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What a Criminal Judgment Means for Civil Claims in the UAE
- neetudc
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
Introduction
If a person is convicted in a criminal court and ordered to pay compensation, can they go to civil court later and deny they did anything wrong?
The answer is no. The Abu Dhabi Court of Cassation has made that very clear.
When a criminal court finds someone guilty and awards compensation — even a small amount — that judgment is final. Civil courts must accept it. The defendant can’t reopen the facts, deny liability, or start the argument from scratch.
This is what the Court said, and it matters for anyone involved in cases where criminal and civil claims are connected.
What the Law Says
UAE law treats criminal cases and civil cases differently:
A criminal case punishes the crime. It may result in jail, a fine, or deportation.
A civil case compensates the victim. It results in the payment of money for harm caused.
Sometimes, the same act — like assault, fraud, or harassment — leads to both types of cases.
The Court of Cassation confirmed that once a criminal court convicts someone and awards compensation, the civil court must accept the findings. This includes:
Whether the defendant did the act
Whether it caused harm
Whether the defendant is liable
The only thing the civil court can decide later is how much additional compensation (if any) should be paid.
Steps to Comply
If you are involved in a case where a criminal judgment already exists, here’s what to do:
1. Don’t re-argue the facts - If the criminal court already decided what happened, that decision is binding.
2. Focus on the amount - You can argue whether the compensation amount is fair, but not whether you’re responsible.
3. Don’t bring new evidence too late - Even if you found new documents or witnesses, civil courts won’t accept them if the criminal judgment is final.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Trying to re-open liability in civil court after a conviction
Treating criminal compensation as “temporary” or unimportant
Delaying evidence until the civil stage, hoping for a second chance
Assuming civil and criminal cases are fully separate — they are not, once a judgment is final
Examples
Bounced cheque with intent to defraud - A person writes a cheque with no funds and is convicted of fraud.
The recipient can’t be told later in civil court, “I didn’t mean it.” That question is closed.
Employee steals company money - An accounts staff member is convicted of taking AED 100,000.
The company doesn’t need to prove theft again in civil court. Only the value of damages can be discussed.
Employee harassed at work If someone is criminally convicted of harassment, and the court awards the victim compensation, civil courts won’t question whether the harassment happened.
Final Word
Once a criminal court gives its final judgment and awards compensation, the facts are no longer up for debate. Civil courts must follow that ruling.
This isn’t about taking away rights. It’s about respecting what the court has already decided.
How Juris Maestro Can Help
At Juris Maestro, we work closely with clients to help them respond to legal developments with clarity and purpose.
We help you strategize your position, align your next steps with the law, and ensure your rights are protected at every stage.
Our role is to help clients act from a position of strength — grounded in law, and guided by strategy.
