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MILLIE v MATHEW [2020] DIFC SCT 362 — Enforcement of restructured loan obligations (12 January 2021)
The Small Claims Tribunal affirms the enforceability of a restructured loan agreement and confirms the application of statutory interest rates on judgment debts.
IRMA v ISAAC [2017] DIFC SCT 362 — Employment termination and unpaid entitlements (28 February 2018)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the application of statutory notice periods and the court's power to adjudicate in the absence of a non-responsive employer.
MACHELM v MADGE [2021] DIFC SCT 360 — Permission to appeal construction dispute findings (09 May 2022)
The underlying dispute in Machelm v Madge concerns the accuracy of work completion assessments in a construction contract. Following a judgment issued by SCT Judge Delvin Sumo on 18 April 2022, the Claimant, Machelm, sought to challenge the findings regarding the status of site inspections and the…
Latrisha and Leehi v Leetov Middle East [2021] DIFC SCT 360 — Adjudicating payment disputes for variation works (18 April 2022)
The dispute centered on a claim for payment regarding eight distinct "Variation Works" commissioned under an agreement dated 14 and 18 July 2021. The Claimants sought a total of AED 308,032.84, asserting that the Defendant had formally approved the work and committed to a payment schedule.
Kyle v The Kaitlyn Investment Office [2019] DIFC SCT 359 — Employer’s unilateral deduction of end of service gratuity (23 October 2019)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the strict separation between employment entitlements and independent investment obligations, ruling that employers cannot unilaterally offset gratuity payments against disputed loan note liabilities.
LUTUNE v LACTI [2021] DIFC SCT 358 — Forensic validation of jurisdictional contracts (15 September 2022)
The dispute originated when the Claimant, Lutune, a Saudi Arabian entity, filed a claim in the DIFC Courts’ Small Claims Tribunal seeking the recovery of financial dues allegedly owed by the Defendant, Lacti.
Jaasiel v Jeecia [2018] DIFC SCT 358 — Breach of Letter of Intent and recovery of acquisition deposits (23 June 2019)
The dispute arose from a failed transaction involving the acquisition of "Jagrati Ladies Saloon." The Claimant, Mr. Jaasiel, sought to recover a total of AED 93,125, comprising a deposit of AED 60,000 and AED 34,125 in due diligence costs. The Claimant alleged that the Defendant, Ms.
LITAF v LEDART [2022] DIFC SCT 357 — Admissibility of snag lists in tenancy security deposit disputes (16 November 2022)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary weight of move-in condition reports when a landlord disputes the authority of an agent to bind them to pre-existing defect records.
Matar v Manisha [2020] DIFC SCT 357 — Enforcement of personal loan obligations following redundancy (04 January 2021)
The dispute centered on the recovery of an outstanding debt arising from a personal loan agreement entered into by the parties on 28 July 2016. The Claimant, a bank, initiated proceedings after the Defendant ceased making the required monthly installments of AED 12,279.
Nafrin v Nahlah [2024] DIFC SCT 356 — recruitment fee dispute and the burden of proof (16 October 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary threshold required for recruitment agencies to claim introduction fees when a candidate is hired by an associate company long after being initially rejected.
Mada v Mabli [2021] DIFC SCT 356 — Debt recovery and jurisdictional limits in consumer banking (21 February 2022)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the necessity of express jurisdictional opt-in clauses for the enforcement of multi-product consumer banking agreements.
MANAN v METALI [2020] DIFC SCT 356 — Real estate brokerage commission dispute (14 December 2020)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the evidentiary threshold for real estate brokerage commissions, ruling that the mere transmission of property information without a formal contract or evidence of active negotiation is insufficient to establish a claim for fees.
MARIA v MOUNA [2020] DIFC SCT 355 — Employment termination and reputation damage claims (27 December 2020)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the distinction between termination with notice and termination for cause under DIFC employment law, dismissing claims for arbitrary dismissal and reputational harm.
Ifechi Services v Ichtarca Tower Residential Body Corporate [2018] DIFC SCT 355 — Indemnity claims for legal fees require proof of actual payment (29 May 2018)
This Small Claims Tribunal judgment clarifies that an indemnity claim for legal fees fails where the claimant produces only unpaid invoices without evidence of actual expenditure, establishing a strict evidentiary threshold for "loss" in contract disputes.
MINNI v MITHAL [2021] DIFC SCT 354 — Breach of contract and force majeure in tourism services (15 June 2022)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the threshold for invoking force majeure in the context of international tourism service agreements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Imogen LLC v Ingolf Transporting & Maintenance Est [2017] SCT 353 — Small Claims Tribunal enforcement of unpaid rental invoices (07 February 2018)
The dispute centered on the recovery of outstanding rental payments for a specific piece of machinery, identified as machine BD266, which the Claimant, Imogen LLC, had provided to the Defendant for a project in Inger.
Mubsid v Mihar [2023] DIFC SCT 352 — Employer liability in HR outsourcing arrangements (14 December 2023)
The DIFC Small Claims Tribunal clarifies that an employer remains primarily liable for contractual employee entitlements, rejecting the defense that payments were contingent upon third-party client approval.
Julieta v Jagger Restaurant [2019] DIFC SCT 352 — Employment termination and Article 18 penalty enforcement (12 September 2019)
The dispute concerned the non-payment of final settlement dues following the termination of the Claimant, a waiter, by the Defendant, Jagger Restaurant, on 25 June 2019. The Claimant sought recovery of unpaid salary for portions of April, May, and June, notice pay, gratuity, and service charges.
NASHTAR v NASIRUDDIN [2024] DIFC SCT 351 — Maintenance contract dispute and delay penalty enforcement (11 October 2024)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies the enforceability of delay penalties in construction contracts where both parties contribute to project timelines, while affirming the validity of signed agreements despite allegations of forgery.
MIRBAL v MISUR [2023] DIFC SCT 351 — Termination of tenancy for persistent rent arrears (20 November 2023)
The dispute arose from a commercial tenancy agreement for a unit within the DIFC, where the landlord, Mirbal, sought to terminate the contract and evict the tenant, Misur, due to a recurring pattern of late rent payments.
Luyana v Lune [2020] DIFC SCT 334 — COVID-19 emergency measures and annual leave accrual (03 November 2020)
The dispute centered on the Claimant’s entitlement to payment in lieu of accrued annual leave and public holidays following her resignation from the Defendant, a restaurant operating within the DIFC.
Luyana v Lune Dining [2020] DIFC SCT 334 — Employment benefits accrual during COVID-19 unpaid leave (01 November 2020)
The dispute centered on the final settlement of a former General Manager, Luyana, following her resignation from Lune Dining. The Claimant sought payment in lieu of accrued but untaken annual leave for the period between 9 April 2020 and 31 July 2020, as well as payment in lieu of public holidays…
INDIRA LLC v INGRAM LLC [2017] SCT 334 — Misrepresentation and the burden of inducement in commercial leasing (29 January 2018)
The Small Claims Tribunal clarifies that a claim for misrepresentation fails where a party admits they would have entered into the contract regardless of the alleged misleading conduct.
OLIA v ONAWA [2025] DIFC SCT 333 — Permission to appeal granted for procedural irregularity (06 November 2025)
The DIFC Small Claims Tribunal grants permission to appeal a dismissal judgment, citing a failure to investigate claims of harassment and victimisation in an employment dispute.