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MIRMA v MOBAL [2025] DIFC ARB 004 — Finality of ICC Awards and Appellate Gatekeeping (27 January 2025)
The Court of Appeal confirms the high threshold for challenging arbitral awards, rejecting attempts to relitigate contractual variations and tortious liability under the guise of public policy.
MIRMA v MOBAL [2024] DIFC ARB 004 — Finality of ICC Awards and Appellate Gatekeeping
The DIFC Court of Appeal confirms the dismissal of challenges to an ICC arbitral award, reinforcing the high threshold for appellate intervention in arbitration enforcement.
MIRMA v MOBAL [2023] DIFC ARB 004 — Finality of ICC Awards and Appellate Gatekeeping (12 September 2023)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the procedural requirements for enforcing arbitral awards, confirming that recognition claims cannot be brought as counterclaims and reinforcing the high threshold for challenging arbitral finality.
LORALIA GROUP v LANDEN SAUDI COMPANY [2018] DIFC ARB 004 — Public Policy Challenges to Arbitral Cost Awards
The DIFC Court of First Instance affirms the finality of arbitral awards, ruling that a tribunal’s inclusion of a success-based fee component in a costs award does not inherently violate UAE public policy.
MURIF v MIPY [2023] DIFC ARB 003 — Permission granted to appeal costs assessment (21 November 2023)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the threshold for granting permission to appeal against a Registrar’s cost assessment, emphasizing the necessity of proportionality and alignment between the Bill of Costs and the specific orders issued by the Court.
PEARL PETROLEUM COMPANY v THE KURDISTAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ [2017] DIFC ARB 003 — Sovereign immunity waiver and the mandatory nature of the Riyadh Convention (20 August 2017)
The DIFC Court affirms that while contractual waivers of sovereign immunity are enforceable, the Riyadh Convention mandates strict adherence to international service procedures, overriding local rules on alternative service.
TECHTERYX v IG LIMITED [2026] DIFC DEC 001 — Expanding disclosure obligations for financial institutions in stablecoin fraud (3 April 2026)
The litigation arises from a massive financial fraud involving the alleged misappropriation of reserves backing a prominent stablecoin. Techteryx, the claimant, contends that significant portions of these reserves were diverted through complex channels, eventually landing in accounts held with the…
TECHTERYX v ARIA COMMODITIES [2025] DIFC DEC 001 — Refining the Digital Economy Court’s Injunctive Reach (17 October 2025)
The DIFC Digital Economy Court clarifies the boundaries of collateral document use and the enforcement of disclosure obligations in a high-stakes USD 456 million asset freeze.
TECHTERYX v ARIA COMMODITIES [2025] DIFC DEC 001 — Refining the Digital Economy Court’s Injunctive Reach (17 October 2025) [#1]
The DIFC Digital Economy Court confirms its robust stance on interim relief, maintaining a USD 456 million freeze against Aria Commodities DMCC to prevent the dissipation of assets linked to alleged stablecoin misappropriation.
TECHTERYX v ARIA COMMODITIES [2025] DIFC DEC 001 — Refining the Digital Economy Court’s Injunctive Reach (21 May 2025)
The DIFC Digital Economy Court reaffirms its authority to grant proprietary injunctions and worldwide freezing orders in support of foreign proceedings involving complex stablecoin reserve misappropriation.
TECHTERYX v ARIA COMMODITIES [2025] DIFC DEC 001 — Refining the Digital Economy Court’s Injunctive Reach (19 May 2025)
The DIFC Digital Economy Court continues to exert stringent oversight over a USD 456 million asset dispute, balancing the maintenance of worldwide freezing injunctions with rigorous procedural demands for security for costs.
TECHTERYX v ARIA COMMODITIES [2025] DIFC DEC 001 — Refining the Digital Economy Court’s Injunctive Reach (24 March 2025)
The litigation concerns a high-stakes claim of fraudulent conspiracy and constructive trust involving a massive transfer of stablecoin-related funds. The Claimant, Techteryx, a BVI-registered entity, alleges that Aria Commodities DMCC (Aria DMCC) is the recipient of USD 456 million transferred from…
TECHTERYX v ARIA COMMODITIES [2025] DIFC DEC 001 — Refining the Digital Economy Court’s Injunctive Reach (18 March 2025)
The Digital Economy Court (DEC) clarifies the procedural requirements for maintaining high-value asset freezes, mandating significant security for costs as a condition for the continuation of interim relief.
GAUGE INVESTMENTS v GANELLE CAPITAL [2016] DIFC ARB 003 — The Arbitrability of Regulatory Breaches (08 June 2016)
The DIFC Court of First Instance affirms that private civil claims founded on regulatory breaches are arbitrable, rejecting arguments that such disputes are reserved for the Dubai Financial Services Authority or contrary to UAE public policy.
WCT Berhad v Meydan Group [2016] DIFC ARB 003 — Judicial recusal and the threshold of bias (08 February 2016)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the high threshold for judicial recusal, affirming that robust judicial criticism of counsel and prior participation in related appellate panels do not constitute evidence of bias.
BANYAN TREE CORPORATE v MEYDAN GROUP [2017] DIFC ARB 003 — Permission to appeal procedural orders regarding legal representation (24 January 2017)
The DIFC Court of Appeal grants permission to appeal, scrutinizing the procedural mechanisms governing the cessation of legal representation and the court's power to issue retroactive replacement orders.
BANYAN TREE CORPORATE v MEYDAN GROUP [2015] DIFC ARB 003 — Final recognition and enforcement of a DIAC award
The DIFC Court of First Instance formalizes the enforcement of a multi-million dollar DIAC arbitral award, confirming the finality of the Banyan Tree jurisdictional precedent.
BANYAN TREE CORPORATE v MEYDAN GROUP [2014] DIFC ARB 003 — The Procedural Gateway to Appellate Review
This order marks the critical procedural shift in the Banyan Tree litigation, where the DIFC Court of First Instance granted leave to appeal a landmark judgment concerning the enforcement of DIAC arbitral awards.
MUFRA v MAPART [2023] DIFC ARB 002 — Interim Injunctions and the Threshold for Defences
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the high evidentiary bar for interim injunctive relief, confirming that a respondent’s plausible defence—even if not fully tested—precludes the automatic granting of an injunction.
EDWARD DUBAI v EEVI REAL ESTATE PARTNERS [2015] DIFC ARB 002 — The High Cost of Procedural Obstruction
The litigation concerns the enforcement of a DIAC arbitral award issued on 19 July 2015, following a protracted contractual dispute regarding the construction of a building known as "the Tower" within the DIFC.
MUZAMA v MIHANTI [2022] DIFC ARB 004 — Setting aside an ICC award in the oil and gas sector (08 February 2023)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the limits of judicial intervention in ICC arbitral awards, affirming that tribunals possess broad discretion to determine the scope of submissions and the commercial nature of state-linked conduct.
EDWARD DUBAI v EEVI REAL ESTATE PARTNERS [2015] DIFC ARB 002 — Interim freezing order pending DIAC award enforcement
The DIFC Court affirms its robust stance on the enforcement of arbitral awards, granting a US$224 million freezing order despite parallel annulment proceedings in the Dubai Civil Courts.
FRAN v FAIMIDA [2015] DIFC ARB 002 — Rejection of jurisdictional challenges to DIAC award enforcement
The litigation originated from a consultancy services agreement between the parties, which led to an arbitration conducted under the rules of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).
FABIOLA v FADDEY [2015] DIFC ARB 001 — Stay of enforcement pending Dubai annulment proceedings
The DIFC Court clarifies the threshold for staying enforcement of an arbitral award when bona fide annulment proceedings are active in the Dubai Civil Courts.