Your International Law Firm in Dubai

In Dubai, court costs are governed by Article 14 of Law No. 21 of 2015, according to which the court of first instance typically charges 6% of the value in dispute, subject to certain maximum limits:

• Up to AED 500,000: max. AED 20,000
• Between AED 500,001 and 1,000,000: max. AED 30,000
• Over AED 1,000,000: max. AED 40,000

Other costs to be taken into account:

• Appeal: 50% of the fee paid in the first instance
• Cassation proceedings: Fixed fees – deposit AED 3,000, fee AED 2,000, possibly
• AED 1,000 for “staying execution

• Court costs: Subject to the party – the court may apportion costs in the event of partial loss. Each party generally bears its own legal fees.
• Legal fees: A small subsidy (max. AED 2,000) may be granted to the prevailing party – at the discretion of the court.
• Communication or service costs: Usually charged to the applicant (plaintiff) when served by private couriers; the court will indicate in its judgment who ultimately pays.
• Expert costs: Usually borne by the plaintiff, unless the court orders a different distribution.

In Dubai, as in Germany, for example, there is no law governing lawyers’ fees (RVG). For this reason, fees may vary, with billing generally being on an hourly basis based on the agreed hourly rate. In certain circumstances, flat fees (e.g., for company formations) may also be agreed.