How to find the best lawyer in Dubai - Alqada Claim Recovery Services

The court's system in Dubai can be bewildering for expats – not least because the proceedings are in Arabic. Dubai has efficient and effective courts, but navigating the system is complicated if you can't speak Arabic and have little or no understanding of local law.

Dubai is working based on these three levels of law –

·         federal rules that apply through the UAE,

·         local laws that apply only to Dubai,

·         and Islamic or Sharia’h Law.

(Non-Muslims are expected to obey Sharia’h Law)

For expats taking a case to court, choosing the best lawyer could be a must.

Where to start your search for a lawyer?

Both the state Dubai Courts service and therefore the Ministry of Justice have searchable databases of lawyers. Just like the other country, lawyers in Dubai have their specialties, so finding a lawyer with the abilities and knowledge to match your case is very important.

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office has a list of English-speaking Dubai lawyers with complete details of their skills and areas of expertise. The 26-page list is often saved or downloaded as an Adobe Reader document.

The easiest way to find the best lawyer for your requirements is to go looking through an expert listing website.

What questions to ask

Once you have a list of possible lawyers, ask each a short checklist of similar questions – such as:

• ·         What is their availability?
• ·         What experience do they need in your type of case?
• ·         What are the likely costs?
• ·         Do they speak English and Arabic?
• ·         What are their qualifications?

Ask for a quick appointment to fulfil the lawyer and to debate your case. In most cases, this will be free and last about 30 minutes.

This gives you a chance to take a seat down and chat together with your prospective lawyer. The meeting will give both sides a feel of how they might work together. You can also learn a lot from a couple of lawyers from their offices and how they interact with other staff.

Landlord and tenant disputes

For landlords and tenants who cannot settle a dispute, Dubai Land Department runs a Rent Disputes Settlement Centre.

The most common complaint is about landlords raising rents, although landlords also can sue tenants for non-payment of rent and damage to property.

The service has a fee looking at the annual property rent and some fixed court admin charges.

Can’t afford a lawyer?

Dubai has no criminal legal aid, but some defendants qualify for a court-appointed lawyer if they are not able to afford to appoint a lawyer:

Someone facing a criminal sentence

Someone who is not able to afford a lawyer facing a criminal sentence of between three and 15 years

The Community Development Authority will provide a lawyer for anyone accused of a criminal offense if they cannot afford to pay for representation

Parties on low incomes can find pro bono help from Dubai International Financial Centre for civil or commercial disputes involving companies within the zone.

Dubai Police have an online legal helpline in English and Arabic – but replies can take up to five days.

Why Alqada?

Alqada has grown to become a leading global best law firm in Dubai, UAE in its core side. With our legal professionals operating from our main office and associated offices across different countries,

Alqada offer an overall range of legal services and consultant to businesses operating. From developing business sectors, we hope to help our customers by putting the force of our worldwide coordinated firm available to them with a scope of consistent and efficient services.