What happens if you leave the UAE owing money on your card?

The debt stays with you when you leave, and UAE law gives the bank court routes to recover it. The safest way out is an agreed settlement before you go.

Can the bank stop you leaving the country?

It can ask a court to. Under the Civil Procedure Law, a creditor may ask the judge for an order banning a debtor from travelling, even before filing a lawsuit, if there are serious reasons to fear the debtor will flee and the debt is at least AED 10,000.¹ The debt must be a known amount that is due, or the judge sets a provisional amount where the claim rests on written evidence and the creditor gives a guarantee against loss if the claim proves unjustified.¹

The judge may order your passport lodged with the court, and the ban is sent to all exit points. You can appeal the order.¹ The court may allow you to travel while the ban stays in place when you, a parent, a child or your spouse needs treatment abroad that is not available in the UAE, backed by an official medical certificate.¹

What happens to a cheque you gave the bank?

A cheque the bank marks as unpaid for lack of funds is an executive document. The holder can apply to have it executed, in whole or in part, by compulsory means under the Civil Procedure Law.²

Some acts around a cheque remain offences. The law sets imprisonment of 6 months to 2 years, a fine, or both, with the fine at least 10% of the cheque’s value and at least AED 5,000, for among other acts, closing the account or withdrawing all its balance before the cheque is presented, or deliberately getting the account frozen.² Criminal action does not stop the cheque being executed.²

Banks may take post-dated cheques only up to 120% of the debit balance, and must not take blank signed cheques.³⁴

What can the bank do before going to court?

Write to you and try to agree a plan. Central Bank standards require banks to discuss your difficulties before collection, redeeming guarantees or legal proceedings, and to warn you in writing once you are 60 days in arrears that continued non-payment can lead to credit bureau reporting, set-off against your other accounts, demands on guarantors, legal proceedings and further interest.⁴ The rules on calls and visits are in debt collection rules.

Is there a way to restructure debts you cannot pay?

Two routes exist. Your bank must consider a revised repayment plan you offer, and give reasons in writing if it rejects it.⁴ For people who cannot pay their debts at all, Federal Decree-Law No. 19 of 2019 on Insolvency lets a court appoint an expert to agree a plan with creditors to settle debts within three years, and protects the debtor from legal prosecution while it runs.⁵

Before you leave, ask your bank in writing for a liability letter showing what you owe, then agree a settlement and get a no liability letter once it is paid. See how to clear card debt.

The small print

• The travel ban is Article 324 of the Civil Procedure Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022.¹
• The executive document rule is Article 667, the offences are Article 675 (and 673 and 674 for related acts), and Article 682 keeps execution open alongside criminal action, all in the Commercial Transactions Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022, issued 3 October 2022.²
• The cheque limits are Regulation 29/2011 Article (7)(c) and (15)(b), and Consumer Protection Standards clause 7.1.1.8. Arrears notices are clauses 5.2.5.1 to 5.2.5.4 and revised arrangements 5.2.4.4 and 5.2.4.5.³⁴