Latest articles
DIFC COURTS ORDER NO. 1 OF 2015 — Establishing the provisional registration framework for legal practitioners (09 February 2015)
DIFC Courts Order No. 1 of 2015 serves as the primary regulatory instrument governing the admission of legal professionals into Part II of the Courts’ Register of Practitioners. The order was necessitated by the need to streamline the oversight of individuals appearing before the bench, ensuring…
DIFC Courts Order No. 1 of 2014 — Formal appointment of Small Claims Tribunal members (06 February 2014)
The primary objective of this order was to bolster the operational capacity of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) by formally appointing Judicial Officers Maha Al Mehairi and Nassir Al Nasser as members.
RIGHTS TO CONDUCT PROCEEDINGS AND RIGHTS OF AUDIENCE [2012] DIFC CAO 1 — Regulatory framework for legal representation (03 January 2012)
The primary objective of this order was to formalize the requirements for legal practitioners appearing before the DIFC Courts, moving away from the interim arrangements that had governed the jurisdiction since 2005.
DIFC Courts Order No. 1 of 2010 v Small Claims Tribunal [2010] DIFC CAO 001 — Defining the jurisdictional boundaries of the SCT (12 January 2010)
The Order provides a clear framework for the SCT's competence, distinguishing between mandatory and elective jurisdiction. For standard claims, the SCT is empowered to hear matters where the value of the claim or subject matter does not exceed AED 100,000.
DIFC COURTS Order No. 3 of 2025 — Appointment of additional members to the Small Claims Tribunal (03 November 2025)
The issuance of Order No. 3 of 2025 serves as a formal administrative mechanism to bolster the operational capacity of the Small Claims Tribunal. By appointing four additional members, the Chief Justice ensures that the tribunal remains adequately staffed to handle the volume of smaller claims…
DIFC COURTS Order No. 2 of 2023 — Expansion of the Small Claims Tribunal (30 October 2023)
The issuance of Order No. 2 of 2023 serves as a formal administrative mechanism to bolster the judicial capacity of the Small Claims Tribunal. By appointing Alanood Alriyami and Marisa Shannon Herriot as additional members, the Chief Justice addressed the operational necessity of maintaining a…
DIFC COURTS Order No. 1 of 2023 — Appointment of Additional Member to the Small Claims Tribunal (01 June 2023)
The issuance of Order No. 1 of 2023 serves as a formal administrative mechanism to expand the judicial resources available to the Small Claims Tribunal. By appointing an additional member, the Chief Justice ensures that the SCT maintains its operational efficiency in handling the increasing volume…
TIMOTHY HUGH CHRISTIAN TAYLOR v ARLETTE JOELLE MARIE MADELEINE YAO AFFI [2026] DIFC CFI 271 — Assessment of indemnity costs following enforcement proceedings (01 April 2026)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the scope of indemnity cost assessments, confirming that proportionality arguments are excluded when costs are awarded on an indemnity basis.
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2021] DIFC ENF 221 — Registrar’s dismissal of application to restrict public access to enforcement records (09 March 2021)
The dispute arises from the ongoing enforcement efforts by FAL Oil Company against the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA). The underlying matter involves the recognition and enforcement of a judgment or arbitral award, a process that has generated significant procedural activity within…
FAROOQ AL ALAWI v LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC [2011] DIFC ENF 002 — Execution of Bahraini Family Court judgment (19 January 2011)
The dispute centered on the enforcement of a foreign judgment issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain Family Courts, specifically judgment number 15/2011/235/6, dated 30 November 2011. The applicant, Farooq Al Alawi, sought to compel the respondents, Lloyds TSB Bank PLC and Credit Suisse AG, to recognize…
GTC TRADING S.A v HAZEM ABDOLSHAHID MAHMOUDI RASHED [2024] DIFC ENF 022 — Refusal of stay of execution pending appeal (18 January 2024)
The litigation concerns the enforcement of a substantial judgment debt totaling AED 91,786,854.20, which originated from a final judgment issued by the Dubai Court. GTC Trading S.A (the Claimant) sought to enforce this debt against Hazem Abdolshahid Mahmoudi Rashed (the First Defendant) and H.M.R…
TIMOTHY HUGH CHRISTIAN TAYLOR v ARLETTE JOELLE MARIE MADELEINE YAO AFFI [2026] DIFC CFI 271 — Enforcement of foreign matrimonial financial orders (11 March 2026)
The DIFC Court of First Instance affirms that the absence of local assets does not bar the enforcement of foreign judgments, dismissing a challenge to a receivership order rooted in failed allegations of bigamy.
OAKLEN v OBADIAH [2025] DIFC CFI ENF 269/2023 — Renewed applications for permission to appeal Part 50 examination orders (01 July 2025)
The DIFC Court of Appeal clarifies the jurisdictional limits and appellate standards governing the examination of judgment debtors’ officers under RDC Part 50.
OAKLEN v OBADIAH [2025] DIFC CFI ENF 269/2023 — Dismissal of appeal against RDC 50.2 examination order (29 April 2025)
The dispute centers on the enforcement of a DIFC-LCIA arbitral award valued at AED 73 million against the judgment debtor, Obadiah. Following the recognition of the award, the claimant, Oaklen, sought an examination order under RDC 50.2 to compel the officers of the judgment debtor—Ozias, Ori, and…
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2021] DIFC ENF 221 — Default costs certificate for enforcement proceedings (13 July 2021)
The dispute centers on the recovery of legal costs incurred by FAL Oil Company during the enforcement proceedings against the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority. Following the Applicant’s filing of a Notice of Commencement of Assessment on 25 May 2021, the Respondent failed to engage with the…
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2021] DIFC ENF 221 — Assessment of enforcement costs (17 March 2021)
The dispute concerns the recovery of legal costs incurred by Fal Oil Company (the Applicant) during the enforcement proceedings against the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (the Respondent).
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2021] DIFC ENF 221 — Registrar’s determination on public access to enforcement records (09 March 2021)
The core of this procedural dispute involved a request by Citibank N.A., London Branch, to access the case pleadings, judgments, and orders associated with the enforcement proceedings initiated by FAL Oil Company against the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA).
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2021] DIFC CFI 221 — Ratification of domestic UAE judgments (16 February 2021)
FAL Oil Company (FAL) sought to ratify a 2016 Sharjah Court of First Instance judgment against the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) for the principal sum of AED 1,709,220,465, plus interest.
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2021] DIFC ENF 221 — Registrar’s refusal of third-party access to enforcement pleadings (25 January 2021)
The dispute in ENF 221/2019 centers on the enforcement proceedings initiated by Fal Oil Company against the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA). While the primary litigation concerns the enforcement of a judgment, the specific matter before Registrar Nour Hineidi involved a third-party…
Murif v Mipy [2023] DIFC ARB 003: The Limits of Proportionality in Arbitral Costs Assessments
How a procedural oversight in the Bill of Costs triggered a successful appeal against the Registrar’s assessment. On 21 November 2023, H.E.
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2021] DIFC ENF 221 — Registrar’s refusal of third-party access to enforcement records (19 January 2021)
The Registrar of the DIFC Courts exercises case management discretion to deny a third-party request for access to sensitive enforcement pleadings and orders.
FAL OIL v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2020] DIFC ENF 221 — Amendment of procedural deadlines for skeleton arguments (30 September 2020)
The litigation under case number ENF 221/2019 concerns the enforcement of a non-DIFC judgment within the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction. The Applicant, FAL Oil Co. Ltd, seeks to enforce an external judgment against the Respondent, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority.
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2020] DIFC ENF 221 — Procedural amendment for oral hearing (16 September 2020)
The dispute concerns the enforcement of a legal obligation within the DIFC jurisdiction, initiated by the Applicant, Fal Oil Company, against the Respondent, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA).
FAL OIL COMPANY v SHARJAH ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY [2020] DIFC ENF 221 — Procedural amendment to enforcement proceedings (08 September 2020)
The litigation under case number ENF 221/2019 concerns an enforcement action initiated by Fal Oil Company against the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA). While the specific underlying arbitral award or judgment debt is not detailed in the public record of this procedural order, the case…