Q: My firm (based in the UK) is owed $57,500 for providing materials and event management services for a Dubai-based business called International Premier Tennis League. They have failed to pay my invoice or any of the individual skilled craftsmen and technicians I recommended they hired to deliver the events which we delivered in December 2016. What I'd like to do is recover my money and possibly make sure that the business behaviour of the IPTL management team is not repeated (it must be a crime to commit business services to a project without ever having the means to pay for it). Any help or advice appreciated, please.

Q: Sir, Madam I signed in Dec. 2017 a business contract for a short audit assignment with a local AD company. The CEO of the company requested my services but recently resigned. The company paid the first payment on my private UAE account. But in Jan 2018, the finance department realised their mistake in the selection of contractors. They wanted a company and not a single entity. As requested, I gave all documents required for a new vendor registration counter-signed by my local partner company. After delivery of the preliminary report, as per contract terms, they still didn't pay the 2nd payment for misalignment with the 1st beneficiary of the payment (me). They have launched an internal audit. The company has not followed the procedure, nor reacted quickly on the affair and tried to cover their internal error. What are my rights as an independent consultant not residing in the UAE? Can I file a legal case for the non-respect of payment & breach of contract? What is my/partner probability to win this case?

Q: Dear Mrs Khan, I have recently received a Post Dated Bank Cheque from one of my new clients, the cheque date is Thursday 19th Apr 2018. Today, I called this client to find out that they are not answering calls, and when I went to their office I found it closed and many of their suppliers in the corridors complaining about their Bank Cheques that were bounced back (rejected). The owner of this company seems to have already left the UAE and none of his employees is answering the phone. So most probably the bank cheque that they gave me (AED 57250) will bounce back Thursday. So I want to start taking action now. I sold them 10000 boxes of 15 Kg lemon, which they stored in a third-party cold storeroom in Dubai. I went and found that the lemon is still there. Please, could you tell me how can I legally get back my lemon as I'm 100% sure I will not be paid? Thanks in advance and please feel to ask should you need more details.

Q: We are a startup. We had been awarded a project of x value from a client. The client specified the material to be used for a project and to provide a competitive quote, which we did after contacting the supplier. We got the deal done for a really good price and bagged the project. After the LPO award, we started with the execution and did a mockup (completed 15% of work). After taking the client’s approval again in writing, we went ahead & placed the order. It’s been 3 months and still, the client hasn’t made any payments, now they are saying that the material is wrong. They want a replacement. The supplier has shipped the material to the warehouse in UAE since 3 months and we have paid 40% to the supplier. The supplier has paid 100% to the manufacturer, we have issued the supplier an LPO. Now, the supplier has warned us about taking legal action against us. The client we are dealing with is a big client, how can we take this further? Can we claim the legal fees in court?

Q: Dear sir/madam, What is the first step if the customer is not paying after we have done our service despite the reminders we have sent?

Q: My friend's company had done a construction project for a company and the project showed an outstanding amount of AED 130000. When he went to ask for payment, the company told him that they had shut down already and then we found out that they were operating with a new name. How can we get that payment?

An interview-format article covering the topic of getting paid for small businesses in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

An interview-format article covering the topic of how to increase chances of getting your invoices paid in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

An interview-format article covering the topic of payment orders in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

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.

The law promulgates UAE Civil Procedures Code (Civil Procedure Law) which governs civil procedures in the United Arab Emirates, including the prosecution before the courts, litigation and execution.

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.