By Jouslin Khairallah & Ahmed Abdel Rahman — Litigation & Debt Recovery, KH Legal.
You delivered the work and the invoices went out — but the other side never signed a contract, and now they are not paying. In the UAE, a missing signature is rarely the end of the story.
Can I claim a debt if I never signed a contract?
Often, yes. Under the Civil Transactions Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025), a contract can generally be formed by offer and acceptance without a signed document, although some contracts require a particular form. The real question is usually proof, not the missing signature.
What counts as proof if nothing is signed?
Invoices, delivery notes, purchase orders, quotations, bank transfers and cheques, plus the other side’s own admissions of the debt.
Do WhatsApp messages and emails count?
Yes. Under the Evidence Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2022) and the Electronic Transactions Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021), properly preserved emails and WhatsApp messages can be relied on as written evidence, subject to the court’s assessment of their authenticity. Keep the originals, not just screenshots.
Does the amount change what I need?
For transactions above AED 50,000, courts generally expect written (including electronic) evidence rather than witnesses alone, though commercial dealings allow freer proof.
Is there a time limit, and a faster route?
Claims are subject to limitation periods, so act promptly. Where a debt is fixed and documented, the payment-order procedure under the Civil Procedure Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022) can produce an enforceable order more quickly than a full lawsuit.
Owed money without a written contract?
Our Litigation & Debt Recovery team will review your evidence and the fastest route to recovery — confidentially. info@khlegal.ae · +971 4 427 0845 · WhatsApp +971 55 561 4957.
Sources & further reading
- Civil Transactions Law — Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025
- Law of Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions — Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2022
- Electronic Transactions and Trust Services Law — Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021
- Civil Procedure Law — Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 (payment-order procedure)
Primary legislation is published on the UAE Legislation portal: uaelegislation.gov.ae. This article is general information, not legal advice.