Q: Hi, We entered a contract as a trading company to supply goods to a client in Europe from the supplier company in Vietnam. Terms of sales were FOB. The supplier in Vietnam did not perform and deliver the goods to the client's forwarder. We have filed a civil case in Vietnam against the supplier to refund the payment made to them or provide the goods. The amount is USD 800,000. The end client in Europe is threatening to file a case against us in the UAE even though they are fully aware that we have transferred all funds to the Vietnam company. Under good faith, we kept them updated but now they are impatient and want to recover the money from us saying their contract is with our company and have nothing to do with the supplier in Vietnam. My queries: 1. Can we place a defence if a civil case is filed against us. 2. What are our rights to defend?

Q: Hello, I hope all is well. I have an events company and a supplier has given me a quotation for a wedding free of charge with a design without asking for charges. The wedding had a lot of planning hiccups so it was dragged along but I promised to try to give it to him if it’s possible but had not confirmed either verbally or on a signed agreement. And till 2 weeks ago I told him I will need to use a local supplier rather than him but if I needed more equipment I would tell him and he replied by saying please do send me a list if u require anything. However, there is no signed agreement and the quotation was for 1.7 million dollars and there’s no agreement with him and the wedding is November 8-9, so I am sure he knew he wasn’t getting it. Is he allowed to file a case based on nothing written and signed because we all know no supplier works on anything without signed contract and deposit and that’s in every contract?

Q: Compensation for poor performance & false accusations. We hired a consultancy agency to provide us with their services. During our working relationship, the deliveries were consistently late, and the service was unreliable. We gave them numerous chances to improve performance and meet timelines. The details of these problems have been communicated to them repeatedly but they did not address the problems in a timely manner, causing us extra expenses in addition to mental and emotional agony. During the project, my father passed away & they have used this matter as an excuse to pause work on the project without notifying us causing us further delays. Recently, we serviced them a notice for contract termination for their failure to adhere to mentioned services. In response, they have wrongfully accused me of talking badly about their staff & making insulting & inappropriate comments about their work which have made the working relationship difficult. Do we have legal rights to pursue?

Q: Dear lawyers, I run a small business in Dubai and use a courier company for delivering goods to customers (with cash on delivery payment). The courier accumulates COD payments and transfers them to us weekly, deducting their delivery charges. We have a renewing one-year contract with fixed shipping rates per kg. Recently, the courier company started making additional deductions for past shipments, which were already shipped and paid for, including: - In November 2023, they deducted approximately 1500 dhs for shipments completed in August and September 2023. - In May 2024, they deducted 3596 dhs for shipments completed from January 2023 to December 2023 (that contract has already expired). Previously, they explained that they "recalculated the parcel weights," but I cannot verify this because the items were shipped a long time ago (last year!). Questions: 1. Where can I complain or raise a legal dispute? 2. What are the chances of winning a refund for the deductions? 3. Which law clause can I refer to?

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

This Law applies to merchants, as well as to all acts of commerce carried out in the UAE by any person even though he be not a trader. Commercial matters regarding which specific Federal laws are issued shall be subject to the provisions of such laws, and to the provisions hereof which do not contradict with said laws.