Check in United Arab Emirates: What does the law say about your rights and legal options. world News

A common concern between residents and business owners in the United Arab Emirates is that what to do when checking an old, without check, is particularly worth a significant amount. Recently a case highlights the issue, which allows law, provides significant insights on whether the time limit applies, and what rights remain after determining the rights of a check bearer.
Query: A four -year -old check and a refusal bank
A person presented a legal question after refusing a bank to accept the check issued four years ago. The check was considered invalid to processing by the bank for more than six months from its date of issuing. The person also wanted to know if they could take immediate legal action to prevent the issuer from leaving the UAE.
Legal Status: Missed Deadline limits your options
According to the UAE law, the ability to act against a check issuer decreases considerably after some legal deadline ends. In this case, the person has lost the right to take immediate preventive action such as stopping the country from leaving the country due to ban on the check issuer and delay in starting legal steps.As clarified in official legal response:“You do not have the legal right to take immediate action to ban the drawer as you have lost the opportunity to use the check as an execution document, which fails to present a check to the bank for more than two years from its due date and within the required period.”
Major legal provisions to know
The law controlling such cases is underlined under several articles from the legal code of the UAE:
- Article 670 of Commercial Transaction Act
This article determines a strict limit that how long the check can be used to claim payment. He says:“The claim to pay the check price to pay the check price against drawer, endorsers, and other obligations will not be heard on a valid excuse and absence, if the presentation has passed over two years since the expiration of the presentation period.”In simple terms, the presentation of the check will not be entertained now two years from the end of the window (which is six months before the date of the check), the legal claims of recovery of money on the basis of the check will no longer be entertained until there is a valid excuse.
- Article 336 of Civil Transactions Act
This article offers some legal room to recover the amount through a civil lawsuit, but not through direct check execution. He says:“Claims arising from a beneficial Act will not be accepted after three years, the date from which the creditor came to know about their repatriation right, and not in any case when it is not more than 15 years later.”This means that while the check itself may not be valid for direct enforcement, the person can still file a civil case to claim the amount mentioned in the check, which treats the check as evidence of the loan rather than the binding financial instrument.
What can you do now
If you hold an expired check, here are the steps you can take:Enter a civil case: You can sue the check issuer for the amount mentioned in the civil court, considering the check as a documentary proof of the loan.Prepare the evidence: The burden of evidence is with the check holder. You have to present assistant documents or agreements that show the drawer that you are outstanding money.Use legal equipment: You can rely on written documents and even request that the court can issue an oath to support your claims.As clarified:“The liability to prove your case is with you. You can rely on any written document between you and the drawer along with the oath. The court will take its decision based on the documents submitted. ,
Legal rights still exist, but time matters
Although the UAE law does not allow you to use an old check as a tool to initiate immediate legal action such as travel restrictions or criminal enforcement you are not without options. A citizen case is possible, especially if you work within comprehensive civil claim limits.However, this situation reveals the importance of time. The bank always offers checks within six months of release, and if any dispute arises, ideally takes legal steps within two years to maintain their strongest legal position.