Latest articles
NEVILLE v NESTOR AND NEWTON [2024] DIFC SCT 142 — Enforcement of legal service fee invoices (05 August 2024)
The dispute arose from a professional services agreement between Neville, a DIFC-registered law firm, and the Defendants, Nestor and Newton. The Claimant sought recovery of AED 485,970 in unpaid legal fees incurred while representing the Defendants in a separate Court of First Instance (CFI)…
Nasib v Navidad and Nabeel [2024] DIFC ARB 008: The High Bar for Stays Pending Appeal
How the DIFC Courts balance the finality of arbitral awards against the procedural rights of appellants On 13 August 2024, H.E.
MAGNAR BANK v MAHFUZ [2022] DIFC SCT 142 — Debt recovery and evidentiary standards in the Small Claims Tribunal (03 June 2022)
The dispute centered on the recovery of outstanding arrears arising from two distinct financial products: a personal loan and a credit card facility. Magnar Bank initiated the action to recover a total sum of AED 234,704.18, alleging that the Defendant had failed to maintain the required repayment…
NORMA v NUNZIO [2024] DIFC SCT 141 — Refusal of permission to appeal in Small Claims Tribunal contract dispute (13 September 2024)
The dispute centered on an alleged breach of a written contract dated 27 February 2024, under which the Claimant, Norma, acted as a promoter for the Defendant’s restaurant and nightclub.
NORMA v NUNZIO [2024] DIFC SCT 141 — Dismissal of venue promotion commission claim (12 August 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden for service providers seeking unpaid commissions and ancillary fees under venue promotion agreements.
NORMA v NUNZIO [2024] DIFC SCT 141 — Small Claims Tribunal set aside order (05 June 2024)
The DIFC Small Claims Tribunal vacates a default judgment after the Defendant demonstrates a realistic prospect of success and provides evidence of technical impediments to attendance.
HEITOR v HELAH [2017] DIFC SCT 141 — Misrepresentation and the rescission of settlement agreements (01 August 2017)
The dispute centered on the Claimant’s attempt to recover AED 204,422.28, which represented the first installment paid to the Defendant under a March 2017 settlement agreement. The Claimant, a DIFC-based company, argued that it had been induced to enter into this agreement under false pretenses.
MIRTU v MOUNI [2023] DIFC SCT 139 — Employment claim for unpaid salary and gratuity (06 June 2023)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden on employers to prove DEWS registration when disputing statutory end-of-service gratuity calculations.
Lium v Lartis [2022] DIFC SCT 139 — Corporate continuity and liability for unpaid invoices (18 October 2022)
The dispute centered on the recovery of outstanding payments for wholesale electrical equipment supplied by Lium to Lartis between December 2020 and April 2021. Lium alleged that despite the successful delivery of materials—confirmed by signed invoices—Lartis failed to settle the accounts,…
LUDIALA v LUCAAN LIMITED [2020] DIFC SCT 139 — Restrictive covenants and employment misrepresentation (13 July 2020)
The dispute arose following the termination of the Claimant, a highly experienced foreign exchange and financial derivatives broker, by the Defendant, a financial brokerage firm operating within the DIFC.
MAINA v MAJ INVEST [2022] DIFC SCT 138 — Enforceability of automatic assignment clauses in consultancy agreements (01 June 2022)
The dispute centered on a Consultancy Agreement dated 25 August 2020, under which the Claimant provided financial and bookkeeping services to facilitate the Defendant’s incorporation and regulatory licensing within the DIFC.
Halle v Hahn [2017] DIFC SCT 138 — Employment entitlement dispute and Article 18 penalty enforcement (09 July 2017)
The dispute centered on the Claimant’s pursuit of unpaid wages and end-of-service benefits following the termination of her employment with the Defendant, who operated the DIFC branch of Harriet Lounge LLC.
Jabilo v Jedoun [2019] DIFC SCT 137 — A Small Claims Tribunal ruling on security deposit deductions (13 June 2019)
This Small Claims Tribunal judgment clarifies the evidentiary burden placed on landlords when justifying maintenance deductions from a tenant's security deposit at the end of a tenancy.
LORENZO v LILITH RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE [2022] DIFC SCT 136 — Employment status and payroll record-keeping obligations (31 May 2022)
The dispute centered on a series of unpaid employment entitlements following the termination of the Claimant’s tenure. The Claimant sought to recover a total of AED 55,040, encompassing salary arrears, annual leave compensation, public holiday pay, and an airfare allowance.
LEIGHTON v LANEYL HOUSE HOSPITALITY [2020] DIFC SCT 136 — Employment entitlements during Covid-19 (01 July 2020)
The Small Claims Tribunal affirms that financial hardship caused by the global pandemic does not absolve a DIFC employer from its statutory and contractual obligations to pay end-of-service benefits.
Iapetus Rental v Ibby Ship Repairing [2018] DIFC SCT 136 — Enforcement of unpaid equipment rental invoices (11 June 2018)
The dispute arose from a series of equipment rental transactions initiated in August 2016. The Claimant, Iapetus Rental, alleged that the Defendant, Ibby Ship Repairing, failed to settle six invoices generated over the course of their business relationship.
LUHART v LIFAN [2022] DIFC SCT 135 — Dismissal of renewed application for permission to appeal (12 December 2022)
The DIFC Small Claims Tribunal confirms that accepting performance of a contract variation by conduct precludes a party from later disputing the associated costs, reinforcing the evidentiary burden required to challenge quantum on appeal.
MATAN v MUTHIL [2022] DIFC SCT 135 — Enforcing contractual obligations in the construction sector (10 August 2022)
The DIFC Small Claims Tribunal affirms the principle of privity of contract, ruling that a subcontractor’s right to payment cannot be defeated by a main contractor’s independent disputes with third-party project owners.
LORENZO v LELITH HOUSE HOSPITALITY [2020] DIFC SCT 134 — Jurisdiction over employment disputes involving DIFC-registered entities (18 May 2020)
The dispute concerned an employment claim filed by the Claimant, Lorenzo, against his former employer, Lelith House Hospitality, Dubai Design District - Lachlan Restaurant Ltd, for a total sum of AED 12,000.
JHUMU BANK v JAFAN [2019] DIFC SCT 134 — Enforcement of defaulted credit facilities (13 June 2019)
The dispute centered on the recovery of outstanding balances arising from a dual-facility agreement entered into between Jhumu Bank (PJSC) and the defendant, Jafan. The claimant sought to recover funds totaling AED 414,109.74, which comprised the remaining balance of a personal loan and an…
ORPHIA v ORREL [2025] DIFC CFI 133 — Refusal of permission to appeal SCT judgment (08 September 2025)
The litigation originated as an employment-related claim brought by Orphia against Orrel, which resulted in a comprehensive dismissal of the Claimant’s case and a successful counterclaim by the Defendant.
LASZLO v LAZUSI SOLUTIONS [2020] DIFC SCT 133 — Unsubstantiated salary reduction claims in employment disputes (28 July 2020)
The dispute concerned the termination of an employment relationship between the Claimant, Laszlo, and the Defendant, Lazusi Solutions Limited, which operated within the DIFC. The Claimant sought recovery of unpaid salary, payment in lieu of accrued annual leave, and end-of-service gratuity…
Genisis v Griame LLC [2016] DIFC SCT 131 — Employment dispute regarding unpaid salary and visa cancellation (16 November 2016)
The dispute originated when the Claimant, Genisis, filed a claim against Griame LLC for unpaid salary and the cancellation of her employment visa. The Defendant initially sought to avoid the jurisdiction of the DIFC Courts, arguing that the matter was not properly before the Small Claims Tribunal.
LEUFA v LUCAE PIPING COMPANY [2020] DIFC SCT 130 — Default judgment for unpaid equipment hire invoices (08 July 2020)
The dispute originated from a commercial equipment rental arrangement between Leufa LLC (the Claimant) and Lucae Piping Company WLL (the Defendant). The Claimant sought recovery of outstanding payments for the rental of a 40m lift provided to the Defendant’s site in Dubai between April and August…