How Much Does an Off-Plan Dispute Cost in Dubai?
- Gather your SPA, payment receipts, Oqood or title registration, and all developer correspondence.
- Calculate your realistic claim value, because fees scale from it.
- Check your SPA dispute-resolution clause to see whether it forces you into arbitration or the Dubai Courts.
- Confirm whether your project has been cancelled or stalled (fee-exempt Special Tribunal).
- Request an early fixed-fee case assessment before committing to a full retainer.
- Government court fees capped at AED 40,000 for claims above AED 1 million.
- The court-appointed expert phase adds roughly 3 to 6 months and AED 15,000 to AED 30,000.
- DIAC arbitration is materially more expensive because fees scale with claim value.
- The Special Tribunal (Decree 33/2020) is fee-exempt but only for cancelled or unfinished projects.
- Settling before pleadings open recovers 50% of your court fee (Article 12, Law 21/2015).
- The winning party recovers court and expert fees but only a nominal lawyer-fee award (AED 1,000 to AED 2,000).
If you are weighing whether to take on your developer, you are probably trying to work out whether the cost is worth it. This guide sets out the real numbers across four routes. Before you file, read your contract; our SPA clauses guide explains which terms decide your route.
What are the three cost buckets?
Government fees
(fixed by statute),
expert fees
(set by the court-appointed expert, effectively non-negotiable), and
lawyer fees
(contractual, negotiable). Only the third is within your control.
How much are the Dubai Courts fees?
Dubai Law No. 21 of 2015, Article 14 (as amended by Law 2/2019): 6% of claim value, capped at AED 20,000 (up to AED 500,000), AED 30,000 (up to AED 1 million), or AED 40,000 (above AED 1 million). Appeal: 50% of first-instance fee. Precautionary attachment: 50% of main action fee. Execution: 2% capped at AED 5,000.
Extra costs on top of the filing fee
- Arabic translation. AED 80-150 per page. Document-heavy case: AED 5,000-15,000.
- Execution fee. 2% capped at AED 5,000.
- Travel ban. AED 1,000 first-instance (Schedule 1). AED 300 execution stage. Requires AED 10,000 minimum debt.
- Precautionary attachment. 50% of main action fee.
If you over-claim and win only part, the court can make you bear the 6% fee on the unrecovered portion. Set your claim value realistically.
Why is the court-appointed expert the biggest surprise?
The expert phase typically adds 3 to 6 months and AED 15,000 to AED 30,000. Published ranges run from AED 5,000 (simple review) to over AED 90,000 (large construction dispute). Since August 2025, Dubai Courts assess expert fees against Decision No. 210 of 2025 (Guideline for Estimating Experts’ Fees). The fee is recoverable from the losing party at judgment.
How much does DIAC arbitration cost?
Registration: USD 3,000. Administrative: approx. USD 15,400. Arbitrator: USD 15,400-38,000. Total: roughly AED 124,000-207,000 before VAT, tribunal expenses, and lawyers. Table displayed in USD; advances issued in AED.
Article 52, Federal Law No. 6 of 2018: Awards are binding but need Court of Appeal ratification to enforce. The court should issue the order within 60 days (Article 55), but ratification can extend the enforcement phase.
See our
.
RERA, DLD conciliation, and the Special Tribunal
RERA complaints are free but cannot force a binding financial outcome. DLD conciliation (Article 14 of ECR 6/2010) is consensual. See our
.
Decree 33/2020, Article 9: Special Tribunal proceedings are exempt from judicial fees. Only for cancelled or unfinished projects.
The DLD cannot order termination or a refund. See our
and
.
Four routes compared (AED 2 million claim)
| Route | Cost (excl. lawyers) | Timeline | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RERA + DLD conciliation | Negligible (free) | Weeks to months | Consensual; no binding remedy |
| Dubai Courts (first instance + appeal) | Roughly AED 60,000-90,000 | 9-18 months + 6-12 months appeal | None; binding judgment |
| DIAC arbitration (sole arbitrator) | Roughly AED 124,000-207,000 | 6-18 months + ratification | Requires arbitration clause; needs ratification |
| Special Tribunal (Decree 33/2020) | Fee-exempt | Variable; typically faster | Cancelled/unfinished projects only |
Can I get my court fee back if I settle?
Article 12(b), Law 21/2015: 50% refunded if you settle before pleadings open, provided the dispute was not first referred to the CASD.
How are lawyer fees structured?
Four structures:
fixed fee
(demand letters, RERA complaints),
hourly
(complex litigation),
milestone
(filing, judgment, appeal, execution), and
success fee
(permitted, commonly capped at around a quarter of recovery). Ask for a milestone or capped structure.
What can I recover from the losing party?
Articles 133-136, FDL 42/2022: The losing party bears court fees, expenses, and lawyer fees as determined by the court. In practice, Dubai courts award only AED 1,000-2,000 toward lawyer fees. Plan on carrying your own lawyer fees even if you win.
Common worries answered
“How much will a lawyer cost me?”
It depends on the route. A fixed-fee demand letter is the cheapest entry. Full litigation is the most expensive. Ask for a milestone structure.
“How long will this take?”
Dubai Courts: 9-18 months first instance (up to 2 years with expert), plus 6-12 months appeal. Arbitration: 6-18 months plus ratification. Many cases settle early.
“Will I have to go to court?”
Not necessarily. Many disputes resolve through conciliation or settlement. If your SPA has an arbitration clause, that is your binding route.
“Is it too late?”
Usually not, as long as you are within the limitation period. See our
buyer-initiated cancellation guide
.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to sue a developer in Dubai?
Court fee AED 40,000 (capped) + expert AED 15,000-30,000 + translation a few thousand + lawyer fees. Total government and expert costs: roughly AED 60,000-90,000 excluding lawyers.
What is the court fee for a property case?
6% of claim value, capped at AED 20,000/30,000/40,000 by bracket (Law 21/2015 as amended by Law 2/2019).
Is arbitration cheaper than court?
Generally no. DIAC fees for AED 2m run roughly AED 124,000-207,000, far above the capped court fee.
How long does a Dubai property dispute take?
9-18 months first instance, up to 2 years with expert, plus 6-12 months appeal.
Can I recover my legal fees if I win?
Court and expert fees yes. Lawyer fees: only AED 1,000-2,000 in practice.
Do I get a refund if I settle early?
Yes. 50% of the court fee (Article 12, Law 21/2015) if you settle before pleadings open.
Is the Special Tribunal free?
Yes. Fee-exempt (Article 9, Decree 33/2020) but only for cancelled or unfinished projects.
Where to go from here
A short, fixed-fee case assessment where someone reviews your SPA and gives you a cost-and-timeline estimate is the most useful next step. Contact us through offplandisputes.ae.
Before you commit to a full retainer, get the numbers for your specific case.
- Which of the four routes applies to your facts
- Your realistic claim value and the filing fee it produces
- Whether a court-appointed expert is likely and what it will cost
- A milestone-based cost estimate for legal representation
- A realistic timeline to first enforceable outcome
Contact us through offplandisputes.ae.
Court fees verified against Law 21/2015 (as amended by Law 2/2019) on dlp.dubai.gov.ae. DIAC fees verified against the 2025 Table of Fees (diac.com). Decree 33/2020 fee exemption (Article 9) verified. Article 12 (50% refund) verified including CASD exclusion. Cost recovery under Articles 133-136 of FDL 42/2022 verified. Expert fee ranges are market observations. Dubai Courts Decision No. 210 of 2025 confirmed. Timelines from Al Tamimi practitioner commentary. Arabic text prevails.
This article is for general information only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Actual costs and timelines depend on the claim value, complexity, forum, and conduct of the parties. Fee schedules are periodically amended. Obtain advice from a UAE-qualified legal consultant and confirm current fee figures before filing.
