Your client has a strong case, a court date and a defendant who lives in another country. The claim form must be served properly before anything else can happen. Get service wrong, and months of work can be wasted: the defendant challenges jurisdiction, the default judgment is set aside or the court orders you to start again.
Our international process service makes sure legal documents are served correctly, lawfully and with proof the court will accept. As an international process server network headquartered in Dubai and backed by the 30+ years of GREVESGROUP®, we handle service of process abroad in more than 100 countries, both by personal service and through the Hague Service Convention.
What Is International Process Service?
Process service is the formal delivery of legal documents to a party in a court case, giving them notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to respond. International process service is the same task carried out across borders, where the rules of two legal systems apply at once: the court where the case is filed and the country where the recipient lives.
Documents commonly served include claim forms, summonses, complaints, petitions, subpoenas, court orders, judgments, arbitration notices, statutory demands, winding-up petitions and other judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil and commercial matters.
Why Service Abroad Goes Wrong
Service abroad fails for predictable reasons:
- The wrong method is used for the destination country
- The destination country has objected to certain methods of service under the Hague Convention
- Documents are not translated when translation is required
- The recipient cannot be found at the address on file
- The proof of service does not meet the requirements of the issuing court
- Service is delayed so long that limitation periods or court deadlines are missed
Each of these is avoidable with the right planning and an experienced international process server. Before any attempt is made, we check the destination country's treaty position, its declarations and objections, translation rules and what the issuing court will need to see as proof. That upfront work is what makes service stick when the other side looks for a reason to challenge it.
Our Process Service Methods
Personal Service by Our Process Servers
Personal service means our process server physically hands the documents to the recipient, or to an authorised person at a company, in line with the rules of the issuing court and local law. It is often the fastest route and produces strong evidence of service, including date, time, location, description of the recipient and photographs where lawful. Whether personal service by a private agent is valid depends on the rules of the court where the case is filed and the law of the country where service takes place. We confirm this with you before we act.
Service Under the Hague Service Convention
The Hague Service Convention of 1965 sets out procedures for serving judicial and extrajudicial documents between contracting states in civil and commercial matters. Its main route is service through the Central Authority of the receiving country. The Convention also allows alternative channels, such as service through judicial officers or by post, unless the receiving state has objected to them. We prepare the request forms, arrange translations where required, submit the request and track it through to the certificate of service.
Service in Non-Hague Countries
Many countries, including the UAE and several other Gulf states, are not parties to the Hague Service Convention. In these jurisdictions service may be carried out through letters rogatory, diplomatic or consular channels, bilateral treaties, regional conventions or local court procedures, depending on the destination and the issuing court. We advise on the practical options and handle the process on the ground.
Locate and Serve
Sometimes the address is out of date. Our investigators trace the recipient through lawful skip tracing, record searches and field enquiries, then serve once they are located. This avoids failed attempts and repeated fees.
Service on Companies
We serve documents on companies at registered offices, places of business and through authorised officers, and verify the company's registered details before attempting service.
Proof of Service
Service is only as good as the evidence that it happened. After service we provide an affidavit of service or proof of service signed by the process server, setting out when, where, how and on whom the documents were served. Where required, we arrange notarisation and apostille or legalisation so the proof can be filed in the issuing court. For Hague Convention service, the Central Authority issues its own certificate.
Our Process Service Workflow
Instruction
You send the documents, recipient details, issuing court and any deadlines. We confirm the country's position under the Hague Convention and any objections to alternative methods.
Method advice
We recommend the most reliable method for the destination and your court's rules, and flag any translation needs.
Preparation
We prepare request forms, arrange certified translations and verify the recipient's address.
Service
Our process server makes the service attempts, or the request is lodged with the Central Authority or relevant court.
Proof
You receive the affidavit or certificate of service, notarised and apostilled where needed, with updates throughout. Timelines depend on the method and the destination country; personal service is usually quicker than official channels.
Who Uses Our Process Service
We serve documents for law firms, in-house legal teams, insolvency practitioners, liquidators, arbitration practitioners, debt recovery firms and corporates involved in cross-border disputes. Many of our instructions come from lawyers in the UK, Europe, the US, India and the GCC who need a reliable partner in a country they rarely deal with.
Process Service in the UAE and the Middle East
Serving documents in the UAE and wider Middle East raises specific questions: which emirate, which court system (onshore courts, DIFC or ADGM), whether Arabic translation is needed and how the foreign court will view the method of service. Headquartered in Dubai, our team deals with these questions daily and can advise on practical routes for process service in Dubai, the wider UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and beyond.
Why Choose Risk Investigators for Process Service
Hague and non-Hague expertise
We handle both Convention service and personal service, and know when each is appropriate.
Coverage in 100+ countries
One instruction, one point of contact, wherever the recipient is.
Court-ready proof
Affidavits and certificates prepared to meet the requirements of the issuing court.
Locate capability
Our investigators trace recipients who have moved, so service does not stall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hague Service Convention?
It is an international treaty from 1965 that sets out how judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil and commercial matters are served between member countries. Each member designates a Central Authority to receive and execute service requests, and alternative methods may be allowed unless a country has objected.
Is the UAE a member of the Hague Service Convention?
No. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Service Convention. Service in the UAE is carried out through other routes, such as letters rogatory, treaties, local court procedures or personal service where acceptable to the issuing court.
How long does international process service take?
It depends on the method and the country. Personal service is often completed quickly once the recipient is located. Service through a Central Authority or letters rogatory can take considerably longer. We give you an estimate when we accept the instruction.
Do documents need to be translated?
Often, yes. Many countries require documents to be translated into their official language, especially for service through the Central Authority. We arrange certified translations where needed.
What proof of service will I receive?
You receive a signed affidavit or proof of service with full details of the service, notarised and apostilled or legalised if required. For Hague Central Authority service, the Authority issues a certificate of service.
What if the recipient avoids service or cannot be found?
Our investigators carry out lawful locate enquiries and make multiple service attempts. If service still cannot be completed, we provide a detailed non-service report to support an application for alternative service.