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Dubai Financial Services Authority v Shuaa Capital International [2008] DIFC CFI 030 — Discharge of privacy restrictions (14 October 2008)
The dispute involved the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) exercising its regulatory mandate over Shuaa Capital International and Shuaa Capital PSC. While the underlying merits of the regulatory investigation remain largely shielded from the public record, the procedural history of Case No.
DUBAI FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY v "A" AND "B" [2008] DIFC CFI 023 — Regulatory consent order for electronic discovery (14 August 2008)
The lawsuit originated from a regulatory investigation conducted by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) into trading activities involving D P World shares. The DFSA sought to compel the First Respondent ("A") and the Second Respondent ("B") to provide comprehensive access to their…
AMLAK FINANCE v MR NIGEL ANTHONY JOHN HERBERT [2017] DIFC CFI 041 — Dismissal of enforcement claim due to lack of title proof (04 March 2018)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the evidentiary threshold required to enforce a charging order against real property, ruling that a court-ordered sale is impossible without established title.
AMJAD HAFEEZ v DAMAC PARK TOWERS COMPANY [2014] DIFC CFI 002 — Pleading deficiencies in real estate misrepresentation claims (30 June 2014)
This judgment addresses the threshold requirements for pleading fraud and misrepresentation in the DIFC Court, emphasizing the necessity of specificity under RDC 17.43.
ALISTAIR JAMES COMPANY v SAKSON DRILLING & OIL SERVICES [2017] DIFC CFI 003 — Immediate judgment for breach of settlement agreement (22 May 2018)
The DIFC Court of First Instance clarifies the high threshold for economic duress and the binding effect of conduct-based affirmation in commercial settlement agreements.
SUNSET HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS v HANA HABIB MANSOOR HABIB AL HERZ [2020] DIFC CFI 024 AND CFI 059 — Enforceability of nominee arrangements for UAE national ownership (27 May 2022)
The litigation involved two consolidated proceedings, CFI-024-2020 and CFI-059-2020, centered on the hospitality ventures of the Sunset Group. The Claimants, Sunset Hospitality Holdings (Sunset RAK) and Peatura FZ LLC, sought to enforce Nominee Agreements against Mrs Hana Al Herz, who held 51% of…
SALEM MOHAMMED BALLAMA ALTAMIMI v EMIRATES NBD BANK [2021] DIFC CFI 085 — Recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings and stay of litigation (31 March 2022)
The dispute centers on an application by the Claimants—Salem Mohammed Ballama Altamimi, David Nigel Croll Stark, and Paul James Leggett—who sought to have the DIFC Court recognize insolvency proceedings initiated in Abu Dhabi.
SALEM MOHAMMED BALLAMA ALTAMIMI v EMIRATES NBD BANK [2021] DIFC CFI 085 — Insolvency recognition and stay of proceedings (04 March 2022)
The Claimants, appointed as trustees in Abu Dhabi bankruptcy proceedings, initiated this action to secure recognition of those proceedings as "foreign main proceedings" under the DIFC Insolvency Law.
SALEM MOHAMMED BALLAMA ALTAMIMI v EMIRATES NBD BANK [2021] DIFC CFI 085 — Recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings for individual debtors (18 February 2022)
The dispute arose when the Claimants, acting as trustees in insolvency proceedings initiated in Abu Dhabi, sought to have those proceedings recognized by the DIFC Court as either "foreign main" or "foreign non-main" proceedings.
ROBERTO’S CLUB v PAOLO ROBERTO RELLA [2013] DIFC CFI 019 — Judicial validation of termination for cause and share forfeiture (29 October 2014)
The lawsuit centered on the breakdown of a joint venture between Emain Kadrie, a financier, and Paolo Roberto Rella, a renowned restaurateur, who co-founded Roberto’s Club LLC in the DIFC. The dispute arose after Mr. Kadrie alleged that Mr.
Rafed Abdel Mohsen Bader Al Khorafi v Bank Sarasin-Alpen [2009] DIFC CFI 026 — The landmark ruling on DIFC jurisdiction and the doctrine of forum non conveniens (07 October 2015)
The lawsuit centered on claims brought by Rafed Abdel Mohsen Bader Al Khorafi, Amrah Ali Abdel Latif Al Hamad, and Alia Mohamed Sulaiman Al Rifai against Bank Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Limited and Bank Sarasin & Co.
RAFED ABDEL MOHSEN ABDEL AL KHORAFI v BANK SARASIN—ALPEN [2009] DIFC CFI 026 — Preliminary procedural disputes in high-value banking litigation (07 July 2010)
The litigation arises from a series of investment losses sustained by three Kuwaiti nationals—Rafed Abdel Mohsen Abdel Al Khorafi, Amrah Ali Abdel Latif Al Hamad, and Alia Mohamed Sulaiman Al Rifal—who engaged in a business relationship with the Defendants between June 2007 and February 2008.
NEST INVESTMENTS HOLDING LEBANON v DELOITTE & TOUCHE [2016] DIFC CFI 027 — Jurisdictional limits over individual partners (24 August 2017)
The lawsuit centers on alleged audit failures concerning the Lebanese Canadian Bank (LCB). The Claimants, a group of shareholders including Nest Investments Holding Lebanon S.A.L., sought damages totaling USD 128 million, alleging that the Defendants—Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) and its partner, Joseph…
Nadil v Nameer [2025] DIFC CFI 001 — Permission to appeal granted on jurisdictional interpretation (02 April 2025)
The underlying dispute involves an urgent ex parte application filed by the Claimants, Nadil and Noshaba, against the Respondents, Nameer and Naseema. The Claimants sought interim relief to prevent the dissipation of assets, which the Court of First Instance initially dismissed on jurisdictional…
NADIL v NAMEER [2025] DIFC CFI 001 — Jurisdictional limits under the New Law (01 April 2025)
The DIFC Court of First Instance has clarified the restrictive jurisdictional scope of Law No. 2 of 2025, rejecting an attempt to use the DIFC as a forum for mirroring foreign freezing orders absent a direct nexus to the Centre.
HEPHER ASSOCIATES v RASANA ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES [2019] DIFC CFI 043 — Striking out a defence for non-attendance at trial (05 May 2019)
This judgment addresses the procedural consequences of a defendant’s failure to appear at trial, resulting in the striking out of the defence and the subsequent entry of judgment for the claimants in a complex construction consultancy dispute.
EBI SA v LAL MAHAL DMCC [2016] DIFC CFI 024 — Default judgment varied and partially set aside (14 November 2016)
The lawsuit originated from a series of loan and guarantee agreements involving three claimants—Ebi Sa, Ecobank Nigeria, and Ecobank Senegal—and three respondents: Lal Mahal DMCC, Little Rose General Trading LLC, and Prem Chand Garg.
BARCLAYS BANK PLC v ESSAR GLOBAL FUND [2017] DIFC CFI 036 — Enforcement of a New York judgment by confession (13 April 2017)
The dispute centers on the enforcement of a "Judgment by Confession" issued by the Supreme Court of the State of New York on 25 August 2016. The Claimants—Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse Loan Funding L.L.C., Midtown Acquisitions L.P., and Special Situations Investing Group Inc.—sought to recover…
BARCLAYS BANK PLC v ESSAR GLOBAL FUND [2017] DIFC CFI 036 — Enforcement of foreign judgment by confession (20 April 2017)
The dispute centered on the Third Claimant, Midtown Acquisitions L.P. ("Midtown"), seeking to enforce a judgment issued by the Supreme Court of the State of New York on 25 August 2016.
AMIRA C FOODS INTERNATIONAL DMCC v IDBI BANK [2019] DIFC CFI 027 — Breach of irrevocable payment undertakings and dismissal of banking counterclaims (07 October 2019)
The litigation centered on the Bank’s refusal to honor an "Irrevocable Letter" issued on 11 February 2018, which was intended to facilitate payments from Amira’s client, Kuwait Flour Mills & Bakeries Co, to Amira’s primary rice supplier, AK Global Business FZE.
AL AHLI BANK OF KUWAIT v EMIRATES HOSPITALS GROUP [2022] DIFC CFI 060 — Judgment for USD 348 million against Third Defendant (13 October 2022)
The litigation concerns a complex multi-party banking dispute involving a syndicate of financial institutions, including Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, Mashreqbank, Arab Banking Corporation, National Bank of Oman, State Bank of India, and Regera S.À R.L.
AL AHLI BANK OF KUWAIT v EMIRATES HOSPITALS GROUP [2020] DIFC CFI 060 — Judgment against Third Defendant for USD 348 million (28 October 2022)
The litigation arose from a massive financing facility provided to the First Defendant, Emirates Hospitals Group, which subsequently defaulted on its repayment obligations. A syndicate of six claimants, including Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, Mashreq Bank, and others, sought to recover outstanding debts…
AJIAL NATIONAL EDUCATION COMPANY v THE SECURITIES HOUSE COMPANY [2021] DIFC CFI 105 — Breach of warranty and hold-back amount disputes (07 September 2023)
The dispute centers on a Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) dated 15 May 2019, under which the Claimants (Ajial National Education Company and Talal Khalifa Talal Al Jeri) sold 100% of the shares in Dar Al Salam Education Company (DAS) to the Defendants.
AIG INTERNATIONAL GROUP UK LIMITED v QATAR INSURANCE CO. [2022] DIFC CFI 003 — Declaratory relief regarding US sanctions and reinsurance liability (26 February 2024)
The dispute centers on a series of reinsurance contracts covering a policy issued by the Qatar Insurance Company (QIC) to the United Arab Bank in Sharjah. Following claims made under the Original Policy, the Claimants—a group of UK-incorporated insurance entities ultimately owned by US parent…