Latest articles
NOEL v NORBERT [2024] DIFC SCT 051 — Enforceability of 'pay-if-not-paid' clauses in service agreements (05 June 2024)
The dispute arises from a breach of contract claim initiated by the Claimant, Noel, against the Defendant, Norbert, concerning unpaid invoices for professional services. The Claimant provided set-up services for security trustee, delegate administration, and accounting functions under an agreement…
Lulan Commercial Bank v Larina [2020] DIFC SCT 050 — Digital terms and conditions and the limits of DIFC jurisdiction (29 April 2020)
This Small Claims Tribunal judgment clarifies the evidentiary threshold for establishing DIFC jurisdiction via "opt-in" clauses, specifically rejecting website-based terms as a substitute for a signed written agreement.
DEDRICK v DAYA [2013] DIFC SCT 050 — Employment contract waiver and bonus eligibility (05 December 2013)
The dispute arose from the termination of the Claimant’s employment, which spanned from 2009 to 2013. Following his departure, the Claimant initiated proceedings in the Small Claims Tribunal seeking financial redress for what he characterized as a breach of his contractual notice provisions and an…
HALOKE v HALIL PJSC [2017] DIFC SCT 049 — Jurisdictional limitations of the Small Claims Tribunal (11 April 2017)
The dispute arose from a 2008 Sale and Purchase Agreement for an off-plan unit located in the Business Bay area of Dubai. The Claimant, Haloke, sought the reimbursement of AED 343,950 in paid instalments after the Defendant, Halil PJSC, terminated the agreement following a dispute over completion…
Gautama Shipping v Gazsi Shipping and Logistics [2016] DIFC SCT 048 — jurisdictional dismissal for non-DIFC shipping dispute (26 April 2016)
This Small Claims Tribunal order clarifies the strict application of jurisdictional gateways for shipping disputes involving non-DIFC entities, resulting in the dismissal of a USD $113,696.17 claim.
LIPIKA v LUKESH [2021] DIFC SCT 047 — Employment dispute over unpaid salary, expenses, and data loss allegations (08 April 2021)
The dispute originated from the termination of an employment relationship between the Claimant, a Senior Salesforce Engineer, and the Defendant, a software company based in the DIFC.
DARINA v DAX [2013] DIFC SCT 047 — Evidentiary thresholds for oral employment agreements (05 December 2013)
This Small Claims Tribunal judgment clarifies the high evidentiary burden placed on claimants seeking to enforce alleged oral employment agreements in the absence of written contracts or formal offers.
NABIHA v NOELL [2024] DIFC SCT 046 — Enforceability of legal service agreements in the Small Claims Tribunal (26 March 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal affirms that a service provider is entitled to full payment under a contract when the client fails to provide admissible evidence of a valid termination notice.
MUKAR v MAUTI [2023] DIFC SCT 046 — Permission to appeal granted regarding public holiday calculations (02 May 2023)
The underlying litigation involves an employment claim brought by the Claimant, Mukar, against the Defendant, Mauti. Following a judgment issued by H.E. Justice Nassir Al Nasser on 10 March 2023, the Defendant sought to challenge the findings of the Small Claims Tribunal.
LANAKILA v LANG [2022] DIFC SCT 046 — Property dispute regarding unpaid rent and sub-tenancy eviction (13 May 2022)
The dispute centered on a breach of a property lease agreement involving a landlord, a corporate tenant, and a subtenant. The Claimant, Lanakila, sought recovery for unpaid rent, service charges, and penalties arising from the First Defendant’s failure to fulfill its financial obligations under the…
Lufto v Linide [2022] DIFC ARB 011: The High Cost of Procedural Obfuscation in Award Enforcement
How a failure to navigate the DIFC’s clear enforcement pathways turned a USD 80 million award dispute into a lesson on judicial patience. On 7 July 2022, H.E.
NEVEAH v NOA [2024] DIFC SCT 045 — Dismissal of claim for failed Salesforce implementation (24 April 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the enforceability of contractual "deemed acceptance" clauses in software development agreements, ruling that a failure to object within a stipulated 30-day window precludes subsequent claims for breach of contract.
LINEESH v LAHARI [2021] DIFC SCT 045 — Enforcement of tenancy notice periods and overstay charges (04 April 2021)
The dispute centers on a tenancy agreement for a unit within the DIFC, where the Claimant, Lineesh, sought to recover outstanding rent and overstay charges following the expiration of the contract.
NOOR v NEIL [2024] DIFC SCT 044 — Employment entitlement offsets and visa regularization (28 May 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden for employer training cost deductions and mandates the immediate withdrawal of absconding charges following an employment dispute.
Ferenc v Fenella [2015] DIFC SCT 044 — Landlord’s failure to substantiate security deposit deductions (28 May 2015)
The dispute arose following the termination of a tenancy agreement for apartment 2803 in Dubai. The Claimant, Ferenc, sought the full return of his AED 4,500 security deposit after vacating the premises.
NELSON v NIGEL [2024] DIFC SCT 043 — Strict enforcement of Article 19 end-of-service payment penalties (01 April 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the timeline for triggering statutory penalties under the DIFC Employment Law, ruling that negotiation periods do not automatically toll the 14-day payment window.
Olive v Onyx [2025] DIFC SCT 042 — Clarifying the limits of employer set-offs for excess vacation leave (19 September 2025)
This decision establishes that Article 28 of the DIFC Employment Law functions strictly as a mechanism for deduction from final payments, rather than a standalone cause of action for employers to recover damages for excess vacation leave.
Langer v Laqueta [2022] DIFC SCT 042 — Employment liability for visa processing and termination (18 April 2022)
The Claimant, Langer, initiated proceedings against the Defendant, Laqueta, following the cessation of his employment in January 2022. The dispute centered on a series of unpaid entitlements and damages resulting from the Defendant's failure to formalize his employment status and visa.
LAOGHAIRE v LAQUITA [2022] DIFC SCT 041 — SCT judgment on unpaid hire agreement invoices (13 October 2022)
The dispute centered on a series of unpaid invoices for construction equipment rental provided by the Claimant, Laoghaire, to the First Defendant, Laquita, between 2020 and 2021. Despite the Claimant’s efforts to secure payment for the equipment, which was deployed across various project locations,…
Latoya v Legland [2021] DIFC SCT 041 — Breach of hire agreement and default judgment (12 July 2022)
The dispute centered on the failure of the defendants to settle outstanding invoices for construction equipment rented from the claimant, Latoya, between 2020 and 2021. Despite the equipment being delivered to various locations as requested by the defendants, the claimant alleged that no payments…
ICHRO FZE v IESHA [2018] SCT 041 — Unilateral invoice clauses and the limits of DIFC jurisdiction (05 February 2018)
The Claimant, Ichro Fze, sought to recover AED 6,200 for photography services provided to the Defendant, Iesha. The dispute centered on whether the inclusion of a jurisdiction clause within the Claimant’s invoices was sufficient to establish the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT).
NOAH v NICOLE [2024] DIFC SCT 039 — Unpaid salary and visa cost recovery dispute (28 May 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the strict prohibition on employers recouping recruitment and visa costs, reinforcing the mandatory nature of salary payments regardless of business operational status.
LEKISHA v LELIMA TECHNICAL CONTRACTING [2021] DIFC SCT 039 — Admission of liability via email correspondence (16 March 2021)
The dispute centered on a contractual disagreement arising from a Hire Agreement executed between the parties on 20 November 2018. The Claimant, Lekisha, initiated proceedings in the DIFC Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) to recover an outstanding balance of AED 21,589.69.
LIZZI v LIGNA SECURITIES LIMITED [2020] DIFC SCT 039 — Employment bonus deductions and end of service gratuity calculation (30 March 2020)
The dispute centered on two primary financial grievances brought by the Claimant, Lizzi, against his former employer, Ligna Securities Limited, DIFC Branch. The Claimant alleged that the Defendant had engaged in a pattern of unjustified deductions from his remuneration throughout his tenure,…