Vessel arrested, or about to be? Every day a ship is held costs money. Call before you arrange security or respond to the arrest.
Ship arrest, cargo claims, charterparty and bill of lading disputes, marine insurance and crew wages, handled under the current UAE Maritime Law.
Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
If your vessel has been arrested, or you need to arrest one to secure a claim, a maritime lawyer in Dubai can explain where you stand and what to do first, because a held ship costs money every day. Our maritime lawyers in Dubai represent shipowners, operators, charterers, cargo interests and seafarers in ship arrest, cargo, charterparty, bill of lading, collision and marine insurance matters, under the UAE Maritime Law that took effect in March 2024. Your first consultation is free and confidential. You do not have to work this out alone: we explain each step in plain English and make sure you always know where the matter stands.
If a vessel has just been arrested. Call +971 4 570 0204 as early as you can. Tell us the vessel's name, where it is, who obtained the order and which claim is relied on. You can also send the arrest order on WhatsApp.
Pick the situation closest to yours. Each card says what we look at first.
An arrest order has been served on your ship. First we check: which maritime debt is relied on, the security options and the daily cost of the vessel being held. See ship arrest step by step, or talk to us about an arrest.
You are owed money and want security from a ship. First we check: whether the claim falls within the defined maritime debts, your documents and the security you must provide. See arresting a vessel, or talk to us about securing a claim.
Cargo was damaged, lost, short-delivered or contaminated. First we check: the bill of lading, the charterparty and the evidence of the loss. See cargo claims, or talk to us about a cargo claim.
Hire, laytime, demurrage, off-hire or the vessel's performance is in dispute. First we check: the charterparty clauses, the voyage records and the dispute clause. See charterparty disputes, or talk to us about a charterparty.
The terms, delivery or validity of a bill of lading is disputed. First we check: the bill itself, who holds it and the underlying contract. See bill of lading disputes, or talk to us about a bill of lading.
A collision claim, or a marine insurance claim has been denied. First we check: the policy terms, the casualty facts and the notice given. See marine insurance and collision claims, or talk to us about a claim.
Wages are owed to crew on a vessel. First we check: the contract, the wage records and where the vessel is. See seafarer wage claims, or talk to us about unpaid wages.
Federal Decree-Law No. 43 of 2023, effective 29 March 2024, replaced the 1981 Maritime Commercial Law and substantially overhauled ship-arrest procedure. A vessel can be arrested for one of 22 defined categories of maritime debt set out in Article 53, covering matters from unpaid charter hire to cargo claims and crew wages. The arresting party must provide security, and the law now expressly accepts a P&I Club Letter of Undertaking as a route to lifting the arrest.
Because this legislation is recent, content still referring to the superseded 1981 law is out of date. We therefore work from the current law and check the position for the vessel and the claim in front of us. This page describes the general framework. It is not advice on your matter.
| Type of claim | May it support an arrest? | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid charter hire | It may, if it falls within a defined maritime debt | The charterparty and the hire statements |
| Cargo damage, loss or short delivery | It may, if it falls within a defined maritime debt | The bill of lading and the evidence of loss |
| Collision damage | It may, if it falls within a defined maritime debt | The facts of the collision and the parties |
| Unpaid crew wages | In some circumstances it may | The crew contracts and the wage records |
Whether a particular claim qualifies depends on its nature and the facts. A claim that sounds large but falls outside the defined categories cannot be turned into an arrest by the size of the amount.
The steps differ depending on whether you are the owner whose vessel is held or the creditor who wants security. We act for either.
An arrest is a serious step with cost and consequences for the other side, so it needs a properly founded claim. We guide you through the process in the order below.
We check the claim against the defined categories of maritime debt in Article 53. If it does not qualify, we say so before any application.
Charterparty or bill of lading, invoices, hire statements or wage records, and vessel details. A company based abroad may also need a power of attorney, see below.
We prepare and file the application and supporting documents.
The arresting party must provide security. As we understand it, that security (Art. 56) covers a wrongful-arrest indemnity and crew and upkeep costs. We explain what this involves for your claim before you apply.
The arrest secures the claim. The dispute is then decided in court or arbitration, depending on the contract.
The priority is to identify the claim, then secure the vessel's release as fast as acceptable security allows.
Which of the 22 categories is relied on, and whether the arrest is properly founded.
A cash deposit versus a P&I Club Letter of Undertaking. The law now expressly accepts a Letter of Undertaking.
Charter hire, crew, fuel and off-hire exposure while the vessel is held.
The charterparty, bill of lading or other basis of the claim.
As quickly as acceptable security can be arranged, and challenge the arrest where it is not properly founded.
Time limits can apply after an arrest order is made, so tell us the date and time it was issued. We confirm the current time limits for your case and do not rely on figures from older or secondary sources.
These are the further points that often arise. As we understand it, they are as follows, and requirements change, so we confirm the current position at your first consultation.
A company based outside the UAE usually has to authorise lawyers to act by a power of attorney, and one that must be notarised, attested or legalised can take weeks to arrange, so start it before you need it. We prepare and check the document and arrange notarisation; MBM does not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation. See our power of attorney notarisation page.
Vessel held, or need to arrest one to secure a claim? Call us with the vessel name and the claim, and we will tell you what to check first. Your first consultation is free.
Beyond ship arrest, the same team handles the shipping disputes that usually sit behind it. Where a claim could also support an arrest, we look at both together.
We act where goods carried by sea are damaged, lost, short-delivered or contaminated. These claims turn on the bill of lading, the charterparty (if any) and the carrier's obligations under the applicable law and contract. A cargo claim must generally be brought within one year of delivery, so do not wait. For wider money claims see our civil lawyer page.
What we handle:
We deal with disputes between owners and charterers over hire, laytime, demurrage, off-hire events or the condition and performance of the vessel. The contract is also written as "charter party", so a search for a "charter party dispute lawyer Dubai" leads to the same work and the same clauses. These disputes are resolved by reference to the specific charterparty terms, including its dispute clause. General contract principles are covered on our contract dispute lawyer page.
What we handle:
We advise carriers, shippers and consignees on disputes about the terms, delivery obligations or validity of a bill of lading.
What we handle:
We advise on disputes over cover, claim denials and the interpretation of marine insurance policies after a casualty, a collision or a cargo loss.
What we handle:
After a collision between vessels, the claim turns on the facts of the casualty, the policy terms and the notice given. We act in pursuing or defending collision claims, and we look at the insurance position together with the claim itself.
What we handle:
We help crew members recover unpaid wages. Depending on the circumstances, unpaid crew wages can also support an arrest of the vessel under the maritime debt categories, in addition to any direct claim against the employer.
What we handle:
Maritime matters are usually heard in court or in arbitration, depending on what the contract says, with the arrest working as security in either case. This is a plain-English map.
| Stage | Who is involved | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest or release | The court with jurisdiction, with the parties' security | The order is made, challenged or lifted. See civil litigation |
| The underlying claim | The court or an arbitral tribunal, as the contract provides | The dispute about cargo, hire, the bill of lading or insurance is decided. See arbitration |
| Security and cover | P&I Clubs and insurers | Letters of Undertaking and the handling of the claim |
| Enforcement | Execution and enforcement departments | A judgment or award is carried out |
If your contract has an arbitration clause, the merits of the dispute may have to be decided in arbitration even though the arrest was ordered by the court. We check the clause before any step is taken.
Ship arrest matters are urgent, so these steps are fast and practical. We agree the scope and fee in writing before paid work begins.
You call or message us with the vessel and the claim. We tell you where you stand under the current law. The first consultation is free and confidential.
We identify which maritime debt category is relied on and whether the arrest is properly founded, or whether your claim qualifies.
For an owner, we coordinate acceptable security, including a P&I Club Letter of Undertaking where available. For a creditor, we explain the security you must provide.
We set out the route, the steps and the fee in writing before paid work begins.
Cargo, charterparty, collision or insurance disputes are resolved on their own merits, separately from the arrest itself.
From the first call through a lifted arrest or secured claim to the resolution of the underlying dispute. Litigation and arbitration are handled by the same team.
If a vessel has just been arrested, call first and do not wait to gather documents.
The 2023 and 2024 overhaul of UAE maritime law is recent enough that outdated advice is a real risk, so we work from the current law and move at the speed these matters demand.
Rated 4.9 on Google reviews. MBM is a founder-led team, led by Mohamed Badr with 17 years of legal experience, with litigation and arbitration handled by the same team and offices in Dubai and Sharjah. For anyone who searched for a "shipping lawyer Dubai", that means one team from the first call to the end of the dispute, plain-language advice and a written scope and fee before paid work starts. MBM works with group companies in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf, which helps when a matter has an international side. That is useful when owners, charterers or cargo interests are based abroad, or when a shipping company's shareholders and structure also raise corporate and commercial questions.
We work from Federal Decree-Law No. 43 of 2023, not the superseded 1981 law, and explain it without jargon.
We act for owners and for creditors, which gives a practical view of how an arrest is built and answered.
Ship arrest enquiries are treated as urgent. You can send documents by WhatsApp.
MBM has offices in Dubai (Dubai Media City) and Sharjah (Al Khalidiya). If your matter involves another emirate, tell us at the first consultation.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. If you decide to instruct us, we give you a scope and a fee position in writing before paid work starts, so you know what is covered.
The cost depends on the nature and urgency of the matter, and security, court fees and translation costs are separate from legal fees and depend on the case. Because every maritime matter is different, we do not publish a price list. Ask at your first consultation and we will answer directly.
A vessel held, or a shipping claim to secure? Tell us the vessel and the claim. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
Your free first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah. Arrest enquiries are treated as urgent, and you can call us or send the documents on WhatsApp.
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, not advice on your matter. Positions and procedures can change and depend on your specific facts.
Contact a maritime lawyer straight away. Under the UAE Maritime Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 43 of 2023), the arresting party must provide security, and the law now expressly accepts P&I Club Letters of Undertaking as a route to lifting an arrest, which can be a faster option than a cash deposit. Your first consultation with MBM is free.
The claim must fall within the defined categories of maritime debt in Article 53, and the arresting party must provide security. We check the claim, prepare the application and papers and explain the security involved before you apply. See ship arrest step by step.
The Maritime Law sets out 22 defined categories of maritime debt under Article 53 that can support an arrest, covering matters such as unpaid charter hire, cargo claims, collision damage and crew wages, among others. Whether a specific claim qualifies depends on its nature and the facts.
It depends on how quickly acceptable security can be arranged. The law now expressly accepts a P&I Club Letter of Undertaking, which can often be arranged faster than a cash deposit. We do not promise a timescale, but we act as soon as we are instructed.
Time limits can apply after an arrest, and sources do not always agree on them, so we do not quote a number here. Tell us when the order was made and we will confirm the limits that apply from the current law.
An owner can examine whether the arrest was properly founded, starting with whether the claim falls within a defined maritime debt. Whether a challenge is worth making depends on the facts, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Federal Decree-Law No. 43 of 2023, effective 29 March 2024, replaced the 1981 Maritime Commercial Law and substantially overhauled ship-arrest procedure and other maritime provisions. Advice that still refers to the 1981 law may be out of date.
Cargo claims involve damage, loss, short delivery or contamination of goods carried by sea, and turn on the bill of lading, the charterparty (if any) and the carrier's obligations under the applicable law and contract. A cargo claim must generally be brought within one year of delivery, so seek advice promptly.
A charterparty dispute arises between a shipowner and a charterer over hire, laytime, demurrage, off-hire events or the vessel's condition and performance. It is resolved by reference to the specific charterparty terms, including the dispute clause.
Yes, including disputes over cover, claim denials and the interpretation of marine insurance policy terms following a casualty, a collision or a cargo loss.
Seafarer wage claims can, depending on the circumstances, support a basis for arresting the vessel under the maritime debt categories in the Maritime Law, in addition to any direct claim against the employer.
We check the claim against the defined categories of maritime debt, deal with the security, and prepare the arrest application or the response to an arrest. The underlying dispute is then pursued or defended in court or arbitration. See ship arrest step by step.
Tell us which vessels were involved and where the collision happened. MBM has offices in Dubai and Sharjah, and if your matter involves another emirate we say so at the first consultation. See collision claims.
They describe the same kind of work: a disagreement over goods carried by sea. We start with the bill of lading, the charterparty (if any) and the evidence of the loss. See cargo claims.
"Admiralty" is a term some countries use for maritime law. On this page the work is ship arrest, cargo, charterparty, bill of lading, collision, marine insurance and crew matters under the UAE Maritime Law, so describe your situation and we will tell you whether we can help.
Port problems often come down to a vessel, cargo, hire or bill of lading question, which are the matters described on this page. Tell us what happened and which port, and we will say at the first consultation whether it falls within what we handle.
It can be, if the contract so provides. The arrest can work as security while the merits are decided in arbitration. We check the arbitration clause first. See arbitration.
A company based abroad usually needs to authorise lawyers by a power of attorney, and one that must be notarised, attested or legalised can take weeks. Start it early. MBM prepares the document and arranges notarisation, but does not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation. See our power of attorney notarisation page.
The cost depends on the nature and urgency of the matter. MBM gives you a scope and a fee position in writing before you instruct us. Security and court fees are separate.
Yes. MBM's first consultation is free and confidential. It is a discussion of your vessel or claim and your options. If you then choose to instruct MBM, we give you a scope and a fee position before 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 a vessel has just been arrested, please call rather than waiting for a reply to this form. You can send the arrest order, charterparty or bill of lading on WhatsApp.
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Sharjah · Office 2001, Level 20, Al Hind Tower, Al Khalidiya District
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. Tell us which vessel, which claim and where it stands, and we will explain what the current UAE Maritime Law means for you and what to do first.
