By Jouslin Khairallah — Founder & Managing Director, Head of Litigation & Arbitration, KH Legal
You fought the arbitration and you won. So why is the money still not in your account? An arbitral award is a powerful result — but in the UAE it is not a cheque you can cash on its own.
Is an arbitration award automatically enforceable in the UAE?
No. A UAE-seated arbitral award is binding on the parties the moment it is issued, but it is not self-executing. Before you can seize assets, freeze bank accounts or secure a travel ban, the award first has to be ratified (confirmed) by the competent court.
How do you enforce a UAE-seated award?
You apply to the competent Court of Appeal for ratification and an enforcement order under the UAE Arbitration Law (Federal Law No. 6 of 2018, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 15 of 2023). The application must be accompanied by the original award (or a certified true copy), a copy of the arbitration agreement, a certified Arabic translation if the award is not in Arabic, and a copy of the court’s minutes of filing the award.
How long does ratification take?
The Arbitration Law sets a period of 60 days for the court to issue its ratification and enforcement order, unless it finds a ground for annulment. That is the statutory timeframe for ratification, not a guaranteed end-to-end timeline for recovery. A challenge, an appeal or asset tracing can extend the time it takes to actually recover.
Can the losing party stop enforcement?
They can try, but their options are narrow. The losing party may bring an action to annul the award, but only on the limited grounds set out in the law, such as the absence of a valid arbitration agreement, an inability to present its case, or the tribunal exceeding the scope of the agreement. The action must be brought within 30 days of notification of the award. The court does not re-hear the merits, although it will of its own motion set aside an award that concerns a non-arbitrable matter or conflicts with public order and morality. Filing an annulment action does not of itself suspend the award, but the court may order a suspension where there are serious grounds.
What if my award was issued outside the UAE?
That is a foreign award, enforced under the New York Convention 1958, to which the UAE acceded in 2006, read with the Civil Procedure Law. The application is for recognition and enforcement, not a re-trial, and refusal is limited to the grounds the Convention allows.
What does a ratified award let me do?
Once ratified, the award is enforceable as a court judgment and may be taken to execution. The measures available include freezing accounts, attaching and seizing assets, and, where the circumstances allow, applying for a travel ban.
Talk to our arbitration team
Whether you need an award enforced or want to challenge one, our arbitration team can review your options confidentially — info@khlegal.ae · +971 4 427 0845 · WhatsApp +971 55 561 4957.
This article is general information and not legal advice on any specific matter. Every case turns on its own facts, and no outcome can be guaranteed.