Latest articles
NAHO v NEUKIRCHI [2024] DIFC SCT 415 — Permission to appeal granted regarding employment commencement dates (07 April 2025)
The dispute arises from the termination of the Claimant, Naho, by the Respondent, Neukirchi, on 23 May 2024. The Claimant sought various payments, including three months’ notice pay (AED 45,000) and various reimbursements, totaling a significant sum for an SCT claim.
MIRUYA v MAHUB [2022] DIFC SCT 414 — Unpaid wages and employment entitlements in the restaurant sector (09 March 2023)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden on employers regarding payroll records and the consequences of non-attendance at hearings in a dispute involving unpaid salary and statutory benefits.
LIBERTY v LINCOLN [2022] DIFC SCT 413 — Enforceability of contractual invoice dispute time-bars (26 December 2022)
The Small Claims Tribunal affirms that contractual time-bar clauses regarding invoice challenges are binding, rejecting attempts to stay civil recovery proceedings pending external disciplinary complaints.
NIARI v NUSEEB [2023] DIFC SCT 412 — Contractual duration and the limits of automatic renewal (11 January 2024)
The dispute arose from a hire agreement for equipment supplied by the Claimant, Niari, to the Defendant, Nuseeb, initiated on 24 January 2022. Following the initial 30-day hire period, the equipment remained on the Defendant’s premises, prompting the Claimant to issue subsequent monthly invoices.
Niphini v Nareb [2023] SCT 411 — Correcting party misidentification in the Small Claims Tribunal (03 January 2024)
The dispute in Niphini v Nareb [2023] SCT 411 centers on a claim initiated by the Claimant against Nareb, the primary corporate entity. However, upon filing the Claim Form on 17 October 2023, the Claimant also named an individual, Nukhad, as the Second Defendant.
LEAH v LEGACY [2022] DIFC SCT 410 — Employment dispute regarding absconding orders and notice period obligations (06 January 2023)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden for employees claiming payment in lieu of notice and confirms the court's authority to order the lifting of improperly maintained absconding orders.
Leo v Leona [2022] DIFC SCT 409 — Employment entitlement and absconding order dispute (06 January 2023)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden required for employees to claim payment in lieu of notice and the necessity of employer record-keeping for vacation leave entitlements.
LAIA v LAREDO [2022] DIFC SCT 408 — Employment entitlements and absconding order dispute (06 January 2023)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden for notice period pay and the necessity of lawful visa procedures following an employee’s resignation.
MARK v MARTHA CONTRACTING [2020] DIFC SCT 408 — Unpaid construction debt recovery (07 January 2021)
The litigation centered on a commercial supply relationship where the Claimant, a producer of adhesives and chemical products, sought to recover funds for materials delivered to the Defendant, a construction firm, between 2018 and 2019.
Panther Real Estate v Modern Executive Systems [2022] DIFC TCD 003: The High Cost of Abandonment and the Limits of FIDIC Termination
A deep dive into the DIFC Technology and Construction Division's rigorous approach to contract termination, liquidated damages, and the evidentiary threshold for completion costs.
KASPER INTERIORS DECORATION v KAIYA [2019] DIFC SCT 408 — Expert-led valuation in construction disputes (26 November 2019)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary threshold for construction claims by relying on court-appointed expert reports to resolve disputes over contract completion and variation costs.
NURIM v NISRA [2023] DIFC SCT 407 — Unpaid salary and termination penalty enforcement (22 December 2023)
The dispute concerns the failure of the Defendant, Nisra, to remunerate the Claimant, Nurim, for his final period of service. The Claimant, who began his tenure on 17 January 2023, sought recovery of unpaid wages covering August 2023 and the final 21 days of September 2023.
Nivan v Nysi [2023] DIFC SCT 406 — Default judgment for unpaid salary and qualifying scheme contributions (10 January 2024)
The dispute originated from an employment relationship governed by an Offer Letter dated 1 July 2022. The Claimant, Nivan, initiated proceedings against his former employer, Nysi, seeking recovery of outstanding remuneration and end-of-service entitlements.
LIV v LAVA [2022] DIFC SCT 406 — Employment disputes and the misuse of absconding procedures (30 December 2022)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the limits of employer authority regarding visa cancellation and the prohibition of using immigration-based absconding procedures to resolve internal employment contract disputes.
OLLA v OLGA [2025] DIFC SCT 405 — Refusal of permission to appeal in employment termination dispute (26 November 2025)
The DIFC Court of First Instance affirms the finality of Small Claims Tribunal findings regarding termination for cause, emphasizing the high threshold for appellate intervention in factual determinations.
NIRAN v NYSA [2023] DIFC SCT 403 — Visa cancellation and the strict application of employment limitation periods (27 December 2023)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the jurisdictional and temporal boundaries for employment-related counterclaims, emphasizing the mandatory nature of the six-month limitation period under DIFC Law No. 4 of 2021.
Letier v Lutiner [2020] DIFC SCT 402 — Jurisdiction and the limits of digital opt-in clauses (16 March 2021)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies that a mere hyperlink to terms and conditions in a welcome kit fails to establish a valid written agreement to submit to DIFC Court jurisdiction.
NAWAILAH v NAZAAHA [2024] DIFC SCT 400 — Employer’s obligation to cancel visa post-termination (29 October 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies that an employer’s statutory duty to cancel an employee’s visa remains absolute, regardless of pending regulatory penalties or collateral commercial disputes.
Mahut v Mishti [2023] DIFC SCT 399 — jurisdictional dismissal for lack of nexus and written opt-in (16 November 2023)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies that the absence of a DIFC nexus or a formal written opt-in agreement renders a claim ineligible for adjudication, regardless of the defendant's failure to object.
Nell v Nero [2023] DIFC SCT 397 — Enforcement of unpaid food supply invoices following admission of liability (16 January 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal affirms its jurisdiction over a DIFC Establishment and enters judgment for a claimant following the defendant's failure to comply with court-ordered financial reporting.
Moosub v Mior [2023] DIFC SCT 396 — Validity of non-exclusive opt-in clauses (27 November 2023)
The Small Claims Tribunal affirms that non-exclusive jurisdiction clauses are valid under the Judicial Authority Law, rejecting the necessity for forum exclusivity in opt-in agreements.
MINDALI v MEUN [2020] DIFC SCT 396 — SCT jurisdiction over consumer credit contracts (19 January 2021)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the limits of 'opt-in' jurisdiction, ruling that digital references to external terms and conditions are insufficient to establish a binding agreement to DIFC Court jurisdiction.
MAB CONSULT FZC v MABEL CONTRACTING CO LLC [2020] DIFC SCT 395 — dismissal of duplicate claim on res judicata grounds (14 January 2021)
The claimant, Mab Consult FZC, initiated proceedings in November 2020 seeking recovery of funds allegedly owed under a Professional Services Proposal dated 18 July 2017. The dispute centered on a principal debt and accumulated interest that the claimant argued remained outstanding.
MIXAH v MOLDAN INVESTMENTS [2020] DIFC SCT 394 — Employment commission dispute (21 January 2021)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden required for employees to trigger performance-based commission clauses in DIFC employment contracts.