Maritime Shipping Lawyer Dubai

Dubai's ports and the Deira creek trade move enormous volumes of cargo every day — and with them, disputes: damaged or missing goods, unpaid freight, delayed vessels, rejected insurance claims, and contested demurrage. These cases are governed by the UAE Maritime Law and specialised international conventions, with short deadlines that ordinary commercial lawyers routinely miss. Rashid Al Suwaidi Advocates & Legal Consultants, based in Deira minutes from Port Saeed and the creek trading houses, represents traders, shippers, freight forwarders, and transport companies in maritime and transport disputes across the UAE.

Maritime & Transport Matters We Handle

• Cargo Damage and Loss Claims: Claims under bills of lading for damaged, short-delivered, or missing cargo — against carriers, and defence of carriers and forwarders against inflated claims. Time limits in cargo claims are unforgiving; some notices must be given within days of delivery.
• Ship Arrest and Release: Precautionary arrest of vessels in UAE ports to secure maritime debts — unpaid bunkers, crew wages, collision damage, unpaid freight — and urgent applications to release arrested vessels against guarantees.
• Charterparty and Freight Disputes: Demurrage claims, unpaid freight and hire, off-hire disputes, and disputes between owners, charterers, and agents.
• Marine Insurance Disputes: Rejected or underpaid hull and cargo insurance claims, and subrogated recovery actions.
• Land Transport and Logistics Disputes: Claims arising from road haulage, cross-border GCC trucking, warehousing, and freight forwarding contracts — including cargo theft, delay, and temperature-damage claims.
• Trade and Shipping Documentation: Drafting and reviewing contracts of carriage, forwarding terms, agency agreements, and letters of indemnity before they become disputes.

Why Deadlines Decide Maritime Cases

Maritime claims live and die on limitation periods: cargo claims under bills of lading are typically time-barred within one year, and reservation notices for apparent damage may need to be made at delivery itself. Arrest applications succeed on documentation quality and speed — a vessel that sails tonight cannot be arrested tomorrow. If you have a maritime or cargo dispute, the correct time to call is the day it happens, with the bill of lading, survey report, and correspondence in hand.

Why Choose Rashid Al Suwaidi Advocates

Maritime litigation in the UAE runs through the ordinary courts applying the Maritime Law — which means it rewards firms that combine commercial litigation experience with rights of audience before all Dubai courts. Our Deira location puts us in the middle of the creek and Port Saeed trading community we serve, and we conduct proceedings in Arabic while reporting to international clients in English. For traders, a retainer arrangement covering documentation review and dispute response is available.

Frequently Asked Questions — Maritime & Transport Law in the UAE

How long do I have to file a cargo claim in the UAE?

Cargo claims under bills of lading are generally time-barred one year from delivery (or the date the goods should have been delivered), and visible damage should be reserved in writing at delivery. Other transport claims carry their own periods — have the documents reviewed immediately.

Can a ship be arrested in Dubai for unpaid debts?

Yes. UAE law permits precautionary arrest of vessels for defined maritime debts, including unpaid supplies, crew wages, collision liabilities, and freight. The application is made urgently, supported by documentary proof of the debt, and can secure the claim before the vessel departs.

My cargo arrived damaged. Who do I claim against — the carrier or the insurer?

Usually both tracks run in parallel: the insurance claim for immediate recovery, and the liability claim against the carrier or forwarder — often pursued by the insurer through subrogation. The bill of lading terms, the survey report, and the notice given at delivery determine both claims.

Do UAE courts apply international shipping conventions?

The UAE Maritime Law incorporates principles aligned with international practice, and contractual choices of law and jurisdiction in bills of lading and charterparties are assessed by the courts case by case. Where arbitration clauses apply, we represent clients in the arbitration and in enforcing the award in the UAE.

Move Fast on Maritime Disputes — Contact Us

Send us the bill of lading, survey report, and correspondence today. Call +971 55 767 9696, message us on WhatsApp, or email info@ralsuwaidi.com.