Federal Law No. (13) of 2016 Concerning Judicial Fees Before Federal Courts
Federal Law No. (13) of 2016
Regulates judicial fees before federal courts, including assessment, collection, exemptions, refunds and schedules for court claims, applications, appeals, execution and related judicial services.
Overview
What this legislation covers
Regulates judicial fees before federal courts, including assessment, collection, exemptions, refunds and schedules for court claims, applications, appeals, execution and related judicial services.
Who or what it applies to
- Litigants filing claims, appeals, applications or execution matters before federal courts.
- Lawyers, legal representatives and court users.
- Federal courts and court-fee collection functions.
Key points
Important points at a glance
Sets the federal framework for judicial fees before federal courts.
Regulates when fees are payable, how they are assessed and who is responsible for payment.
Contains exemptions and circumstances in which fees may be recovered or adjusted.
Applies to categories of claims, appeals, applications, execution and other federal court services within the law and its schedules.
The official UAE Legislation record lists a last update on 10 June 2024.
The schedule of judicial fees was replaced/updated in 2024; current fee amounts must be checked in the current official schedule.
Do not rely on old fee tables when calculating a current filing or service fee.
Practical explanation
Understanding the law
Purpose and scope
The law determines the fee framework for using federal court services.
What practitioners should check
Before filing, identify the type of claim or application, the value basis if relevant, the stage of proceedings, any exemption and the current fee schedule.
Why the current schedule matters
Fee tables can be replaced or amended independently of older commentary. For current work, the latest official schedule should be used instead of figures copied from an earlier version of the law.
Practical example
A party filing a federal appeal should check the current category and amount of the appeal fee, any related security/deposit requirement if applicable under separate procedural law, and any exemption before submission.
Practical notes
- Always check the current fee schedule before quoting a monetary amount.
- Fee exemptions and refund rules can depend on the type and outcome of the proceeding.
- Local court systems may have separate fee legislation; this law concerns federal courts.
Legislation text
Text and provisions
Official-text notice. This package provides a structured English rendering based on the official UAE legislation source identified in the manifest. It is not represented as the legally controlling Arabic text. For interpretation and application, consult the original Arabic text and the latest consolidated official UAE legislation.
Verified legislative metadata
| Instrument | Federal Law No. (13) of 2016 |
|---|---|
| Issued date | 2016-05-23 |
| Effective date | 2016-07-01 |
| Status | Active / in force; fee schedules updated |
| Official Gazette | Official Gazette No. 597 |
| Official source | UAE Legislation |
Purpose of the law
This law establishes the federal statutory framework for fees payable for proceedings and services before the federal courts.
Assessment and collection
The law regulates the basis on which judicial fees are assessed and collected for claims, applications, appeals, execution proceedings and other services falling within the federal court system.
Exemptions and special cases
The legislation contains exemptions and special rules for categories of persons, proceedings or applications identified by law. Whether an exemption applies should be determined from the current consolidated text.
Refunds and adjustments
The law includes rules dealing with circumstances in which a paid fee may be returned, adjusted or treated differently as a result of the procedural outcome or other statutory conditions.
Fee schedules
The monetary schedules attached to or made under the law are operationally important. The official legislation record identifies a last update in June 2024, and the judicial-fee schedule was updated/replaced in 2024. Current amounts should therefore be taken only from the latest official schedule.
Federal versus local courts
This legislation concerns federal courts. Judicial departments in emirates with local court systems may apply separate local fee legislation.
Verification
Official source & references
Official legislation sourcehttps://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1188Open ↗Official Gazette: Official Gazette No. 597
This page is a research and educational resource. Legislation can be amended, repealed, supplemented by regulations or interpreted by courts and authorities. Obtain advice before relying on it for a live matter.