For a foreign court judgment, the applicable treaty and Civil Procedure Code determine the checks. These include reciprocity where required, jurisdiction, proper notification and opportunity to defend, finality, and compatibility with UAE judgments and public policy. A translation alone does not establish enforceability.
For a foreign arbitral award, assess the New York Convention where applicable, together with local procedure. Obtain the award and arbitration agreement in the required authenticated or certified form, and check translation requirements and any pending challenge or suspension.
Recognition and collection are separate stages. Verify which assets actually belong to the judgment debtor, whether security or competing claims affect recovery, and the cost of proceeding. DIFC or ADGM procedures require their own jurisdictional assessment.
A practical next step
Prepare the decision, proof of service and finality, any arbitration agreement, and a lawful record of known UAE assets for an enforcement review.
Official sources
Civil Procedure Code: enforcement of foreign judgments
New York Convention: foreign arbitral awards