A payment order (in Arabic, amr adaa) is a quick court order for a debt that is written, due and for a fixed sum of money, issued on the papers without a full trial. Under the Civil Procedure Code (Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022), the creditor must first give the debtor at least five days' notice to pay, then file a petition with the court; the debtor can challenge the order, and an unpaid order can then be enforced through the execution judge.
Who this guide is for
- Businesses and individuals owed money under a signed contract, invoice, loan agreement or written acknowledgement of debt.
- Debtors who have received a notice to pay or a payment order and want to understand the process.
- Anyone deciding between a payment order, a normal civil claim and the bounced cheque route.
This route is not for everything. Cheques have their own execution route. Unpaid salary usually starts with a labour complaint (see our unpaid salary checklist). Dubai rent disputes go to the Rental Disputes Center. DIFC and ADGM courts have their own rules. This guide covers the onshore courts.
When a payment order fits
The Civil Procedure Code sets the conditions (Article 143). The creditor's right must be:
- Written. Proven in writing, on paper or electronically.
- Due. Payable now, not at a future date or on a condition.
- Fixed. A claim only for a specified sum of money, or for a movable item that is identified or specified by type and quantity.
Bills of exchange and promissory notes can use this route, but cheques cannot, because the Code treats a returned cheque as an execution writ already. Filing for a payment order does not stop the creditor from also claiming interest or damages, or from asking for a precautionary measure (Article 143).
A payment order is a poor fit where the amount needs expert calculation, the debtor has a real dispute about the work or goods, or part of the deal was never written down. The judge can grant the petition, or dismiss it in full or in part (Article 145). If it is dismissed, the creditor may need a normal civil claim.
Names differ between courts. The official English translation of the Code calls it a "writ of debt". Dubai Courts calls its service "Repayment Order", and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) uses "Registration of order of payment".
How the three main routes compare:
| Payment order | Normal civil claim | Bounced cheque | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Written, due, fixed money debt | Disputed or unquantified claims | Cheque returned for insufficient or no balance |
| Before filing | Notice to pay, at least five days | Depends on the case type | Bank's return statement on the cheque |
| How it is decided | On the papers | Hearings, evidence, sometimes experts | Goes straight to the execution judge |
| Debtor's response | Grievance or appeal | Defence in the case, then appeals | Execution dispute or grievance |
Step by step
- Check the conditions. Confirm the debt is written, due and for a fixed amount.
- Collect the written proof. Gather the contract, invoices, statements and any written admission of the debt.
- Send a notice to pay. Serve the debtor with a notice giving at least five days to pay, using a method of service recognised by the Code (Article 144).
- Match the amounts. The amount in the notice must not be less than the amount you later claim in the petition.
- Keep proof of delivery. The petition must include proof that the notice was served.
- Choose the court. File where the debtor lives, or where the agreement was made or performed in whole or in part, or where it must be performed (Article 144).
- File the petition online. Use Dubai Courts ("Repayment Order"), the MOJ service "Registration of order of payment" (UAE Pass sign-in), or Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) e-services, as applicable.
- Pay the fee. As of September 2026, the Dubai Courts service page lists 6% of the claim value, minimum AED 500 and maximum AED 40,000, and the MOJ page lists 4% of the value of the request. Check the current figure before filing.
- Wait for the decision. The Code says the order is to be issued within three business days of filing (Article 144).
- Serve the order. A payment order becomes void if it is not served on the debtor within three months of its issue (Article 146).
- Enforce if unpaid. Open an execution file so the execution judge can take enforcement steps.
Use the legal deadline organiser to note the five-day notice period, the three-month service window and the challenge deadline.
Grievance, appeal and execution
Grievance. If the order's value is within the amount up to which the Court of First Instance decides finally, currently AED 50,000 (Article 29), either party can file a grievance (in Arabic, tazallum) within 15 days. For the debtor, time runs from service of the order; for the creditor, from the date it was issued. The grievance is heard by the competent payment order judge, using normal case-filing steps, and the decision on it is final (Article 147).
Appeal. If the value is above that amount, the order can be appealed under the normal appeal procedures and time limits. The grounds of appeal must be filed when the appeal is registered (Article 147). Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 amended the Code, including a rule that an appeal statement must set out the grounds of appeal or the appeal is not accepted (Article 164). It did not change the payment order articles (Articles 143 to 150).
Execution. The rules on expedited enforcement apply to payment orders (Article 148). Once enforceable, the creditor can apply for measures such as searches for assets, attachment and, in some cases, a travel ban.
Documents checklist
- Signed contract, purchase order, loan agreement or written acknowledgement of debt
- Invoices and a statement of account showing the amount and due date
- Delivery notes, acceptance records or completion certificates
- Emails or messages in which the debtor accepts the debt
- The notice to pay and proof it was delivered
- Emirates ID or passport; trade licence for a company
- Power of attorney if a lawyer or representative files for you
- Legal Arabic translations of any non-Arabic documents
The evidence checklist builder can help you put these in order.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the notice to pay. The petition needs proof that the debtor was given at least five days.
- Claiming more than the notice. The notice amount must not be lower than the petition amount.
- Using it for a disputed claim. If the facts or the amount are contested, the petition may be dismissed.
- Not serving the order in time. An order not served within three months is void.
- Debtors missing the 15-day window. A late grievance may not be heard.
- Filing a cheque as a payment order. Cheques use the execution route instead.
When to speak to a licensed lawyer
Consider licensed advice if the debt is large, the paperwork is incomplete, the debtor has raised complaints about the goods or services, or the debtor is a company that may be in financial difficulty. If you are the debtor, advice is sensible before the grievance or appeal deadline. The free case check and the cheque and debt readiness check can help you organise the facts first, and CaseDaleel can introduce an independent licensed professional only if you choose.
Frequently asked questions
How is a payment order different from a normal court case?
A payment order is decided on the written petition and documents, while a normal case involves hearings, full evidence and sometimes experts.
How much notice must I give the debtor?
The Civil Procedure Code requires a notice to pay giving at least five days before you file the petition.
How fast is a payment order issued?
The Code says it is to be issued within three business days of filing, but check the court portal for the status of your own petition.
Can I claim interest or compensation too?
Filing for a payment order does not stop you from claiming interest or damages, but whether they are awarded depends on the facts and the court.
I received a payment order. What can I do?
You can pay, or challenge it by grievance within 15 days of service if the value is AED 50,000 or less, or by appeal if the value is above that amount.
Can I use a payment order for a bounced cheque?
No, the Code excludes cheques because a returned cheque can go directly to the execution judge.
What happens if the debtor still does not pay?
The creditor can open an execution file, and the execution judge can order enforcement measures under the Civil Procedure Code.
Official sources
- UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 issuing the Civil Procedure Code
- Dubai Courts — Repayment Order service
- Ministry of Justice — Registration of order of payment
- UAE Legislation — News: amendments to the Civil Procedures Code
General information, not legal advice. CaseDaleel is not a law firm.