Decree No. 26 of 2013 · Articles 14, 17 & 18
Appealing an RDC Judgment in Dubai
Most people assume a rental judgment can always be appealed. It cannot. Below AED 100,000 the First Instance judgment is final, with six narrow exceptions — and where an appeal does lie you have fifteen days and must deposit half the award.
Direct answer
An RDC First Instance judgment can only be appealed if the claim exceeds AED 100,000, or if the case falls into one of six exceptions. The most important exception is that eviction judgments can always be appealed regardless of value. The appeal must be filed within 15 days, and on a money judgment the appellant must deposit 50% of the amount awarded. Judgments of the Appellate Division are final.
Can you appeal at all?
Article 17 of Decree 26 of 2013 makes judgments below AED 100,000 final and not subject to appeal — unless one of six situations applies.
Appeal lies as of right
- The claim value exceeds AED 100,000
- The judgment orders eviction — any value
The other exceptions below AED 100,000
- The rules of jurisdiction were breached
- The judgment went beyond, or failed to address, the relief sought
- A party was improperly represented, or service was invalid
- Forged documents or false testimony were discovered after judgment
- A party concealed decisive evidence
Why this changes how you run the first hearing
If your claim is under AED 100,000 and is not an eviction, First Instance is very likely your only hearing. There is no second chance to produce the document you forgot, or to fix a translation the Centre would not accept. Preparation at First Instance is not a nicety here — it is the whole case.
The deadline
Fifteen days. The count runs from the day following the judgment where it was given in your presence, and from the day following notification where it was given in absentia. The deadline is not extended because you were abroad, because you were negotiating, or because you were waiting for a translation.
What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Appeal deposit on a money judgment | 50% of the amount awarded |
| Process service | AED 100 |
| Power of attorney registration | AED 25 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 |
| Filing via a Real Estate Services Trustee | AED 130 + VAT |
| Writ of Certiorari / reconsideration | AED 500 |
The other route: reconsideration
Where an appeal is not available, a Writ of Certiorari — a petition to reconsider — may be. It must be filed within 30 days, and only on specific grounds: fraud, forged documents, newly obtained decisive evidence, a judgment exceeding the requests, contradictory judgments, a judgment against an unrepresented party, or improper representation. It is not a second bite at the same argument.
- 1
Establish the route and the deadline on day one
Value, case type and how the judgment was delivered decide whether you have 15 days to appeal, 30 days to petition, or no route at all.
- 2
Obtain the judgment
The RDC dispatches a copy to the email registered on the account, and it is available through the system.
- 3
Assemble the grounds and the file
An appeal argues that the judgment was wrong on the record before it. New documents must carry certified Arabic translation before the Centre will accept them.
- 4
Pay the deposit and file
On a money judgment the 50% deposit is a condition of the appeal being heard, not an optional step.
- 5
Expect finality
The Appellate Division's judgment is final. After it, the route is execution, not further argument.
Fifteen days is not long
Send us the judgment and we will tell you which route is open, what the deadline actually is in your case, and what has to be translated before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I appeal any RDC judgment?
No. Judgments below AED 100,000 are final unless one of six exceptions applies. The broadest of those is that eviction judgments may always be appealed, whatever the value.
How long do I have to appeal?
Fifteen days, counted from the day after the judgment if it was given in your presence, or from the day after notification if it was given in absentia.
Do I have to pay anything to appeal?
On a money judgment the appellant must deposit 50% of the amount awarded. It is refundable. On top of that: AED 100 process service, AED 25 power of attorney, AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees, plus AED 130 + VAT if filed through a trustee centre.
Can I appeal an eviction order even if the amount is small?
Yes. Eviction judgments are expressly among the exceptions to the AED 100,000 finality threshold.
What if I miss the 15 days?
The appeal route closes. A reconsideration petition may still be possible within 30 days, but only on its specific grounds — fraud, forged documents, newly discovered decisive evidence and the like — not simply because you disagree with the outcome.
Can I appeal the appeal?
No. Judgments of the Appellate Division are final. What follows is execution.
Do my documents need to be in Arabic?
Yes. The Centre requires all documents to be in Arabic or legally translated. This is the most common reason an otherwise sound appeal file is delayed.
Can Taw-Theeq represent me at the appeal hearing?
No. We are a legal support services provider, not a law firm — we prepare and translate the file and handle the filing. For advocacy at a hearing, engage a UAE-licensed lawyer; we work alongside them on the documents.
Related
Disclaimer. General information, not legal advice. Procedure and fees are as published by the Rental Disputes Centre and Decree No. 26 of 2013 at the date of writing. Taw-Theeq Corporate Services and Legal Translation LLC is a legal support services provider — not a law firm and not a government authority.