Travel Ban in UAE: All you need to know

Travel Ban in UAE: All you need to know
Travel Ban in UAE

Travel ban orders in the UAE are issued by the Ministry of Justice after submitting a request via the Ministry’s website or through its application that is compatible with smartphones and tablets. The issuance of orders to prevent a citizen or resident from traveling is in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Procedures Law in force in the country.

Travel Ban in UAE

A travel ban is imposed in the UAE on some citizens and residents according to the current Civil Procedures Law. The purpose of the travel ban is to prevent the escape of those who have financial debts, so that the rights holders can ensure that their money is returned to them, if the value of the debt exceeds 10,000 AED.

Travel ban articles in UAE law

The following table shows the travel ban articles in the UAE Civil Procedure Law: [1]

Article No. Article text
Article 324
  • Even before filing a substantive lawsuit, if there are serious reasons that fear the Debtor’s flight, and the debt is not less than 10,000 AED, unless it is an established maintenance, a commitment to work, an abstention from work, or a work fee, the Creditor may request the competent judge or the head of the Circuit, as the case may be, to issue an order banning the Debtor from travelling in any of the following 2 cases:
    • If the debt is of a known amount and due for payment and not restricted by a condition.
    • If the debt is not of ascertained amount, the Judge shall make a provisional quantification of it, provided that the following conditions are met.
      • The claim of right must be based on written evidence.
      • The Creditor shall submit a guarantee acceptable to the Court guaranteeing any loss or damage that may be sustained by the Debtor in consequence of their being prevented from travelling abroad in the event that it should turn out that the Creditor’s claim was not justified.
  • Before making the order, the Judge may conduct a brief investigation if they deem the documents supporting the request insufficient. They may also order that the Debtor’s passport be lodged with the Court’s Treasury, and the order of travel ban shall be circulated around all ports of exit from the State in the event that the travel ban order is issued.
  • The personal status Execution Judge may issue an order to prevent the fostered child from travelling in cases that violate the terms and conditions of the provisions stipulated in the Federal Law of Personal Status.
  • Anyone who has been ordered to be banned from travelling or whose request has been rejected may appeal against the same using the procedures prescribed for grievance against orders on petitions, unless the order in question was issued by the competent Execution Judge, in which case the grievance against their decision shall be in accordance with the procedures below:
    • Decisions of the Execution Judge shall be appealable in the following circumstances:
      • The ranking of priorities between judgment Creditors; or their inclusion in or exclusion from the distribution list.
      • Postponement of execution judgment for any reason.
      • Allowing the Debtor time to pay or allowing payment by installments of the amount executed for.
      • Whether the bail is accepted or not.
      • Travel ban or refusal to order it.
      • Arrest and habeas corpus order or refusal to order it.
    • The grievance shall be made before the President of the Court or their authorized representative other than the Judge who issued the decision within 7 working days from the day following the date of issuing the decision if the procedure was issued in the presence of the person concerned, and from the date of being served the decision if the procedure was issued in the absence of the person concerned. This shall be done by filing an application that shall be kept in the same execution file. The Judge before whom the procedure is contested may annul or amend the contested decision as they deem appropriate without the need to summon the litigants, unless they deem it necessary. The decision issued on the grievance shall be final and not subject to appeal.
  • A travel ban order shall not prevent the execution of final judgments for deportation. In the event of the passing of a final judgment or an administrative order for deportation, the order for travel ban shall be placed before a judicial committee under the presidency of a Judge, to be formed by a resolution of the Council of Ministers, to determine the execution of either such case.
  • The president of the competent Court or their authorized representative may approve the Debtor’s travel due to their or one of their ascendants, first-degree descendants, or their spouse’s illness, provided that a medical certificate from an official authority is attached to the application stating the need for treatment abroad and the impossibility of local treatment in the State. Meanwhile, the travel ban order shall be maintained.
Article 325 The travel ban order shall remain in force until the expiration, for whatever reason, of the obligation of the Debtor towards their Creditor who has obtained the order. Nevertheless, the competent Judge may order that the aforesaid ban shall lapse in the following cases:

  • If any of the conditions necessary for the making of the travel ban order lapses.
  • If the Creditor agrees in writing that the order may be revoked.
  • If the Debtor submits a sufficient bank guarantee, or a solvent guarantor accepted by the Judge, and the bail report that includes the guarantor’s undertaking is accompanied by the judgment or order issued to oblige the Debtor with an Execution Writ before them with what this judgment decreed.
  • If the Debtor lodges with the Court’s Treasury a sum of money equivalent to the debt and the expenses, earmarked for satisfaction of the right of the Creditor on whose application the order was made, and such sum shall be deemed to be under attachment by operation of law in favour of the Creditor.
  • If the Creditor fails to submit to the Judge material to demonstrate that the action for the debt has been brought within 8 days from the making of the travel ban order, of if they have not commenced enforcement of a final judgment made in their favour within 30 days from such judgment becoming final.
  • If 3 years have elapsed since the last valid procedure of executing the final judgment on the debt, the travel ban order was issued to satisfy it, without the Creditor applying to the Execution Judge with a request to continue the procedures for executing such judgment.
  • If a request is received from the competent authorities stating that the stay of the person banned from travelling in the State has become illegal and they shall be deported, and it is not proven that they have assets in the State that can be subjected to execution.
Article 326 The provisions of Articles 324 and 325 of this Code do not apply to foreigners against whom decisions have been issued to extradite them to a foreign country in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters.

how to check UAE travel ban status with passport number online

The UAE has not yet provided a travel ban inquiry service using the passport number. Rather, inquiries are made through designated ports at airports or land and sea border crossings. Inquiries can also be made using the unified number through the Judicial Department website or using the ID number through the Dubai Police website.

How to apply for Travel Ban in UAE online

To apply for Travel Ban in UAE online, Just follow these easy steps:

  • Step 1: Go to the Application for Travel Ban service directly “from here“.
  • Step 2: Click on the Start Service icon after reading the details.

How to apply for Travel Ban in UAE online

  • Step 3: Click on the UAE PASS login icon
  • Step 4: Enter the data required to access the user account.
  • Step 5: Proceed to Application for Travel Ban service.
  • Step 6: Follow the instructions to add data and upload attachments.
  • Step 7: Pay the fees and then submit the application online.

How to apply for Travel Ban in UAE via app

To apply for Travel Ban in UAE via app, Here’s what you need to do:

  • Step 1: Download the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) application from the following links:
    • Download Ministry of Justice (MOJ) app for Android:from here“.
    • Download Ministry of Justice (MOJ) app for iPhone:from here“.
  • Step 2: Run the application from the application list and then choose English.
  • Step 3: Agree to grant the permissions requested by the application.
  • Step 4: Select English and then click on the Next icon.
  • Step 5: Skip the introduction tour of the application.
  • Step 6: Log in to your user account with your digital ID.
  • Step 7: Proceed to Application for Travel Ban service.
  • Step 8: Follow the instructions to add data and upload attachments.
  • Step 9: Pay the fees and then submit the application online.

How to Cancel Request of Travel Ban Order in UAE online

To Cancel Request of Travel Ban Order in UAE online, Here’s how to do it:

  • Step 1: Go to the Cancellation Request of Travel Ban Order service directly “from here“.
  • Step 2: Click on the Start Service icon after reading the details.

How to Cancel Request of Travel Ban Order in UAE online

  • Step 3: Click on the UAE PASS login icon
  • Step 4: Enter the data required to access the user account.
  • Step 5: Proceed to Cancellation Request of Travel Ban Order service.
  • Step 6: Follow the instructions to add data and upload attachments.
  • Step 7: Pay the fees and then submit the application online.

How to Cancel Request of Travel Ban Order in UAE via app

To Cancel Request of Travel Ban Order in UAE via app, Here’s how you can do it:

  • Step 1: Download the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) application from the following links:
    • Download Ministry of Justice (MOJ) app for Android:from here“.
    • Download Ministry of Justice (MOJ) app for iPhone:from here“.
  • Step 2: Run the application from the application list and then choose English.
  • Step 3: Agree to grant the permissions requested by the application.
  • Step 4: Select English and then click on the Next icon.
  • Step 5: Skip the introduction tour of the application.
  • Step 6: Log in to your user account with your digital ID.
  • Step 7: Proceed to Cancellation Request of Travel Ban Order service.
  • Step 8: Follow the instructions to add data and upload attachments.
  • Step 9: Pay the fees and then submit the application online.

Conclusion

A citizen or resident in the UAE is prevented from traveling if the value of the debt exceeds AED 10,000 to ensure that he does not escape. This is a procedure that requires the creditor to submit a request to the Ministry of Justice through the available electronic channels.

Questions & Answers

Why is there a travel ban in the UAE?

Travel bans are imposed in the UAE to ensure that the creditor gets his money if he fears that the debtor will flee.

How much is the value of the debt that prevents travel in the UAE?

The value of the debt that prevents travel in the UAE is 10,000 AED.

Can a travel ban request be submitted online in the UAE?

Yes, a travel ban request can be submitted online in the UAE through the Ministry of Justice website.

What is the law that clarifies the controls on travel bans in the UAE?

The controls on travel bans in the UAE are clarified in the Civil Procedures Law.

Can a request to cancel a travel ban in the UAE be submitted online?

Yes, a request to cancel a travel ban in the UAE can be submitted online through the Ministry of Justice website.

What is the body responsible for issuing travel ban orders in the UAE?

The Ministry of Justice in the UAE is responsible for issuing travel ban orders in.

How is a travel ban order dropped in the UAE?

A travel ban order in the UAE is dropped by paying the debt or in some other exceptional cases according to the judge's decision.

References

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