Kingdom (“UK”) via the basic principle of reciprocity.

The Treaty involving the UAE and the United kingdom on Judicial Support in Civil and Business Matters does not especially refer to the system for enforcement procedures. As this kind of, in the absence of an suitable treaty or memorandum of being familiar with between the UAE and the Uk on the enforcement treatments, the provisions of Federal Law No. 11 of 1992 on the Civil Strategies Legislation and Cabinet Conclusion No. 57 of 2018 as amended, utilize.

Write-up 85 of Cabinet Conclusion No. 57 of 2018 as amended, presents for the basic principle of reciprocity less than which:

“Judgments and orders shipped by a international nation may possibly be ordered to be executed in the Point out below the very same disorders as prescribed in the regulation of that region for the execution of judgments and orders issued in the Point out.”

This the latest enhancement follows the choice sent in Lenkor Power Investing DMCC v Puri [2020] EWHC 75 (QB) and the subsequent attractiveness which reiterated the high regular demanded to be met in buy for a United kingdom court to oppose the enforcement of a international judgment.

The proceedings adopted a tripartite arrangement which was subsequently demonstrated to have ruled a transaction tainted by illegality. Even so, in just this tripartite arrangement, the defendant issued two cheques on behalf of the engaging corporation which have been dishonoured when offered for payment. In an application to the Dubai courts, the claimant was awarded a favourable judgment against the defendant who was held individually liable for the dishonoured cheques as per Article 599(2) of Federal Legislation No. (18) of 1993 regarding the Commercial Transaction Law. In the British isles proceedings which followed, the court confirmed prima facie that a closing judgment issued by a courtroom of skilled international jurisdiction may perhaps be enforced in the Uk, except in cases the place this sort of enforcement would be contrary to public policy. The British isles court also further clarified the scope of the community coverage defence on which a Uk court could impeach a foreign judgment by reiterating that the foreign judgment staying enforced would by itself need to offend English public plan, and not the fundamental transaction on the basis of which the judgment was issued.

In the absence of a binding treaty amongst the UAE and British isles, the current announcement by the Ministry of Justice is not binding on the UAE courts but marks an critical progress for the enforcement of Uk judgments in the UAE whilst providing some convenience to creditors trying to get to enforce a British isles judgment versus a debtor in the UAE.

For further more information and facts in relation to the enforcement of international judgments in the UAE you should make contact with [email protected]. Remember to also get in touch with us on +97143438897 where our crew will be delighted to guide you.