Home 9 FAQs

FAQs

When was Al Gharib Law firm founded?

We were founded on June 1st, 2002 and been in existence for over 15 years now.

Where are your offices located?
We have two centrally located offices in the UAE. Besides this, we also have a network of international offices through our global partners.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Is there parking available?
There is municipality parking available outside the building. Please call us before your appointment so we can guide you or send GPS location coordinates over SMS/What’s App.
If you are new to the UAE, unsure of the directions, concerned about traffic or parking, you can reach our centrally located offices using Uber, Careem, Dubai Metro or a RTA public taxi.
What are your working hours?
Sunday to Thursday (5 days a week) from 9 AM to 5 PM. Friday, Saturday and public holidays we are closed. In the case of an emergency, you can reach the concerned Advocate in our team.
What are your practice areas?
We provide end-to-end practice that covers all key legal services for all major sectors. Our practice areas include: Civil law, Art & Intellectual Property (IP) law, Corporate, Business & Commercial law, Criminal law, Employment & Labour law, Energy law (Oil & Gas), Family law, M&A, Sports law, Real estate law, Litigation, arbitration and Tax
What are your charges per hour?
It depends on the client requirements. We have an initial legal consultation fee to understand your case and needs. Based on that, we provide legal service agreement that clearly outlines the terms and conditions, scope of work, fixed costs, per hour costs and additional expenses for example translation, courier, etc.
I am an expatriate. Can your firm help?
UAE is home to over 206 nationalities. It’s no surprise, we have a diverse client base of UAE citizens, expatriates and overseas companies from major countries.
I am not based in the UAE. Can your firm help?
We understand the client may not be a permanent resident of UAE or if they cannot travel to visit the UAE. In such cases, we are available over video conferencing, conference call, and email. Based on the client’s location we also liaison with our representative offices and partner locations who are present in major countries.
Does Al Gharib Law Firm guarantee results?
No legal firm or advisor can guarantee results as each client is different. We also do not guarantee a similar case will get the same result as the circumstances and outcomes vary. Please note, that we share results at our discretion, therefore, while many case studies, examples, references or testimonials on the site or during consultation are average results, others are notable for their exceptional outcomes.
I want to apply for a job?
Thank you for considering us. Please send your resume with cover letter to info@alghariblawfirm.com. Based on the availability, vacancy and merit of your application our HR team will contact you.
Do you offer legal translation, interpreting, proof-reading, typing, notary etc?
Yes, we do directly and via our affiliates licensed by the Ministry of Justice. We provide legal translation, proof-reading, interpreting, notarial and related services of documents in all major languages issued by embassies, consulates or UAE governmental authorities (For e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Labour, Immigration, Justice, Education, Health etc). These services are charged extra based on the scope of work.
Do you handle criminal, corporate, or any kind of cases?
Yes, we handle all kinds of cases across practice areas, sectors, and verticals. Please refer to our Practice areas on the menu above.
What are your payment methods?
Cash (AED), credit card (Visa/Mastercard), bank transfer for consulting, case or court fees.
What Nationality are your lawyers?
We have lawyers from the UAE, UK, US, India, France Sudan, Syria, Egypt, Yemen and Algeria. All our lawyers are qualified, licensed, with relevant UAE and international experience. Based on the client requirement, availability, we appoint the most suitable lawyer for the case.
Does your firm offers pro-bono (free of charge) cases?
We do so only for specific cases related to NGOs, public awareness, charity, humanitarian as part of our CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives.
How many kind of courts are in the UAE?
The UAE has four courts: civil, personal, commercial, administrative and special courts for instance for media related issues.
What is the source or basis of UAE legislation?
Contrary to popular perception, Sharia (which means the ‘right path’) is not the primary source of legislation, but one of the sources. The application of Sharia is mostly confined to personal laws. The UAE is influenced by the French, Roman and Egyptian systems with best practices drawn.
Are there any distinguishing features of the UAE legal system?
Yes, the co-existence of parallel judicial systems. The UAE has a federal judicial system with a Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal and Court of Cassation. However, this is followed only by the four Emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) have their own independent judicial systems parallel to the Federal system. All the courts have three different branches, to deal with civil, criminal and personal matters (Sharia courts).
What is the normal court procedure for any cases?
The UAE courts follow non-adherence to precedence (i.e. adopting previous judgements of higher courts as binding). Though the lowers courts generally follow the Cassation Courts’ judgements, there is no legal obligation to do so. Each case is decided on its own merits. The co-existence of parallel judicial systems also plays a role here. There have been instances where the courts of different Emirates adopting different approach on similar matters.
There are also no witness examinations or discovery of documents. The pleadings submitted by the parties have a vital role in the outcome of the dispute. This means that the choice of the right law firm that has professional experience, subject expertise and understanding of the local culture is essential.
I don't speak, write, understand or read Arabic?
The UAE has more than 206 nationalities and is rich in diversity. All our lawyers are bi-lingual i.e. English and native Arabic speakers. We also have an extensive network of interpreters and translators. Do note, the official language of the UAE is Arabic so all court proceedings are conducted in Arabic. Accordingly, the parties to a litigation are required to translate all documents into Arabic, which we can assist in.
What is the normal time frame for dispute resolution?
It really depends on the case. It’s a short time frame within which disputes are resolved by the courts. The courts are encouraged (in certain Emirates, instructed) to have hearings in no later than two weeks, to facilitate a speedy adjudication. In some cases, arbitration, conciliation or mediation are recommended to expedite the process and resolve the matter.
What is the common law compliant court?
UAE follows a civil law system – it also has a judicial body that administers justice under the common law system. For e.g., the courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) follow common law system and their jurisdiction is extended to hear disputes between parties, outside DIFC.
Does the UAE have alternate dispute resolution like some countries?
Yes, with the presence of Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the DIFC-London Court of International Arbitration (DIFC-LCIA). To help investors resolve their disputes, certain government departments (e.g. Dubai Department of Economic Development) have started mediating its members’ disputes. The Small Claims Tribunal attached to the DIFC permits parties to choose its jurisdiction to resolve their disputes.
What's the difference between criminal and civil law in the UAE?
Civil Law vs Criminal Law follow similar principles of distinguishment. According to William Geldart, (D.C.M. Yardley ed., 9th ed. 1984),”Civil law seeks to redress and criminal law on punishment. The object of civil law is the redress of wrongs by compensation or restitution: the wrongdoer is not punished; only suffers so much harm as is necessary to make good the wrong done. The person who suffered gets a benefit from the law, or at least he/she avoids a loss.
In the case of criminal law, the objective is to punish the wrongdoer; to give a strong inducement not to commit same or similar crimes, to reform if possible and perhaps to satisfy the public sense that wrongdoing ought to meet with retribution. Examples include burglary, assault, rape, battery, homicide (murder), while civil law applies to cases of negligence or malpractice.