Won a rental case in Dubai but still not paid? How to enforce the judgment

It puts the unpaid judgment into the enforcement process. Under Article 21 of the decree establishing the RDC, the Center's enforcement department enforces final and irrevocable judgments issued by its first-instance and appeal divisions.

You could be a tenant owed a deposit or compensation, or a landlord owed rent. Start with the amount awarded and the person or company ordered to pay it. That party is the judgment debtor.

Confirm this before applying. Check whether an appeal, an order suspending enforcement, or a payment deadline affects your case. Do not assume that the date you received the judgment is the date enforcement can begin.

The RDC's appeal service distinguishes between judgments issued with the party present and judgments requiring notification. Have the Registration Section or your legal adviser confirm the position and obtain the judgment bearing the enforcement stamp.

Use the unpaid award, with any interest or recoverable costs calculated on the basis authorised by the judgment and applicable orders. Deduct payments already received. Keep a simple ledger showing each amount and its evidence.

Fictional example 1 - part of the award is already paid: Assume the judgment awards a tenant AED 18,000 and the landlord subsequently pays AED 4,000 towards that award. The unpaid award is AED 18,000 - AED 4,000 = AED 14,000, before any separately authorised interest or costs. Do not request the full AED 18,000 again.

The RDC rental execution service requires a document carrying the enforcement stamp, relevant supporting records and a bank letter or statement showing your IBAN if it needs updating. It also lists an appeal-deposit receipt where available.

Keep these together:

• The stamped judgment and original case details.
• Your outstanding-balance calculation and proof of payments received.
• Accurate details of the party ordered to pay.
• Any relevant appeal, suspension or settlement documents.

Uploaded documents must be in Arabic or legally translated into Arabic. Keep identity and bank records inside the official private process.

Use Register an Execution Proceeding - Rental on the RDC website or a Real Estate Services Trustee centre.

Obtain the enforcement stamp, provide the supporting documents, complete the required payment steps and save the execution-file number. Use the correct judgment and parties; explain any mismatch before submitting.

Keep the original case number and execution-file number separately labelled. The latter is the reference you will use for enforcement follow-up.

The RDC's FAQ states that there is no fee for executing financial claims. That does not make every part of the process free. The execution service lists AED 20 for each electronic request; other service charges, trustee assistance and translation or legal costs may apply.

Its separate 1% charge based on annual rent is labelled for eviction. Do not apply that percentage to a money-only award. Ask for an itemised assessment, especially if the judgment includes both money and eviction.

Fictional example 2 - electronic requests only: Assume your file needs three chargeable requests at AED 20 each. 3 x AED 20 = AED 60. This is the request-fee subtotal, not the total cost of enforcement.

Check notification and the next required action. The published execution procedure describes submitting further electronic requests, where necessary, after seven days from notification. Follow the actual notice and orders in your file.

A message you send privately is not a substitute for the official notification step. Save the notification record, read each decision and keep a dated list of requests and responses. Registering the file is the beginning of the work.

Ask which enforcement request fits your file. The RDC's FAQ describes attachment requests concerning a party's property through the execution-file system. Attachment is a court measure affecting assets; submitting a request does not mean it has been granted.

Provide accurate debtor details and any relevant asset information you lawfully hold. Use the court process to pursue the award. You cannot assume that property belonging to someone else is available to pay it.

If the debtor has no identifiable assets, or assets are outside the relevant jurisdiction, get advice on realistic recovery options and costs. A judgment does not guarantee that money is available.

An instalment request can be made through the execution system. The RDC's official explanation of its payment-plan service describes plans implemented in accordance with the execution judge's decision.

Read the actual decision or settlement. Check payment dates, how payments will be recorded and what happens if one is missed. An informal promise is not the same as an approved plan.

Fictional example 3 - an assumed approved plan: Assume an order permits an unpaid AED 12,000 award to be paid in six monthly instalments of AED 2,000. 6 x AED 2,000 = AED 12,000. This illustrates a payment schedule, not a right to those terms. Any separate costs follow the actual order.

Check the file's financial records and your bank account. The RDC's FAQ explains payment through the financial-claim section and using reports to identify the files connected with transferred amounts.

If a payment appears in the file but has not reached you, ask the RDC to check the transfer status and your recorded bank details. Keep the payment reference. A screenshot sent by the debtor should be checked against the official record or money actually received.

Record each cleared payment and notify the execution file so the balance stays accurate. If you agree a settlement, write down the amount, dates and whether it settles the whole award or only part of it.

The RDC's FAQ provides an electronic route for settlement and waiver requests. Before signing a full waiver or asking to close the file, check what rights you would be giving up and whether the agreed payment has arrived. Obtain advice if payment is still promised for a later date.

There is no reliable single payment date for every case. Notification, objections, judicial orders and the availability of money or assets can affect progress. The execution service's stated one-business-day registration time is not a promise of payment in one day.

Start with three tasks: confirm the stamped judgment is enforceable, reconcile the unpaid balance, and identify the next filing or follow-up step. Keep a reminder for that step and update your ledger whenever money arrives.