- Business-to-Business Disputes
- Commercial Transaction Disputes
- Cross-Border Commercial Disputes
- Business Compensation Claims
- What to do next
- FAQ
A director forwards us an email chain at 7:40 on a Monday morning. A supplier has stopped delivering, a customer has stopped paying, and the bank wants an update on the facility in two weeks. No legal notice has been sent. The documents are spread across three inboxes and a WhatsApp group.A representative scene, not a reported case.
01Business-to-Business Disputes
These are claims between two companies, usually over an unpaid price, a missed obligation or a relationship that has broken down. Most turn on one question: what did the written agreement actually require, and what did each side do?
We start with the contract, the purchase orders, the invoices and the messages that show how the parties really behaved. Courts in Dubai give heavy weight to documents. A clear paper trail often decides the case before the first hearing.
- Unpaid invoices and disputed balances
- Disagreements over scope, quality or timing of work
- Exclusivity, non-compete and confidentiality clauses
- Termination of long-running trading relationships
02Commercial Transaction Disputes
A transaction dispute arises when a sale, supply or service deal does not go through as agreed. Goods are rejected, payment is withheld, or one side claims the other changed the terms halfway.
Many of these claims depend on proof of delivery and acceptance. If you are the seller, keep signed delivery notes and any complaint received in writing. If you are the buyer, record defects with dated photographs and send written notice quickly. See also our pages on supplier and performance disputes and breach of contract litigation.
Discuss Your Commercial DisputeSend us the contract or the key messages and we will tell you where you stand.
WhatsApp us03Cross-Border Commercial Disputes
A cross-border dispute involves a foreign party, a foreign contract law or assets outside the UAE. The first practical questions are which law governs, which court or tribunal has jurisdiction, and where the other side's assets are.
Check the governing law and dispute resolution clauses before anything else. If the contract names arbitration, a court claim can be challenged. If it names a foreign court, enforcement of a UAE judgment abroad, or of a foreign judgment here, becomes the real issue. Court documents in Dubai are in Arabic, so foreign contracts and evidence need certified translation early.
04Business Compensation Claims
A compensation claim asks the court to put a business back in the position it would have been in. Under the UAE Civil Transactions Law, compensation generally requires a breach, a loss and a link between them.
We build the loss with figures, not adjectives: lost margin on cancelled orders, extra cost of replacement supply, documented wasted expenditure. Where the contract fixes compensation in advance, the court can still review whether the agreed figure matches the real loss. We tell clients plainly when a claim is worth less than the cost of pursuing it.
What to do in the next 48 hours
- Freeze the paper trailExport the contract, emails, WhatsApp chats, invoices and delivery records to one folder. Do not delete or edit anything.
- Stop informal admissionsAvoid sending angry messages or half-offers. A casual 'we will pay next month' can be read as an acknowledgement of debt.
- Get the claim assessedSend us the folder. We tell you the strength of the claim, the forum, the cost range and the deadlines.
Documents we ask for first
- Signed contract and any amendments
- Purchase orders, quotations and invoices
- Delivery notes, acceptance certificates or completion reports
- Emails and WhatsApp messages between the parties
- Statements of account and proof of payments
- Company trade licence and signatory documents
Questions we are asked
Do I have to go to court for a commercial dispute?
Not always. Many are settled after a formal legal notice. Some contracts require arbitration first. We check the dispute clause before recommending a route.
How long does a commercial claim take in Dubai?
It depends on complexity, the need for expert reports and whether the other side contests. A documented, uncontested debt can move quickly. A technical dispute with experts takes longer. We give a realistic range after reviewing your documents.
Can I claim for lost profit?
Sometimes. The loss must be proven and be a direct result of the breach. Speculative future profit is difficult to recover, so evidence of past trading helps.
Related disputes
Ready to talk it through?Have the contract, the latest message and any notice in front of you. Call or WhatsApp is fine.
Call nowThis page is general information based on UAE and Dubai legislation as we understand it at the date of drafting. It is not legal advice. Laws are amended, and the right step depends on your documents and facts. Outcomes are never guaranteed.