An Abu Dhabi court has ordered an individual to return AED 5,000 and pay an additional AED 2,000 in compensation to two claimants following a dispute involving promises to arrange a UAE residence permit through a company that was later found to be fictitious.

The ruling, reported by Al Khaleej newspaper on Friday, October 30, 2026, highlights the financial risks associated with relying on unverified individuals who claim to provide residency-related services. It also demonstrates how disputes involving unfulfilled immigration arrangements may result in civil proceedings before the competent courts.

According to the case details, the two claimants entered into an arrangement with the defendant to obtain a residence permit for one of them under the sponsorship of a company he claimed to own. The agreed payment was AED 11,000, and the defendant allegedly promised to complete the process within one week. Relying on those assurances, the first claimant transferred AED 6,000 to the defendant’s bank account and subsequently sent another AED 5,000 after being told that additional funds were required to complete the necessary procedures.

The dispute also involved a mobile telephone line that the defendant requested the first claimant to obtain in his own name. The defendant reportedly claimed that the line was needed to complete the residency application, but the claimant later discovered that it had been used for the defendant’s personal purposes, resulting in a bill of AED 800. Meanwhile, the promised residence permit was not issued within the agreed period. Following repeated delays and unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter, the defendant returned AED 6,000 but failed to repay the remaining AED 5,000.

The two claimants consequently filed a civil lawsuit seeking repayment of the outstanding amount and compensation for the financial and emotional harm allegedly caused by the defendant’s actions. Their claims included AED 3,000 in compensation and AED 3,750 in fines that they said had resulted from the failure to obtain the residence permit. After considering the dispute and the evidence presented, the Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court ordered the defendant to return AED 5,000 and pay AED 2,000 in compensation to the two claimants, according to the published report.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying the legal status of companies and individuals offering residency or employment permit services in the UAE. Applicants should confirm that they are dealing with authorized entities, retain evidence of payments and written agreements, and avoid relying exclusively on verbal promises about visa processing times. Official government channels and licensed service providers remain the appropriate routes for confirming applicable requirements. Importantly, the judgment concerns a specific civil dispute and should not be interpreted as the introduction of new residency fees, penalties or immigration rules for the wider population.

Source: Al Khaleej Newspaper