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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…
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,…
FATIMA v FURAHA [2015] DIFC SCT 039 — Enforcement of SEO service contract non-payment (28 May 2015)
The Small Claims Tribunal affirms the sanctity of service agreements in the digital sector, ruling that a defendant’s failure to provide necessary cooperation and payment constitutes a fundamental breach, justifying a full award of the contract sum.
Najah v Namine [2024] DIFC SCT 038 — Enforcement of post-termination restrictive covenants (27 March 2024)
The dispute centered on the Claimant’s allegation that its former employee, the Defendant, breached post-termination restrictive covenants by soliciting two key clients—Naima and Nadine—following her move to a competitor firm, Nisa.
EDYTA v EFREN [2014] DIFC SCT 038 — Enforcement of tenancy obligations and eviction protocols (16 July 2014)
The dispute centers on a breach of a residential tenancy contract between the Claimant, a property management entity, and the Defendant, Efren. The Claimant initiated proceedings after the Defendant failed to vacate the premises following the expiration of his lease agreement on 19 February 2014.
NAZIR v NANCY [2024] DIFC SCT 037 — Refusal of permission to appeal following SCT dismissal (14 May 2024)
The litigation originated in the Small Claims Tribunal, where the Claimant, Nazir, sought to recover payment for two outstanding invoices totaling AED 52,500. The claim was predicated on the alleged provision of services under a contract, which the Defendant, Nancy, contested.
LASAKI v LAVESH [2021] DIFC SCT 037 — Dismissal of appeal for failure to meet ARDC 44.19 requirements (28 March 2021)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies that an appeal cannot be used to introduce new counterclaims or re-litigate jurisdictional points already adjudicated in the original judgment.
LOGAN v LUCINA [2020] DIFC SCT 036 — Dismissal of employment claims for commission and flight allowance (19 April 2020)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary burden required to substantiate variable compensation claims in the absence of clear contractual triggers.
EFFIE v EFRON [2014] DIFC SCT 036 — Small Claims Tribunal dispute over product quality and evidentiary standards (22 June 2014)
The dispute centered on a contract for the purchase of a custom-made, full lace wig. The Claimant, Effie, initiated the transaction after inquiring about product specifications via email.
LAKSHIT v LAKHI RESTAURANT, LOUNGE & BAR [2021] DIFC SCT 035 — Employment claim dismissed due to statutory limitation period (22 April 2021)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the strict application of the six-month limitation period under the DIFC Employment Law, confirming that back-dating termination dates triggers the clock for filing claims.