How do you start collecting an unpaid business invoice in Dubai?
Start by identifying the contracting company, reconciling the outstanding balance and gathering the evidence behind the invoice. A collection partner can then review the file, contact the debtor and explore payment or settlement. If the balance is disputed or amicable contact does not resolve it, a separate legal review may be appropriate.
ICG Middle East Commercial Services FZCO (ICG MECOS) is a licensed debt collection company based in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai. Our service starts with amicable commercial recovery, with tracing and coordination with licensed local legal counsel where needed. Recovery outcomes depend on the evidence, the debtor's position and the facts of the case; payment is not guaranteed.
Documents to prepare before referring a debt
Gather the signed contract or agreed trading terms, purchase orders, unpaid invoices and a current statement of account. Include available delivery notes, acceptance records or payment certificates that connect the amount claimed to the goods or services supplied.
Provide the debtor company's exact legal name, available trade licence or registration details, contact information and the location where it operates. Keep correspondence acknowledging the balance, reminders, any objections, settlement proposals and records of partial payments. Explain which amounts are disputed rather than treating the whole account as undisputed.
This is a practical file-review checklist, not a list of mandatory court documents. The evidence and any further documents needed for a specific legal step should be confirmed with qualified counsel.
What happens during amicable debt collection?
Once the balance and instruction are reviewed, the collection team contacts the debtor, asks for its position and seeks a payment commitment. The approach can include written reminders, direct negotiation and a proposed settlement or instalment arrangement for the creditor to consider.
Agree in advance who can approve discounts or payment plans and how recovered payments will be reconciled. Keep written records of contact, proposals and agreed next steps so your finance team can track the file without losing the collection trail.
What if the debtor disputes the invoice or cannot be reached?
A dispute should be assessed against the contract, delivery evidence and correspondence. Identify whether it concerns the amount, performance, the contracting entity or payment already made. Collection activity is not a substitute for resolving the underlying contractual issue.
Where contact details have changed, our tracing and investigation service helps assess the debtor's current position using available company information and registry sources. The scope and availability of evidence vary by case and jurisdiction; tracing does not guarantee that recoverable assets will be found.
When is legal escalation considered?
If amicable recovery stalls, licensed local counsel can review the contract and evidence before the creditor decides whether to pursue a legal route. The applicable jurisdiction, any dispute-resolution clause, likely costs and the debtor's position matter to that decision.
ICG MECOS coordinates escalation with licensed local legal counsel; collection and legal representation are distinct roles. Do not assume that every unpaid invoice follows the same procedure, notice period or timeline. Obtain case-specific legal advice before taking proceedings or enforcement steps.
How much does debt collection cost?
Request a written fee proposal after the file has been reviewed. ICG MECOS offers success-fee-based commercial recovery, and Decol Services presents its recovery offer as No Recovery, No Fee. Confirm the conditions of the particular engagement rather than assuming that every cost or every case is covered by that wording.
Ask what percentage or other fee applies, what counts as a recovered payment, how direct payments and instalments are treated, and whether tracing, legal review or third-party costs are separate. Legal escalation should be scoped and agreed separately. No universal price or recovery timescale is promised here.
Can a Dubai agency help with GCC or international debt?
ICG MECOS supports commercial debt recovery across the UAE and GCC and works internationally through the Infocredit Group network. Tell the team where the debtor and the contracting entity are located so the appropriate local support can be assessed.
Before instructing a cross-border case, clarify the proposed local handling, reporting arrangements and any separate costs. A Dubai-based instruction does not make UAE procedures applicable to a debtor in another jurisdiction.
Request a commercial debt file review
Share the debtor's legal name, jurisdiction, outstanding amount, agreed payment terms, available evidence and a brief account of previous collection attempts with our Dubai team. We can discuss whether amicable recovery, tracing or a separate legal review is an appropriate next step.
This article is general information from the ICG MECOS team, not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, speak to a qualified adviser or your regulator.