Hadef In The UAE Courts

Monthly report based on practical experience of our team of advocates in the courts of the UAE. This month, Michael Dark and Mahmoud Awad explain how to enforce a UAE judgment in the United States.

Much is written about the real or perceived difficulties of enforcing a foreign judgment or arbitral award in the UAE.

However, given the importance of the United States as one of the UAE's major trading partners, it is also important for foreign companies to be aware of the possibility of enforcing a UAE judgment in a US court.

Currently, the US is not a signatory to any treaty or convention that would allow the enforcement of a UAE court judgment in the US. Additionally, there is presently no US federal law or act governing the enforcement of foreign judgments¹ in US courts. However, there are many instances in which a UAE judgment may still be enforceable in the US either through common law or, where available, statutory law.