When a customer simply stops paying, a full lawsuit can feel slow and expensive. UAE civil procedure offers a faster route for certain debts: the payment order (أمر الأداء).
When a payment order is available
A payment order is designed for debts that are clear on paper. In general, the debt must be:
- a sum of money (or certain movable property) of a fixed, known amount;
- due for payment now, not conditional or disputed in its basis; and
- proven in writing — for example by a signed contract, an acknowledged invoice, a statement of account accepted by the debtor, or a cheque.
The steps
- Notice to the debtor. Before applying, the creditor must formally notify the debtor to pay within the period the law sets.
- Application. If the debtor does not pay, the creditor applies to the competent court with the supporting documents.
- Decision. The judge decides on the documents, without a full hearing, and either issues the order or refuses it.
- Challenge and enforcement. The debtor can object to the order within the legal time limit. If there is no successful objection, the order is enforced like a judgment through an execution file.
When a full claim is better
If the debtor disputes the work, the quality or the amount, or the debt is not clearly documented, a payment order may be refused and time lost. In those cases a properly prepared claim, sometimes with an expert, is the better route. A returned cheque may also be enforced directly in many cases.
How to prepare
- Keep signed contracts, purchase orders and delivery notes or proof of service
- Get statements of account acknowledged by the customer where possible
- Keep emails or messages in which the customer accepts the debt or promises to pay
- Act promptly — evidence and the debtor's assets are easier to reach early
An advocate can review your documents and tell you whether a payment order, cheque enforcement or a full claim is the fastest lawful route for your debt.