Between the Hammer of Debt and the Anvil of the Law: Dubai Courts Uphold Compassionate Justice in GCC National’

Rules of Territorial Jurisdiction in Insolvency Lawsuits: A Reading of Dubai Court of Cassation Rulings

Insolvency cases raise fundamental questions regarding the geographical scope of litigation, especially given the economic integration between the Emirates. One of the most prominent questions is: Can a debtor file an insolvency lawsuit before Dubai Courts while residing in another Emirate?

近年来，预重整已成为上市公司进入司法重整前几乎不可或缺的前置环节，其源于本土需求、服务于纾困实践的兴起路径，彰显了市场对高效挽救机制的迫切期待。然而，在立法规则尚属空白、实践探索快速扩张的背景下，该制度正面临深刻的异化趋势：预重整作为解决重整效率瓶颈与确定性风险而诞生的“辅助工具”，当其价值被证明有效后，迅速从“可选项”变成“默认项”，几乎成为上市公司重整的必经之路，其功能从“预先协商桥梁”偏移为“实质工作前置”，进而引致临时管理人角色模糊、权责失衡、企业拯救成本攀升等一系列结构性困境。基于对这一市场趋势的密切关注与忧思，本文聚焦于制度逻辑的完整性、各方权责利的平衡性以及程序正义的可实现性，将依次追溯制度的生成逻辑，呈现规则图谱的留白现状，解剖功能偏移衍生的核心痛点，并最终尝试提出使预重整回归其商业谈判本质、约束于重整前协商程序的路径展望。笔者深信，唯有正视当前实践中的张力与悖论，方能推动这一重要企业风险纾困工具的行稳致远，真正实现其提升困境企业重生效率与公平的初心。

一、制度起源：中国本土语境下的生成逻辑与“生存突围”

Overview. The first Bankruptcy Law was introduced in 1993 (“1993 Law”). It remained in place for 10 years and was replaced in 2003 (“2003 Law”). Subsequently, the National Assembly adopted an entirely new bankruptcy law in 2014 (“2014 Law”[1]).

The casual dining and hospitality sector is navigating a period of profound upheaval, driven by macroeconomic pressures, regulatory uncertainty, and shifting consumer preferences. In this context, private equity and credit funds also face mounting distress, divergent brand fortunes, and a growing need for legal and transactional agility.

A Petition for Writ of Certiorari has been granted by the U.S. Supreme Court in Keathley v. Buddy Ayers Construction, Inc., Case No. 25-6, on a ruling from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.[Fn. 1]

The Question Presented in Kethley v. Buddy Ayers is this:

Corporate restructuring is a complex process that involves significant changes in the ownership, operations, or structure of a company. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the legal paths and procedures for corporate restructuring are well-defined and strictly regulated. Understanding these processes is crucial for businesses looking to navigate the intricate landscape of corporate law in the UAE.

What is Corporate Restructuring?

Highlights

In autumn of 2025, the English High Court decided that liquidators have unlimited personal exposure: they cannot contractually limit or exclude their personal liability for breach of duty. An application for permission to appeal that decision is now before the Court of Appeal.

In a move that exemplifies the flexibility of the UAE’s judicial system, the Dubai Court has issued a landmark ruling declaring the insolvency of an Arab national. The individual had accumulated civil debts totaling AED 736,000, leading to a complete inability to meet financial obligations.