Account just frozen or a deadline running? Call +971 4 570 0204 rather than waiting for a reply to a form.
Account frozen, guarantee called or the bank suing you? Why it was frozen decides the response. We help individuals and businesses understand the basis for the freeze and the realistic options.
Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
If your bank account has been frozen, the first job of a lawyer is to find out who froze it and why, because a court order, a creditor's claim and a bank's own compliance review each need a different response. MBM acts for individuals and businesses facing a frozen account, a called guarantee, a loan default, a letter of credit dispute or a bank claim. Your first consultation is free and confidential. If it is urgent, call now: +971 4 570 0204.
You do not have to work this out alone, and you will always know where your matter stands. Not every freeze needs a lawyer. If the bank has simply asked you to update your identity documents, send them first and ask for the reason in writing. A lawyer helps when a court or authority is involved, when the bank will not explain, when money is time-critical or when a claim or default is behind it.
Frozen accounts are the most common reason people contact us, but they are one of several bank disputes. Choose the card that matches yours.
Whether it is a court order, a creditor's attachment or a bank compliance action, we establish the basis first. See which kind of freeze is it. First we check: the bank's letter or notice, who gave the instruction and what is time-critical. Talk to us about a frozen account
A claim has been filed or threatened. Understanding the deadline and the merits is the priority. See bank suing me. First we check: the claim, the response deadline and any related freeze or security. Talk to us about a bank claim
Disputing a declared default, or negotiating before enforcement. See loan default lawyer in Dubai. First we check: the facility terms, the default notice and your payment history. Talk to us about a loan default
A bank guarantee has been called or you are worried it will be. See bank guarantees and letters of credit. First we check: the wording of the guarantee, the demand and the underlying contract. Talk to us about a called guarantee
Disputes about document compliance or a refusal to pay. See letter of credit disputes. First we check: the credit terms, the presented documents and the refusal notice. Talk to us about a letter of credit
Disputes involving several lenders and a facility agent. See syndicated loan disputes. First we check: your role in the facility, the agreement terms and the forum clause. Talk to us about a syndicated loan
Someone in Dubai can act for you with a power of attorney. See acting from abroad. First we check: where you are, what the agent must do and how soon the document is needed. Talk to us about acting from abroad
Renegotiating before things go wrong is a separate service. See banking and finance lawyer. First we check: the facility, the cash-flow position and what your lender has said so far. Talk to us about restructuring
Why the account was frozen decides the response. UAE banks operate under the oversight of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), and the two most common routes to a frozen account are a court-ordered precautionary attachment connected to a civil claim against the account holder, and a bank-initiated compliance freeze under the bank's own regulatory obligations. The two require entirely different responses. The table below breaks the common causes down further.
| Cause | What it often looks like | Who decides whether it is lifted | First step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court order or precautionary attachment connected to a civil claim | A bank letter that mentions a court order, or a claim by a creditor | The court. A formal application can sometimes be made to lift or vary it | Get a copy of the order and identify the claim and any deadline |
| Enforcement of a judgment or payment order | The bank says an enforcement file exists against you | As we understand it, the execution judge or the creditor, depending on the order. We establish who issued the instruction | Identify the creditor and the amount, then consider settlement or a challenge |
| Criminal complaint or investigation | A notice that refers to a complaint or an authority | As we understand it, Public Prosecution or the court, whichever issued the instruction. We establish which one | Speak to a lawyer before giving any statement. See criminal lawyer in Dubai |
| Bank compliance review, including expired or missing documents | The bank asks for documents or an explanation of transactions or of the source of funds | The bank, through its compliance department, generally after the documents it asks for are supplied | Ask for the request in writing, supply documents and ask for a timeline |
| Sanctions or screening match | The bank refers to international or regulatory screening | The bank, based on its own screening. As we understand it, its decision can be challenged in court. We establish the basis first | Take legal advice before replying in detail |
| Dormant or inactive account | The account is marked dormant or restricted for inactivity | The bank, under its dormant-account rules | Contact the bank with updated details and identification |
This is a general guide. Many freezes involve more than one cause, and the same bank letter can describe different things in different cases. Do not guess. The first step is to establish the exact basis. Who can lift a freeze, and how, depends on the facts, so we confirm the current position at your first consultation.
One point worth knowing if a creditor froze the account: a precautionary attachment reportedly lapses if the main claim is not filed within 8 days (Civil Procedure Law, Articles 247 to 251, as we understand it). We check the dates on the order before anything else, because this can affect the response.
To unfreeze a bank account in Dubai, we establish the basis, then choose the realistic route. Where a court order sits behind the freeze, that usually means working out what the underlying claim is and whether a formal application to the court is appropriate. Where the bank has acted under its own compliance obligations, it generally means engaging directly with the bank's compliance department alongside legal advice. Where a criminal matter is involved, the order of steps matters even more.
What we handle:
No. A freeze restricts access to funds already in the account, usually pending a legal process or a compliance review, while closure ends the banking relationship entirely. The two can occur together but raise different issues.
If the issue is how the bank has handled your account, rather than a court order, the Central Bank of the UAE has a consumer complaints route. Check the Central Bank's website for how it works. If the bank's final answer does not resolve it, you can bring a complaint to the Central Bank's Sanadak service, which is described as free to use, with a reported six-month window after the bank's final answer; ask us about timing. A complaint does not replace legal advice where money or a claim is involved.
Not sure which kind of freeze you have? Send us the bank letter or notice. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
Banking disputes move quickly, so the process is built around establishing the basis first and acting on the right route second.
A free, confidential first consultation by phone, WhatsApp or at our Dubai or Sharjah office. Tell us what has happened, what is time-critical and what notices you hold. Send photos of any notice if that is faster.
We identify precisely what order, notice or contractual provision sits behind the bank's action before advising on next steps.
You receive a written scope and fee position before you instruct us, so you know what is covered before any paid work starts.
Where negotiation with the bank's compliance or credit team is the fastest route, we engage directly rather than defaulting to litigation.
Where a court-ordered freeze or a claim requires a formal application or a defence, we prepare and file it.
We represent you through to resolution: a lifted freeze, a resolved guarantee dispute or a defended claim. No outcome is promised.
A loan default lawyer in Dubai helps you decide whether a declared default can be disputed, negotiated or managed before the bank takes enforcement action. It matters what the loan agreement says, what the bank says happened and what you can show. Whether a genuine dispute exists depends on the loan agreement and the circumstances of the alleged default.
In some circumstances a business can dispute a loan default declared by its bank, for example where the default is disputed on the facts or where the bank's own conduct is in question. We start with the facility agreement, the default notice, the payment history and the correspondence, and tell you honestly whether there is something to argue.
What we check and handle:
Many borrowers are better served by a negotiated outcome than a contested one. Rescheduling, additional security or a settlement can be possible where both sides see a workable route. If you are a business still before default, see restructuring before default. If a debt has already turned into a claim or an enforcement file, our debt recovery page explains payment orders and enforcement from the other side.
As we understand it, a lender that is owed money can seek a payment order and then enforcement through the execution process. A travel ban can follow where the debt is above a reported AED 10,000 threshold (Civil Procedure Law, Article 324). These points depend on the amount, the court and the current law, so tell us the figures and what notices you have received, and we confirm the position with you.
We can move faster when you can show the facility letter, the security and guarantee documents, any default notice, a statement of the account and all correspondence. Do not wait to assemble everything before calling.
A bank guarantee is typically payable on demand under its own terms, which makes it difficult to stop once called, so speed matters. Letters of credit are commonly issued subject to the ICC's UCP 600 rules, and demand guarantees can be subject to the ICC's rules for demand guarantees, as we understand it, so the first thing we read is which rules the document says apply.
We assess whether grounds exist to challenge a call, for example fraud or a clear breach of the underlying agreement, and advise on the realistic options quickly, since these matters move fast. Whether any ground exists depends on the wording of the guarantee and the facts.
If a call has been made or threatened, send us the guarantee, the demand and the underlying contract. We look at the wording of the guarantee, who called it and whether the demand complies with its terms. We also need to know the commercial background, such as who the beneficiary is and what is in dispute under the main contract.
A letter of credit dispute lawyer in Dubai deals with technical, document-driven disputes. They typically arise over whether presented documents comply with the credit's terms, or over a bank's refusal to pay or release funds. A letter of credit dispute needs close reading of the credit terms and the underlying trade documents, because small discrepancies can decide the outcome.
What we handle:
If your bank has filed a claim against you or your business, the immediate priority is to understand the deadline and the merits. Banking claims are often well documented and move through the courts efficiently, so early advice on the merits and any available defence matters.
People in this position often search "bank suing me Dubai lawyer". When a client tells us the bank is suing them, we start with three questions: what is claimed and on what basis, what is the response deadline and what is the status of any related freeze, guarantee or security. We then advise on whether to defend, negotiate or do both. Whatever the claim is called, the response is easier to manage when it is prepared early and the documents are complete.
What we handle:
A claim by a bank is one kind of banking dispute. It often comes with a freeze on the account, a declared default or a called guarantee, and it helps to deal with them together rather than one at a time. Tell us everything you have received from the bank, even if it looks unrelated, and we map how the pieces connect.
Syndicated facility disputes often involve multiple lenders and a facility agent, and typically turn on the specific terms of the syndicated loan agreement and the arrangements between the lenders. If you are a borrower, a guarantor or a member of a syndicate, we review the documents and the roles before advising, including which forum the agreement chooses.
What we handle:
Banking matters are heard in different places depending on the cause, and knowing where yours will go shapes the plan. This is a plain-English map, not a prediction.
If you live outside the UAE, a power of attorney may let someone in Dubai deal with the bank, the court and a lawyer for you. It must be worded so that the bank and the court will accept it, and it often needs notarisation, translation and further steps before it can be used. See our pages on power of attorney notarisation in Dubai and notary public in Dubai. Tell us where you are and what the deadline is, and we explain the route before you spend anything.
If the matter is urgent, call first and do not wait to gather documents. When you can, these items help us establish the basis quickly.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. If you decide to instruct us, we give you a written scope and fee position before you instruct us, so you know what is covered before any paid work starts.
Cost depends on the nature and urgency of the matter. Court fees, translation costs and other third-party charges are separate from legal fees, and we explain which of them are likely to apply. Because every banking matter is different, we do not publish a price list. Ask at your first consultation and we will answer directly.
Account frozen, guarantee called or a bank claim on your desk? Send us the notice and we will tell you where you stand. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
The first days of a freeze are when avoidable mistakes happen, usually because people are anxious and acting without the full picture.
Banking disputes are decided on the documents and on timing, and the first days often matter most. You do not have to work this out alone: we take the legal work off your shoulders and you will always know where your matter stands. MBM's approach is practical and document-led.
Your free first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah. Banking matters are handled in confidence from the first call.
Founder & Managing Partner
Mohamed Badr leads MBM and has 17 years of legal experience. His career has included roles at law firms and multinational corporations in the UAE, advising businesses on high-stakes disputes, corporate restructuring and commercial litigation.
Names and titles as published on mbm-co.com. Your first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah.
General information about frozen accounts and banking disputes in the UAE. It is not legal advice. Positions and procedures can change and depend on your specific facts, so please contact MBM directly to discuss yours.
First establish why the account was frozen: a court order, a precautionary attachment connected to a civil claim, or a bank-initiated compliance action each require a different response. MBM reviews the freeze order or bank notice and advises on the fastest realistic route to having it lifted or challenged. Your first consultation is free.
Ask the bank in writing for the reason and the source of the instruction, and keep the reply. Check your post and email for any court or enforcement notice. If the bank will not say, or the notice mentions an authority, send it to us and we will help identify who issued the instruction and what it means.
It depends on the basis for the freeze. Where it stems from a precautionary attachment connected to a civil claim, a formal application can sometimes be made to have it lifted or varied. Where it is a bank-initiated compliance freeze, the process is different and generally involves engaging directly with the bank's compliance department alongside legal advice. We do not promise timelines.
Common general reasons include a court or authority instruction, a compliance review by the bank, expired or missing documents and unusual activity that the bank wants explained. The bank often cannot or will not give much detail at first, so the practical step is to ask in writing and take advice on what to say.
The route depends on what sits behind the freeze, such as an enforcement file, a complaint or the bank's own review. As we understand it, since the 2022 changes a returned cheque is generally a civil matter that can be enforced directly through the Execution Court, and criminal liability remains only in specified cases such as fraud or bad faith. The position depends on the facts, so we confirm it at your first consultation. Start by getting the notice or letter that explains the freeze. We then advise on whether settlement, a challenge or engagement with the bank is the realistic route. See also bounced cheque lawyer in Dubai.
Banks routinely ask customers to update identification and supporting documents. Which documents are needed depends on the bank and the type of account, so ask the bank in writing what it requires and by when. If the bank does not respond or the restriction continues after you have supplied everything, we can help.
A court-ordered precautionary attachment connected to a civil claim against the account holder is one of the common routes by which an account is frozen. As we understand it, a precautionary attachment reportedly lapses if the main claim is not filed within 8 days (Civil Procedure Law, Articles 247 to 251). Whether it applies in a particular case depends on the claim and the court's order, so send us what you have received and we will explain where you stand.
If the issue is how the bank has handled your account, the Central Bank of the UAE has a consumer complaints route, and its website explains how it works. If the bank's final answer does not resolve it, you can bring a complaint to the Central Bank's Sanadak service, which is described as free to use, with a reported six-month window after the bank's final answer; ask us about timing. That route is not a substitute for legal advice where a court order, a claim or a substantial sum is involved.
A restriction may stay in place until the body that ordered it confirms its release to the bank, or until the bank finishes its own review, so a closed case does not always lift it automatically. As we understand it, the release can pass from the court to the Central Bank and then to your bank, which is one reason it can take time. Ask for the release document and give it to the bank. We can help chase the release if it is delayed.
No. A freeze restricts access to funds already in the account, usually pending a legal process or compliance review, while account closure ends the banking relationship entirely. The two can occur together but raise different issues.
A bank guarantee is typically payable on demand under its own terms, which makes it difficult to stop once called. Letters of credit are commonly issued subject to the ICC's UCP 600 rules, and demand guarantees can be subject to the ICC's rules for demand guarantees, as we understand it. MBM assesses whether there are grounds to challenge the call, for example fraud or a clear breach of the underlying agreement, and advises on the realistic options quickly, since these matters move fast.
Have the claim reviewed as soon as possible and confirm the response deadline. Banking claims are often well documented and move through the courts efficiently, so early advice on the merits and any available defence matters.
In some circumstances, yes. For example where the default is disputed on the facts or where the bank's own conduct is in question. Whether a genuine dispute exists depends on the loan agreement and the circumstances of the alleged default. If the dispute is not resolved, a lender can generally seek a payment order and enforcement, and as we understand it a travel ban can follow where the debt is above a reported AED 10,000 threshold (Civil Procedure Law, Article 324).
Often settlement discussions remain possible alongside a claim, and a negotiated outcome can sometimes be better than a contested one. What is realistic depends on the facility, the amount, your position and the bank's. We advise on whether to negotiate, defend or do both.
Letter of credit disputes typically arise over whether presented documents comply with the credit's terms, or over a bank's refusal to pay or release funds. They are technical, document-driven disputes that require close reading of the credit terms and the underlying trade documents.
Yes. Syndicated facility disputes often involve multiple lenders and a facility agent, and typically turn on the specific terms of the syndicated loan agreement and the arrangements between the lenders.
Often yes, if someone in Dubai can act for you under a power of attorney that the bank and the court will accept. It may need notarisation, translation and further steps first, so start early. See our page on power of attorney notarisation.
As soon as possible. A frozen account can affect payroll, supplier payments and day-to-day operations immediately, and understanding the basis for the freeze early affects what options remain realistic.
Cost depends on the nature and urgency of the matter. MBM provides a written scope and fee position before you instruct us, and court fees and other third-party charges are separate. The first consultation is free.
Yes. MBM's first consultation is free and confidential. It is a discussion of what has happened and what your options are. If you then choose to instruct MBM, we confirm the scope and the fee in writing before any paid work starts.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. Tell us briefly what has happened. A member of MBM’s legal team will review your enquiry and come back to you with the appropriate next step.
If your account has just been frozen or a deadline is running, please call rather than waiting for a reply. You can also send the freeze notice, bank letter or claim as a photo on WhatsApp.
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Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
Your first consultation is free and confidential. Whether it is a frozen account, a called guarantee or a bank claim, the earlier we understand the basis, the sooner you know the realistic options. Call +971 4 570 0204 or send the notice on WhatsApp.
