ARTICLE
14 August 2017

UAE Legal Q&As: I Fear My Bank Is Overcharging Me Interest On Mortgage

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Dr. Hassan Elhais

Contributor

Dr. Hassan Elhais, a long-standing member of the prestigious Amal Alrashedi Lawyers & Legal Consultants, is a renowned legal consultant in the UAE, specializing in family law, criminal law, civil law, company incorporation, construction law, banking law, inheritance law, and arbitration. Dr. Elhais has gained wide recognition in the country, winning numerous awards and accolades. He was declared the Legal Consultant of the Year in 2026 by Leaders in Law. He was also elected as the co-chair of the ‘Relocation of Children Committee’ of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), a worldwide association of practicing lawyers, widely regarded as the most experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. Dr. Hassan Elhais’s continued recognition in the 2025 Chambers and Partners rankings for Family/Matrimonial services to High-Net-Worth individuals in the UAE from 2022-2025.
I have a mortgage and I've paid a lot of money to the bank I hold the mortgage with.
United Arab Emirates Finance and Banking
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Question: I have a mortgage and I've paid a lot of money to the bank I hold the mortgage with. When I requested a statement for the account, I found that the outstanding amount was beyond my expectations. I now suspect that the bank is not calculating the interest fairly. What can I do?

Answer: You have the right to file an expert case with the courts and this would mean that a civil servant with knowledge of the particular area would investigate and calculate the correct interest amount due. As detailed in article 69 of the UAE Law of Evidence, "the court may delegate one or more experts from the State civil servants, or from the experts registered in the schedule of experts, to have their opinion on matters required for deciding the case, when required". After the expert submits their report, if they find that you owe less than you're being charged, you could sue the bank to refund the extra amount you paid. Also, if the expert finds that you owe an amount less than what the bank is claiming, you have the right to request that the court asks the bank to declare that you do not owe more than this amount.

Question: What would happen if someone breaches bail conditions or the financial guarantee in a criminal investigation?

Answer: Should the accused, without satisfactory reason, fail to fulfil a condition, the money put up as bail becomes the property of the government, without the need for a court judgement to be made to ensure this. The bail amount is returned if the accused is found to be innocent but, ultimately, the court has the right to decide whether the whole amount is refunded, part of it or none of it, according to article 114 of the UAE Criminal Procedures Law.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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