Q: We had rented out 2 x ISO tank containers to a local company in Dubai, who used it for transportation and storage of White Spirit and/or Ethanol. The rent rate was US$13/tank/day and they stopped paying for many months. After repeated emails, and constant pressure and personal visits, they returned the ISO tanks in damaged condition. Now the total unpaid rent, transportation cost and damage cost, is approx. AED 25,000 total. What is my legal remedy? What are my options? Will it be worth it to litigate? What is your advice? Thanks.

Q: We are a software company who have signed a contract with a client. The contract expired in Nov. 2015. We continued to work with the client on the project. We received 5 payments out of 7 payments that were due. Each payment was linked to a milestone in the project. Now the client claims the software solution is not up to the quality they want and they want to sue us for damages. In the contract, we have a clause that says they can sue for a maximum of 50% of the money they paid us. However, each of the 5 payments they made were linked to a milestone of the project contract and the payments that were made were approved by their managers who now claim that the software quality has an issue. Are they entitled to sue for damages? How can we best protect ourselves?

Q: Hello. Mr R. and Mr Z. are founders of a company located in Ajman. They are buying my fish from Indonesia. The total amount of 2 invoices is USD 11.074, but they paid me just USD 5.000​ since 8 months ago. Can you help me to collect my balance? Thank you

Q: Hello, I have a customer to whom our dues are AED 125,000. Our terms were set for a 30-Day PDC, but they have not been able to fulfil it. Since many months they have been giving false promises to release my payments, but we have not yet received any. I would like to know the legal charges and court charges to send them a notice.

Q: Respected Sir / Ma'am, I am an IT service provider. I got a project from one of the companies in Abu Dhabi to perform a System Implementation. I have completed the project and have raised the invoice for the same, but the customer is not paying the amount. It amounts to about 30000 USD. I am calling for a Steering Committee meeting as per the contract/proposal terms to resolve the issue of not paying me. The IT team, to whom I am reporting is just not letting the Steering Committee meeting to happen. I have other projects running in parallel with the same client. I have issued a "Credit Hold" and stopped all activities with proper notice and have all details on email communication. Still, they are not calling for a meeting / trying to resolve the issue... What are my options to recover the amount? If at all I have to hire a lawyer, what will be the costs for the same? Would appreciate your advice/recommendations greatly. Thanks and regards, Raj

Q: We are an LLC company registered in Dubai. We had received LPO from our client and the advance was issued against security cheques. Now, the client has cancelled the LPO due to the uncertainty of the project. We had already started the work for the client, and now the client is asking for returning the advance and our security cheques will be handed over only after giving the advance. I would like to know what does the UAE law says about the same. Your advice would help us. Appreciate your positive response. Thanking you in advance.

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.