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THE DUBAI FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY v ES BANKERS (DUBAI) LIMITED [2014] DIFC CFI 032 — Winding up of an insolvent financial institution (22 October 2014)
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) initiated the petition under Article 93 of the DIFC Regulatory Law 2004, seeking the compulsory liquidation of ES Bankers (Dubai) Limited (ESBD).
TAVIRA SECURITIES v RE POINT VENTURES [2017] DIFC CFI 026 — Jurisdiction of Licensed DIFC Establishments (17 December 2017)
The dispute centers on a breach of contract claim brought by Tavira Securities Limited ("Tavira"), an English-incorporated entity, against Re Point Ventures Fzco and three individual defendants.
TATIANA MIKHAILOVNA AKHMEDOVA v FARKHAD TEIMUR OGLY AKHMEDOV [2018] DIFC CFI 011 — Jurisdiction over offshore entities in asset concealment cases (21 March 2018)
The litigation arises from a high-stakes matrimonial enforcement dispute where the Applicant, Tatiana Mikhailovna Akhmedova, sought to execute an English High Court judgment against her former husband, Farkhad Teimur Ogly Akhmedov.
AL SAHEL CONTRACTING v E.CONSTRUCT [2022] DIFC CFI 046 — Procedural bar on default judgment (06 July 2022)
The dispute between Al Sahel Contracting Co. L.L.C. and E.construct FZ-LLC originated from a construction-related claim, which prompted the Claimant to initiate formal proceedings within the DIFC Courts.
SUPERGEMS M.E. v DAMAN REAL ESTATE CAPITAL PARTNERS [2013] DIFC CFI 021 — Strict judicial scrutiny of unexecuted real estate contracts (15 December 2013)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the evidentiary threshold for contract formation in property disputes, ruling that the absence of executed Sale and Purchase Agreements precludes claims for breach of contract.
STATE BANK OF INDIA v NMC HEALTHCARE [2020] DIFC CFI 047 — Enforcement of personal guarantee against B.R. Shetty (08 October 2025)
The dispute centered on the enforcement of a personal guarantee dated 25 December 2018, which the Claimant, State Bank of India (DIFC Branch), alleged was executed by the Fifth Defendant, Mr. B.R. Shetty, to secure a USD 50 million facility provided to NMC Healthcare.
SKY NEWS ARABIA FZ-LLC v KASSAB MEDIA FZ [2016] DIFC CFI 007 — Jurisdiction and witness evidence standards (20 June 2016)
This judgment clarifies the limits of legal counsel acting as witnesses and reaffirms the validity of opt-in jurisdiction clauses in the absence of original DIFC nexus.
RAMY BAHY HASSAN ABOUZEID v THE INDUSTRIAL GROUP [2018] DIFC CFI 035 — Mandatory Article 18 penalty liability (28 February 2019)
The Court of First Instance confirms that the mandatory nature of Article 18 penalty payments for late end-of-service benefits cannot be waived by private agreements to defer payment, even where visa sponsorship continues.
PETER MATTHEW JAMES GRAY v GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER [2016] DIFC CFI 012 — Stay of proceedings pending arbitration (14 July 2016)
The dispute originated from the termination of Peter Matthew James Gray’s employment as a non-equity Special Partner at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Mr. Gray served in this capacity from April 2012 until his dismissal in April 2015. The termination followed judicial criticism by The Hon.
NEST INVESTMENTS HOLDING LEBANON v DELOITTE & TOUCHE [2017] DIFC CFI 027 — Consent order for production of sensitive policy documents (04 July 2017)
The dispute arises from a professional negligence claim brought by Nest Investments Holding Lebanon S.A.L. and ten other claimants against Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) and Joseph El Fadl.
MR RAUL SILVA v UNITED INVESTMENT BANK [2012] DIFC CFI 010 — Employment termination for gross misconduct (06 November 2013)
The dispute centered on the summary dismissal of Mr Raul Silva, the former CEO of United Investment Bank (UIB), who alleged wrongful termination. Mr Silva, who had been instrumental in establishing UIB’s presence in the DIFC and securing its licensing with the Dubai Financial Services Authority…
MOHAMMED ZAHID ASLAM v SDI CAPITAL [2019] DIFC CFI 084 — Default judgment for unpaid wages and statutory penalties (31 July 2019)
The dispute originated from the employment relationship between the Claimant, Mohammed Zahid Aslam, and the First Defendant, SDI Capital Limited, a DIFC-registered entity. The Claimant initiated proceedings to recover outstanding financial entitlements, specifically unpaid wages, payment in lieu of…
MASHREQ AL ISLAMI FINANCE COMPANY v BABAR REHMAN [2019] DIFC CFI 016 — Final judgment following strike out of defence (24 March 2019)
The DIFC Court of First Instance confirms the termination of an Ijara Agreement and grants full recovery of outstanding rental payments following the defendant’s failure to attend trial.
Mahesh Srichand Tourani v Dusty Tourani [2018] DIFC CFI 007 — Characterizing family financial transfers as gifts vs. loans (13 December 2018)
The dispute centered on whether substantial funds provided by the Claimant, Mahesh Srichand Tourani, to his stepson, Dusty Tourani, and the latter’s company, Duzty LLC, constituted a repayable loan or a non-repayable gift.
KHURAM HUSSAIN v HUSSAIN AL-AWLAQI [2009] DIFC CFI 023 — Winding up of a deadlocked Limited Liability Partnership (14 June 2010)
The dispute centered on the operational and financial viability of Tabarak Partners LLP, a DIFC-registered entity established to provide Shariah-compliant financial consultancy. The claimant, Khuram Hussain, and the respondents—Hussain Al-Awlaqi, Andrew Clout, and Ziad Baya'a—found themselves in a…
KBC ALDINI CAPITAL v DAVID BAAZOV [2017] DIFC CFI 002 — Forum non conveniens and the limits of "exorbitant" jurisdiction (14 October 2018)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the application of the forum non conveniens doctrine when challenging statutory jurisdiction based on a claimant’s status as a DIFC establishment.
JOHN VITALO v ATLAS MARA MANAGEMENT SERVICES [2019] DIFC CFI 018 — Employment contract disputes and the limits of pre-contractual assurances (05 September 2019)
The Court of First Instance dismissed the former CEO’s claims for medical benefits, allowance indexation, and vacation pay, reinforcing the primacy of written employment contracts over pre-contractual negotiations.
HUSSAIN SALEH-FARID AL-AWLAQI v TABARAK PARTNERS [2009] DIFC CFI 023 — Costs on account and judicial discretion (22 December 2010)
The dispute arose from the underlying insolvency proceedings involving Tabarak Partners LLP, where the applicants sought an interim payment of costs pending a full detailed assessment.
GRACIELA v GIACOBBE [2015] DIFC CFI 027 — IT sabotage and the civil standard of proof (11 November 2015)
The Court of First Instance confirms the liability of a former employee for the deliberate sabotage of an employer’s IT infrastructure, awarding substantial damages for restoration costs and business disruption.
GAVIN v GAYNOR [2016] DIFC CFI XXX — Leave to appeal granted (13 June 2016)
The litigation between Gavin and Gaynor reached a critical juncture following the order issued by H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani on 3 April 2016. Gavin, acting as the Claimant and prospective Appellant, sought to challenge the findings of that order by filing an Appeal Notice, along with supporting…
GAVIN v GAYNOR [2015] DIFC CFI 017 — Stay of proceedings pending foreign arbitration (03 April 2016)
The Claimant, Gavin, sought to compel the appointment of an arbitral tribunal pursuant to Section 17(3)(b) of the DIFC Arbitration Law (DIFC Law No. 1 of 2008). The dispute arose from Clause 13.5 of the Stored Value Card Processing, Service and Marketing Agreement (the "SVC Agreement"), which…
GFH CAPITAL v DAVID LAWRENCE HAIGH [2014] DIFC CFI 020 — Immediate judgment for misappropriation of funds (10 November 2016)
The dispute centers on the conduct of David Lawrence Haigh, the former Deputy Chief Executive of GFH Capital Limited, who was accused of systematically siphoning funds from his employer.
FIRUZEH v FINGAL [2015] DIFC CFI ARB-005 — Enforcement of ICC Awards and the Limits of Dilatory Challenges (26 July 2015)
The DIFC Court of First Instance affirms its pro-enforcement stance by rejecting a stay of execution where a foreign challenge to an ICC award lacked merit and appeared to be a tactical delay.
FIMBANK v FARLIN ENERGY AND COMMODITIES [2018] DIFC CFI 075 — Summary judgment for unpaid debt (28 February 2019)
The dispute centered on a significant financial obligation owed by Farlin Energy and Commodities FZE to FIMBANK P.L.C. The Claimant initiated proceedings under Part 8 of the Rules of the DIFC Courts (RDC), seeking to recover a principal debt amount of USD 19,858,052.61.