Q: How much are the arbitration costs usually, in case I have a dispute with a company who refused to pay, is it better to go with arbitration or regular courts?

Q: I am a private investor (individual) and I have a lending contract with a Sharjah FZE company represented by its director and shareholder, who also has other Dubai based company. Returning the payments wasn't met despite reminders and extensions. The contract has a late-payment penalty clause and dues are well above the original amount. The issuing bank (balance verification check) informed me that the security cheques were also invalid, as that the account had already been closed prior to issuing the cheques. The contract has a DIFC arbitration clause and UAE jurisdiction. The cheques are not formally cashed yet. What are my options to pursue civil litigation or other debt-recovery means? Arbitration? DIFC SCT? DIFC CFI? Dubai Courts? Current dues are in the range of US$100,000/- including ongoing penalties. I have a signed and stamped original contract, witness IDs, trade license and original security cheques. I am seeking to engage legal expertise for a reasonable fee, preferably linked to a percentage of a successful claim.

Q: I have filed a civil case against a person in Dubai court for bounced cheques and have presented all the cheques as evidence. I have an agreement too which says that the agreements between the two parties are binded by DIFC law. My Question is, do I need to file a case in DIFC court or I can continue it in Dubai court? What are the fees and procedure for DIFC court? I am also looking for a lawyer to help us in this process and would like to meet in person.

س: السلام عليكم، تم التعاقد مع أحد الشركات على أداء خدمة وتقاعست الشركة عن أداء التزامها. مذكور في العقد شرط تحكيم يُلزمنا عند نشوء أي نزاع قانوني أن نلجأ إلى مركز دبي الدولي للتحكيم DIAC. مع الاتفاق على تعيين 3 محكمين وتطبيق قانون التحكيم الإماراتي 6 لسنة 2018. فوجئت عند التقدم بطلب التحكيم أن المركز يُلزِمني بتطبيق قانون التحكيم الخاص بالمركز وهو الذي قد يعرضني مستقبلاً لبطلان حكم التحكيم خاصة أنه تم الاتفاق مسبقًا على كافة الشروط. السؤال: ما المخرج لهذه المشكلة حيث أن العقد يُلزمني باللجوء إلى مركز دبي للتحكيم وتطبيق قانون التحكيم الإماراتي؟

س: السلام عليكم، اتفق طرفا التعاقد في عقدٍ ما على أن تكون محاكم دبي - على سبيل المثال - هي صاحبة الاختصاص القانوني للنظر في أي نزاع قد يحدث. إذا كان المدَّعى عليه مقيم في إمارة أخرى غير دبي وتم توقيع العقد في إمارة أخرى أيضًا غير دبي، فهل سترفض محاكم دبي الدعوى لعدم اختصاصها أم أنها ستقبلها باعتبار اتفاق الطرفين في العقد على أن تكون محاكم دبي هي صاحبة الاختصاص القانوني للنظر في أي نزاع قد يحدث؟

Q: Dear sir/madam, We are a U.K-based company. We signed a contract with a U.K-based company and a Dubai-based company. Both of the latter companies are owned by the same owner - who moved to Dubai for tax reasons. We handled sales for his company. At some point, he breached the contract by making sales behind our back and so we terminated the contract citing breaches, and sent a pre-sue letter. Stupidly, our contract didn’t have a country clause for where disputes could be handled even though all contracted work happened in the U.K. In an attempt to beat us to the punch, the owner of the Dubai (and U.K.) company filed a lawsuit against us in Dubai. Here is my question: Would I not attend my first instance hearing and sue them from the U.K? Or do I risk it and defend in Dubai and counter sue there? I’m absolutely petrified to make the wrong move. Also what would happen to me personally if there is a judgment against me given I may ignore their proceedings?

Q: Dear sir/madam, Kindly help with a contract dispute between a UAE resident and a non-UAE resident within the social media area.

This short write up examines some of the key considerations one has to bear in mind while opting for Arbitration as a preferred mode for dispute resolution.

مواكبةً للتطورات المتسارعة لعصرنا الحديث، أظهرت القيادة الرشيدة لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة مرونتها التشريعية، وقدرتها الفائقة على مسايرة مستحدثات عصر السرعة والعولمة، من خلال إصدار قانون التحكيم الاتحادي، وهو القانون الاتحادي رقم (6) لسنة 2018 الصادر بتاريخ 3/5/2018، والذي قامت فيه بتنظيم التحكيم، هذه الوسيلة الخطيرة لفض المنازعات من خلال (61) مادة قانونية تجمع بين المرونة والانضباط التشريعي.

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.