Can you leave the country with a debt case?

In several GCC countries a creditor can ask a court to stop a debtor from travelling. Paying or settling the debt is the usual way to lift the ban.

Gulf News reports that in the UAE a creditor can request a travel ban under Article 324 of the Civil Procedures Law where the debt is Dh10,000 or more and there are serious grounds to believe the debtor will flee.¹
Gulf News reports that a bounced cheque is treated as an executory deed in the UAE, so a creditor can open an execution case and ask for a ban.¹
An Arab News legal column says that in Saudi Arabia a ban linked to a financial lawsuit can be lifted if the defendant deposits the disputed amount with the court.²
Saudi Arabia's new Enforcement Law is expected to take effect on 28 October 2026. Al Tamimi and Company says travel bans under it require a request and are time-limited, and King and Spalding says each order can last up to three years, with an overall maximum of six years.^3,6
Gulf News reported that in Kuwait 43,289 people were banned from travel in the first half of 2024, with unpaid bills, rent and cheques among common triggers.⁴
Khaleej Times reported in 2015 that in Bahrain outstanding financial claims behind a court travel ban can be settled online without a court order.⁵
Bahrain's national portal lists a Ministry of Justice service for either party to a case to ask the judge to lift a travel ban based on a settlement.⁷

Sources