Publication Notice Requirements & Process in Dubai
Service by publication in Dubai follows a court-directed process: it is used only after the ordinary and electronic methods of notifying a party have failed, and only when the court authorises it. This page sets out, in plain terms, the documents usually prepared, the sequence of steps, and who is responsible for what — the applicant, the competent court, and a service provider such as MANJAZ. The exact requirements are not identical in every case; they change with the type of dispute, the stage the case has reached, and the direction the court gives.
- Publication is a fallback the court authorises — not an automatic right because an address is unknown
- Governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022, in force since 2 January 2023
- The newspaper publication carries legal effect; the Dubai Courts e-noticeboard is a supplementary mirror
- Requirements vary by case type, stage and the court's direction — confirm with the competent authority
- Dubai-based, UAE-wide service
- Arabic & English
- Clear guidance on every document
- Direct request, no middlemen
What service by publication actually requires
Service by publication requires a court authorisation to use it, a notice whose wording matches the case file, publication in a newspaper as the court directs, and proof placed back on the file — and it is available only after the ordinary and electronic methods of notification could not be effected.
In the UAE, the notification of judicial papers is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022, the Civil Procedure Law, which came into force on 2 January 2023 and replaced the earlier Federal Law No. 11 of 1992. Under this law a party is first notified by the ordinary and modern methods: in person through a process server, and by electronic means such as a recorded video or voice call, an SMS, smart applications, email or fax. Publication is not the starting point. It is a substitute the court turns to when those methods cannot reach the party.
Because publication is a fallback, the first "requirement" is really a condition: the record must show that the ordinary and electronic methods were attempted and could not be effected. Only then may the court — through its Case Management Office, the competent judge or the chief justice — permit notification by publication. It is not a service a party can simply buy, and it does not become available automatically merely because an address is unknown.
The rest of this page treats the requirement in three practical layers: the documents usually prepared, the process from application to proof, and the division of responsibility between the applicant, the court and a service provider. Throughout, remember there is no single universal checklist. What a commercial case needs at the service stage may differ from a personal-status or a real-estate matter, and the court's own direction is decisive.
The terms you will meet
- Service of process (notification)
- The formal act of delivering knowledge of a case or a judicial step to a party, so that the party is treated as duly notified. Publication is one method of achieving it when others fail.
- Service by publication
- Notifying a party by publishing the notice in a newspaper (and, as the law provides, on the court's channels), used when the ordinary and electronic methods cannot be effected, on the court's authorisation.
- Case Management Office
- The judicial office that manages a case before hearing, including matters of notification. It is one of the bodies that may permit service by publication; the competent judge or chief justice may do so as well.
- The e-noticeboard
- An electronic board on the Dubai Courts website that mirrors service-of-process notices. Under Dubai Resolution No. 9 of 2024 it is a supplementary channel, and posting on it has no legal effect of its own.
- Proof of publication
- The evidence that publication was carried out — typically the published notice from the newspaper — placed on the case file so the court can see the step was completed. Confirm the exact form the court accepts.
Where publication sits in the notification sequence
It helps to see publication as the last link in a chain, not a separate track. Under Federal Decree-Law 42 of 2022 the court and its officers first try to reach the party by the ordinary route — a process server at a known address — and by the modern electronic methods the reform introduced, such as a recorded call, a text message, a smart application, email or fax. Each attempt and its outcome are recorded. Publication becomes relevant only when that record shows the party could not be reached by those means.
This ordering matters for the requirements. The applicant does not decide that the case has reached the publication stage; the court does, on the basis of what the file shows. So the practical work before publication is largely about making the file complete and truthful: correct party details, the addresses and contact points tried, and the results. A thin or inconsistent file is the most common reason a request to move to publication stalls.
The documents usually prepared
- The case reference and the parties' details, matching exactly what is on the court file
- A record of the notification attempts already made and their results (the reason ordinary service failed)
- The draft wording of the notice to be published, consistent with the file and the court's direction
- A certified Arabic translation of any supporting document that is in another language
- Where the party is a foreigner, the details needed if the court directs a foreign-language newspaper as well
- Any authorisation or power of attorney a representative needs to act on the file
- A plan for capturing the published notice as proof to return to the file
The journey, step by step (it varies)
Ordinary and electronic service is attempted
The court's officers try to notify the party in person and by the electronic methods. The attempts and outcomes are recorded on the file — this record is what later supports a move to publication.
The file is reviewed and the request considered
When ordinary service cannot be effected, the Case Management Office, the competent judge or the chief justice considers whether to authorise notification by publication.
Publication is authorised and its wording set
If authorised, the notice wording is fixed to match the file and the court's direction — including the language and, where the party is a foreigner, whether a foreign-language newspaper is used.
The notice is published as directed
Publication is carried out in the newspaper the court directs — in Arabic by default. Dubai Courts may also mirror the notice on its electronic noticeboard as a supplementary channel.
Proof is returned to the file
The published notice is placed on the case file as evidence that publication was effected, so the court can see the step is complete. Confirm the exact form of proof the court expects.
The case proceeds
With valid service established, the case continues on its normal path. The timing between these steps is not fixed here; it depends on the case type, the court and the direction given.
Have a question about your case?
Applicant, court and MANJAZ: who does what
| Step | The applicant / party | The competent court |
|---|---|---|
| Deciding a case qualifies for publication | Provides a complete, truthful file of attempts | Decides and authorises — this is the court's role, not MANJAZ's |
| Preparing the documents and notice wording | Supplies the details and instructs the drafting | Sets the wording and any conditions |
| Translation into Arabic (or a foreign language) | Requests certified translation where needed | May direct the language of publication |
| Placing the newspaper notice | Arranges placement per the court's direction | Directs where and in what language it appears |
| Proving publication on the file | Returns the published notice as proof | Accepts the proof and records service |
Where a service provider like MANJAZ fits
MANJAZ is a publisher, explainer and document-and-process service provider — not a court, not a law firm, and not a government body. MANJAZ does not decide whether a case qualifies for publication, does not authorise or issue the judicial notice, and does not appear before the court. What MANJAZ can do is practical: help prepare and organise the documents, coordinate the notice wording and its certified translation, arrange the newspaper placement where required, and follow up the steps — all according to the requirements of the competent court or authority. The decision and the authorisation always remain with the court.
Language and translation requirements
Arabic is the language of the courts, and newspaper publication is in Arabic by default. Under the reformed law, publication in a foreign-language newspaper is additionally permitted where the party to be served is a foreigner or non-UAE national, so that a foreign defendant is more likely to receive notice. This does not mean every notice needs two newspapers or two languages; the foreign-language route applies to the foreign-party situation, and only where the court so directs.
Separately, any supporting document in another language usually needs a certified Arabic translation to sit properly on the file. Accurate legal translation matters here for a specific reason: the published notice and the documents behind it must be consistent, because an inconsistency between the notice and the file is exactly the kind of defect that can be challenged later. This is where a certified legal-translation service adds value — keeping the Arabic and the source consistent and faithful.
If the party is outside the UAE, this is a different route
Notifying a party who is abroad is not the same as newspaper publication, and the two should not be confused. Where a party to be served is outside the UAE and cannot be reached by the electronic means, through a licensed process-service company, or by an agreed method, the notification is sent through the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for transmission to the relevant diplomatic mission — unless a special convention applies. Under Articles 10 and 11 of Federal Decree-Law 42 of 2022, service abroad by this diplomatic route is treated as effected 21 working days after the diplomatic mission receives the notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Article 11(2)). If your matter involves a party abroad, confirm which route applies before assuming publication is the answer.
Common mistakes to avoid
The mistakeAssuming publication is available just because you do not have the party's address.
The fixPublication is a fallback the court authorises after ordinary and electronic service could not be effected; the file must show those attempts first.
The mistakeTreating the Dubai Courts e-noticeboard posting as the legally effective service.
The fixUnder Dubai Resolution 9 of 2024 the e-noticeboard is supplementary and its posting has no legal effect; the court-directed newspaper publication is what carries effect.
The mistakePublishing wording that does not match the details on the case file.
The fixFix the party names, case reference and facts to the file before publishing; an inconsistent notice invites a later challenge.
The mistakeAssuming a foreign defendant always requires two newspapers or two languages.
The fixArabic is the default; a foreign-language newspaper is permitted for a foreign party where the court so directs — it is not a universal double requirement.
The mistakeConfusing publication with notifying a party who is abroad.
The fixA party outside the UAE is notified through the MOJ and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the diplomatic mission under Articles 10–11 — a distinct route from newspaper publication.
The mistakeLeaving no proof of publication on the file.
The fixKeep the published notice and return it to the file; the court needs to see the step was completed in the form it accepts.
How this looks in practice
A defendant in a civil claim cannot be reached at any known address or contact point.
What is usually neededA file that records the ordinary and electronic attempts and their failure, so the court can consider authorising publication; then a notice whose wording matches the file, published as the court directs.
The party to be served is a foreigner who does not read Arabic.
What is usually neededArabic publication remains the default; the court may additionally direct a foreign-language newspaper for the foreign party. Confirm the court's direction rather than assuming a second language is automatic.
Supporting documents in the file are in English and must be usable before the court.
What is usually neededA certified Arabic translation kept consistent with the notice wording, so there is no gap between what is published and what is on file.
The other party lives abroad, and someone suggests "just publish it in the newspaper".
What is usually neededCheck the route first: an outside-UAE party is notified through the MOJ and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the diplomatic mission under Articles 10–11 — publication is not automatically the correct method here.
Questions and answers
It requires the court's authorisation to use publication, a notice whose wording matches the case file, publication in a newspaper as the court directs, and proof of publication returned to the file. Crucially, it is only available after the ordinary and electronic methods of notification could not be effected — publication is a fallback under Federal Decree-Law 42 of 2022, not a first resort.
No — not automatically. An unknown address is not, by itself, enough. The record must show that the ordinary and electronic methods were attempted and could not be effected, and then the court — through its Case Management Office, the competent judge or the chief justice — decides whether to authorise publication.
There is no single fixed timeline. The steps and the intervals between them depend on the type of case, the stage it has reached, and the direction the court gives. Official sources do not publish one guaranteed duration for publication, so treat any single exact figure with caution and confirm with the competent court.
No. The electronic noticeboard mirrors service-of-process notices as a supplementary channel, but under Dubai Resolution No. 9 of 2024 its posting has no legal effect of its own, and it is limited to cases already served by posting or newspaper publication per the law. The legally effective service is the court-directed newspaper publication.
Arabic is the default language of publication. Where the party to be served is a foreigner or non-UAE national, the reformed law additionally permits publication in a foreign-language newspaper, if the court so directs. This is not a universal requirement for two languages; it addresses the foreign-party situation.
That is a different route, not newspaper publication. A party abroad who cannot be reached electronically, through a licensed process-service company or by an agreed method is notified through the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the relevant diplomatic mission under Articles 10–11 of Federal Decree-Law 42 of 2022, and is treated as served 21 working days after the mission receives the notification (Article 11(2)).
No. MANJAZ is a publisher and service provider, not a court, a law firm or a government body. It does not decide eligibility, authorise or issue the judicial notice, or appear before the court. MANJAZ helps prepare and organise documents, coordinate the notice wording and its certified translation, arrange the newspaper placement where required, and follow up — according to the requirements of the competent court or authority.
There is no single day-count that applies to every publication, and you should be wary of any page that gives you one. The only deemed-service period the Civil Procedure Law fixes as a number is for the diplomatic route to a party outside the UAE: 21 working days from the date the diplomatic mission receives the notification letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For a domestic newspaper publication directed by a Dubai court, official sources do not publish one universal number of days — service is treated as established once publication has been carried out in the way the court directed and the proof has been returned to the case file. The period that then runs before the next step, such as a hearing date or a deadline to respond, may vary depending on the type of case, the stage it has reached and the court's own direction. Confirm that period with the competent court rather than relying on a figure quoted on a forum, subject in every case to the requirements of the relevant authority.
They are working days, not calendar days, so weekends and official holidays do not count towards them. And they do not begin on the day you file, the day the court issues the notice, or the day anything appears in a newspaper. Under Article 11(2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 the count begins when the relevant diplomatic mission receives the letter containing the notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is also worth keeping the two routes apart: this diplomatic route applies where a party outside the UAE cannot be reached by electronic means, through a licensed process-service company, or by an agreed method, and where no special convention applies — it is not newspaper publication. The practical consequence is that the start of the clock is outside your control and outside the court's, because it depends on when the mission receives the file, so allow margin in any timeline you plan around it and confirm the position with the competent court.
Yes — the Civil Procedure Law issued by Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 remains the governing instrument, and the Ministry of Justice continues to list it as the current Civil Procedures Law. Two points are worth knowing before you rely on a text you found online. First, when it came into force on 2 January 2023 it did not only repeal the old Federal Law No. 11 of 1992 — it also absorbed the executive regulations issued under Cabinet Resolution No. 57 of 2018 into a single instrument, so any guidance still sending you to the 2018 regulations is out of date. Second, the law has since been amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025, whose provisions apply from 1 January 2026; the amendments publicly announced concern matters such as specialised judicial circuits and appeal and cassation procedure rather than the notification provisions. Because a consolidated text can move, check the current version on the Ministry of Justice or the UAE Legislation portal before relying on any specific article number.
The notice has to carry the particulars the law specifies and to match the case file exactly — the case reference, the parties as they are named on the file, and the judicial step being notified, in the wording the court sets. This is not a cosmetic requirement. Dubai Resolution No. (9) of 2024 makes it one of three conditions for a judicial notice to be listed on the Dubai Courts electronic judicial noticeboard: the addressee must already have been served by the methods and procedures prescribed by the law, the listing must be limited to cases where service was performed by posting or by publication in the prescribed newspapers, and the notice must contain the particulars specified under the law. A notice whose details drift from the file is precisely the kind of defect a party can raise afterwards, which is why the wording is checked against the file before anything is placed — subject, as always, to the direction of the competent court.
Usually yes, depending on the document and what the court requires. Arabic is the language of the courts, and a supporting document drawn up in another language generally needs a certified Arabic translation before it can properly be relied on in the file. What matters most in a publication matter, though, is consistency: the published notice, the case file and the translated documents must all say the same thing. A name spelled two different ways, or a figure that differs between the English original and the Arabic version, is exactly the inconsistency the other side can point to later. That is why MANJAZ arranges certified legal translation and checks the notice wording against the translated file before anything is placed. What the court will accept remains the court's decision alone, and no provider can guarantee approval.
Where MANJAZ adds practical value
The value in a publication matter is almost always in the preparation, and that is where MANJAZ works. We help you assemble a complete, consistent file, draft the notice wording so it matches the case details, and arrange certified legal translation where the file has to move between Arabic and another language. Where the court directs a newspaper placement, we can coordinate it, and we follow up so the proof of publication returns to the file in the form the court expects.
What we do not do is just as important to be clear about. We do not decide whether your case qualifies for publication, we do not authorise or issue the judicial notice, and we never guarantee a particular outcome — those belong to the court. Keeping that line clear protects you: the strongest position is a clean file, a faithful translation and a notice that matches the record, all prepared according to the competent authority's requirements.
Official sources
- UAE Ministry of Justice — Main Federal Legislations (current Civil Procedures Law)
- UAE Government Portal (u.ae) — Litigation procedures: general provisions
- Dubai Legislation — Resolution No. (9) of 2024 (posting service-of-process notices on the Dubai Courts website)
- Dubai Courts — Publication Notices (الإعلانات بالنشر)
This content is for general awareness and is based on the official sources available at the time of the last update. Publication-notice requirements and steps differ by the type and stage of the case and the direction of the competent court or authority. It is not legal advice. MANJAZ is a service provider that helps prepare and coordinate publication-notice requirements — it is not a court, does not decide whether a case qualifies for service by publication, and does not issue judicial notices.
Have a publication-notice matter in Dubai?
Send your case details and the documents you have, and MANJAZ will help identify and coordinate the right publication-notice steps for your matter.