What is your deadline to claim after an accident?
Pick the claim and enter the date it runs from. The tool adds the period the law sets and shows the last day.
Which time limits does the law set?
| What | Period | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claim compensation for an injury or other harm | 3 years, never more than 15 years after the accident | The day you learned of the harm and who was responsible | Civil Transactions Law, Article 258 |
| Claim under an insurance policy | 3 years | The accident, or the date the report was issued | Civil Transactions Law, Article 966 |
| Labour law claim after a work injury | 2 years | The day the job ended | Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021, Article 54(9) |
| Domestic worker lawsuit | 3 months | The day the job ended | Federal Decree-Law 9 of 2022, Article 26(2) |
| Use an MOI unknown person report | 3 months | The accident, or the date the report was issued | Ministry of Interior service page. Counted from the date the report was issued |
| Use a Rafid report in Sharjah before renewal | 30 days | The accident, or the date the report was issued | Rafid. Counted from the date the report was issued |
Worked example: you were hurt on 12 November 2026 and learned who was responsible on 1 March 2027. Your compensation claim must be brought by 1 March 2030.
If the accident is also a crime, such as a road accident with injuries, and the criminal case can still be brought after the three years, the three years start only when the criminal case ends. Insurance claims have their own later start dates in some cases. The tool does not apply these exceptions.
Report a road accident within 3 hours. An employer reports a work injury to MOHRE within 48 hours. The tool does not move a deadline that falls on a weekend or holiday. Read the time limits guide.
Sources
- Federal Decree by Law No. (25) of 2025 Promulgating the Civil Transactions LawUAE Legislation portal. In force since 1 June 2026. Articles 253 to 272 and 966. Read 12 November 2026.
- Federal Decree by Law No. (33) of 2021 Regulating Labour RelationsUAE Legislation portal. Articles 1, 37, 38 and 54. Read 12 November 2026.
- Federal Decree-Law No. (9) of 2022 On Domestic WorkersUAE Legislation portal. Read 12 November 2026.
- Issue an Accident Report Against an Unknown PersonMinistry of Interior. Read 4 November 2026.
- Minor Traffic Accident Report in SharjahRafid. Read 6 November 2026.
- Federal Decree-Law No. (14) of 2024 On Traffic RegulationUAE Legislation portal. In force since 29 March 2025. Read 12 November 2026.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (33) of 2022 Concerning Work Injuries and Occupational DiseasesUAE Legislation portal. Schedules 2 and 3. Issued 11 April 2022. Read 12 November 2026.