UAE Cheques: Write Them Right & Navigate the New Bounced Cheque Law
May 1, 2025
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Even with digital payments booming, the humble cheque holds its ground as a vital financial tool in the UAE 
[1]
[8]
[13]. You'll find them used for everything from personal payments and business deals to paying rent and securing loans [8]. Think of a cheque as your written command to your bank (the drawee) to pay a specific sum to someone else (the payee) from your account (you're the drawer) [8]
[17]. Honestly, getting cheque usage right is crucial here. This guide breaks down how to get a chequebook, write cheques properly, handle post-dated cheques (PDCs), and navigate the all-important UAE laws surrounding bounced cheques, especially with the latest updates [8][13]. We'll cover requesting, writing, using PDCs, and understanding the consequences if a cheque bounces.
How to Get Your UAE Chequebook
Getting your hands on a UAE chequebook is usually pretty simple if you have a current account 
[15]
[16]. Banks offer a few ways to request one. Many let you order through online banking – just log in, find the service request section, and follow the steps [15][16]. HSBC, for example, has you select 'Account services', then 'Order chequebook' via a secure message 
[21]. Mobile banking apps are another popular route; ADCB's app lets you request a new book directly from your current account screen [15]
[22]
[20].
Of course, you can always call the bank's customer helpline, verify who you are, and ask for a chequebook [15][16]. Or, head to a physical branch, fill out a form, and likely show your Emirates ID [15][16]. You might need to specify how many leaves you want and double-check your contact and delivery details are correct [16][20]. Expect it to arrive in about three working days, though times vary, and there might be a small fee [15][16]. Once it arrives, keep that chequebook safe – it's like cash [8][16]!
Writing Cheques Correctly: A Step-by-Step Guide
Why fuss over how you write a cheque? Because getting it wrong can lead to rejection, delays, or even fraud 
[7]
[9][13]. Always use a pen with permanent blue or black ink [7][9]
[23]. Fill in the date – either today's date or a future one if it's a post-dated cheque (PDC) [7][9]. Remember, cheques generally expire six months after the date written, becoming "stale" [7][23]. Write the payee's full, correct name clearly, leaving no space before it [7][13][9].
The amount needs to be crystal clear in both numbers (in the box) and words (on the line), and they must match perfectly [13]. Draw a line through any empty space after the words to stop anyone adding extras [7][9]. Your signature must match the one your bank has on file [13]. Made a mistake? Don't try to correct it; just destroy the cheque (tear up the MICR line at the bottom too) and start fresh [7][23]. Keep that MICR code line clear – no writing, staples, or pins allowed, as machines need to read it [7][9][23]. Never sign a blank cheque unless it's specifically required as a security cheque [7][8][9][23]. For extra safety, "cross" the cheque with two parallel lines in the top left corner, meaning it must be paid into an account [7][23]. Adding "Account Payee" or "A/C Payee Only" further restricts payment solely to the named person's account [7][9][23].
Post-Dated Cheques (PDCs): The UAE Norm
Post-dated cheques, or PDCs, are simply cheques written with a future date [7]. Your bank won't process it until that date arrives [7]. Using PDCs is incredibly common and widely accepted across the UAE, often acting as a guarantee or a way to schedule payments [8]. You'll see them used frequently for rent, where tenants give landlords a series of PDCs for the lease term [8][7].
They're also standard practice for loan installments, providing security for banks lending money for cars or personal needs [8]. Businesses use them too, for settling future payments or guaranteeing deals [8]. Even some utility bills might be paid this way [7]. The crucial thing for the person writing the PDC is ensuring enough money is in the account by the cheque's date [8]. If not, you're looking at a bounced cheque, which, as we'll see next, has serious implications [8].
Bounced Cheques: Understanding the UAE Law (2025 Update)
Let's talk about bounced cheques. Historically, issuing a cheque that bounced was a big deal in the UAE – a criminal offence that could land you in jail [1][17]. However, things changed significantly thanks to Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2020, which kicked in on January 2, 2022 
[2]
[3]
[4]
[10]
[14]. The headline news? Bouncing a cheque just because of insufficient funds is generally not a crime anymore [1][3][4]
[6][10].
The focus has shifted from criminal courts to civil procedures, aiming for financial recovery instead of jail time [4][6][10]. This change was made partly to ease the courts' workload, make the UAE more business-friendly, and align with global practices [4]
[5][14]. But hold on – this doesn't mean all bounced cheque issues are off the criminal hook. You can still face criminal charges if there's bad faith or fraud involved [1][3][4][6][10]
[12]. Actions like deliberately telling your bank to stop payment without a valid reason (like a lost cheque), closing your account or pulling out all funds before the cheque is presented, or knowingly writing a cheque from a dormant account remain criminal offences [3][10][14]
[18]
[19]. Intentionally signing differently to cause a mismatch or forging a cheque are also serious crimes [1][3][4][18]. Penalties for these acts can include prison time and hefty fines (AED 20,000 to AED 100,000 for forgery, for instance) [1][12][18].
Civil Consequences & Recovery for Bounced Cheques
So, if bouncing a cheque for insufficient funds isn't usually criminal, what happens? Well, the civil duty to pay the money back absolutely remains, and the consequences are still significant [1][2][6]. The updated law actually makes it easier and faster for the person owed money (the payee) to get it back [1][3][5]. A bounced cheque, along with the bank's note saying it bounced due to lack of funds, is now treated as an "executive instrument" [5][6][10]. This means the payee can go straight to an execution judge in the civil court to enforce payment, skipping the need for a long, drawn-out lawsuit [3][5][6][10].
Another key change is partial payment. If you have some money in your account, but not the full cheque amount, the bank must pay that partial sum to the payee (unless they refuse it) [1][3][4][10][14]. The bank then gives a certificate for the remaining balance [10]. Of course, the payee can still file a standard civil claim if needed [1][2]. If the drawer doesn't pay up after an execution order, the court can seize assets like property or funds in other accounts [1][2]. There are also administrative penalties: the drawer might have their existing chequebooks taken away, be banned from getting new ones for up to five years, have their business activities suspended, and face fines based on the cheque amount (e.g., AED 2,000 for cheques up to AED 50k, rising from there) [1][5][12][14][2]. A travel ban preventing the drawer from leaving the UAE is possible, as is having bank accounts frozen [5]
[11]. Plus, a bounced cheque seriously damages your credit score with the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), making future loans or credit cards harder to get [8].
Received a Bounced Cheque? Here's What to Do
Okay, what if you're the one holding a bounced cheque? First step: contact the person who wrote it immediately and let them know [1]. Give them a reasonable chance, a grace period, to make the payment [1]. If the money doesn't appear, you need official proof. Go to the bank and get a formal statement confirming the cheque bounced due to insufficient funds [1][18].
While not always required, sending a formal legal notice demanding payment can sometimes prompt action [19]. The most direct route under the new law is to take the bounced cheque and the bank's statement to the execution judge at the civil court [3][6]. Because the cheque is now an "executive instrument," the judge can initiate enforcement proceedings directly to help you recover the funds [3][6]. This streamlined process is designed to get you paid faster than before [6][10].
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