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What happens if my rent cheque bounces in Dubai?

Last updated: May 2026
Dubai Practical Editorial Team· Collaborative authorship

Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.

Since the 2020 penal code reform, a bounced cheque is no longer automatically a criminal offence — it is now a civil matter unless fraudulent intent is proven. The landlord can file a civil claim. You may still face a ban on issuing cheques. Practically, your landlord will likely file an immediate RDC case and may begin eviction proceedings.

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