This article highlights a recent order issued by the Dubai Courts in commercial execution proceedings, where Alsuwaidi & Company successfully secured an arrest and production order against a company manager in connection with an outstanding debt exceeding AED 7.4 million. The matter involved complex enforcement proceedings and allegations of deliberate obstruction of execution measures under […]
A Conversation with Simran Sharma, Legal Researcher As part of our Women in Law series, we continue our conversations with the women contributing to our legal practice. In this feature, we speak with Simran Sharma, Legal Researcher in the firm’s Corporate and Commercial practice. Could you briefly describe your current role and area of practice
Women in Law Series: A Conversation with Simran Sharma Read More »
Alsuwaidi & Company is pleased to share that Mohammed R. Alsuwaidi, Managing Partner, has been featured in the Legal 500 “Interview With” series. In this interview, Managing Partner, Mohammed R. Alsuwaidi discusses the firm’s approach to dispute resolution, client strategy, and key developments in the UAE legal market, as well as the continued growth of
Insights on Dispute Resolution and Client Strategy in the UAE by Mohammed R. Alsuwaidi Read More »
A Conversation with Merline Dsouza, Senior Associate As part of our Women in Law series, we continue our conversations with the women contributing to our legal practice. In this feature, we speak with Merline Dsouza, Senior Associate in the firm’s Dispute Resolution practice. Could you briefly describe your current role and area of practice at
Women in Law Series: A Conversation with Merline Dsouza Read More »
يُعد مبدأ المواجهة أحد الركائز الأساسية في الدعاوى التحكيمية، لما له من دور جوهري في ضمان حق الدفاع وتحقيق العدالة بين الأطراف. نشارككم مقالاً للأستاذ رضا إسماعيل حجازي، منشوراً على موقع مركز الشارقة للتحكيم التجاري الدولي (تحكيم)، يستعرض فيه أهمية هذا المبدأ، وآليات تطبيقه، إلى جانب أبرز التحديات التي قد تواجهه في التحكيم الدولي. اقرأ
مبدأ المواجهة في التحكيم: أحد أهم ضمانات حق الدفاع Read More »
Two arbitration awards. One clear principle: subcontractors must be paid for completed works. Alsuwaidi & Company successfully represented a leading aluminium and glazing specialist in two construction disputes linked to major Dubai developments. The tribunals rejected the contractor’s reliance on “back-to-back” payment arguments and ordered payment of the outstanding sums. We received two favourable arbitration
The Emirate of Dubai has enacted Law No. 8 of 2025 Concerning the Settlement of Disputes Arising from the Execution of Citizens’ Housing Construction Contracts, issued on 8 July 2025 and effective as of 1 January 2026. The law applies to disputes arising from the execution of citizens’ housing construction contracts in Dubai, subject to the
We are pleased to share that our colleague, Merline Dsouza, Associate at Alsuwaidi & Company, has been featured in a GAR Academy Spotlight Interview. In this feature, Merline reflects on her journey in international arbitration, the evolving dispute resolution landscape in the Middle East, and her commitment to building expertise and contributing to the arbitration
GAR Academy Spotlight: Merline Dsouza and Her Journey in International Arbitration Read More »
Recent developments reflect a jurisdiction that continues to support arbitration while maintaining a high bar for procedural discipline. Five recent perspectives illustrate how the UAE courts and their counterparts abroad are shaping the enforcement and monetisation of awards. 1. Legacy DIFC–LCIA Clauses Courts in the UAE, Singapore, and the United States have confirmed that references
UAE Enforcement Landscape: Key Themes and Practical Takeaways Read More »
Converting Arbitral Awards into Real Value: Navigating Monetisation in the UAE Securing a favourable arbitral award is often only half the battle. The greater challenge usually lies in turning that award into actual recovery. Even well-intentioned counterparties may face liquidity constraints or simply refuse to pay, forcing the award creditor into a prolonged enforcement phase
Monetising Arbitration Awards: Turning Paper Wins into Tangible Value Read More »
Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in the UAE: A Practical Guide The recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have evolved significantly over the past two decades. Today, the UAE’s onshore courts generally adopt a pro-enforcement approach aligned with international standards. Nonetheless, procedural nuances and formal requirements continue to
The Role of the UAE Local Courts in Enforcing Foreign Arbitration Awards Read More »
Understanding the Impact of Decree No. 34 of 2021 When Dubai issued Decree No. 34 of 2021, it formally abolished the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre and the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC), consolidating their roles into the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC). This reform aimed to streamline Dubai’s arbitration landscape, but it also raised a critical
What Happens to DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Clauses After Its Abolition? Read More »
In 2025, the latest developments in UAE arbitration include significant judicial decisions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the clarification of federal procedural rules, which together reinforce the country’s pro-arbitration stance. Landmark rulings have solidified the authority of arbitral tribunals and streamlined award enforcement, while institutional updates continue to improve the dispute resolution landscape. Landmark judicial
Enforcement proceedings often move beyond purely legal questions. When a judgment or arbitral award is brought before the UAE courts, issues such as asset valuation, calculation of interest, or compliance with accounting standards can arise. Courts routinely appoint experts from approved rosters to examine the evidence, verify calculations, and provide an objective assessment on technical
The Role of the Expert in Enforcement Proceedings in the UAE Read More »
On 14 January 2025, the Dubai Courts and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to simplify and accelerate reciprocal enforcement of judgments. Far from a technical footnote, the MoU speaks to a growing demand for certainty, efficiency, and trust in how judgments are recognised within the UAE’s
The Dubai ADGM MoU Strengthening Trust in the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Read More »
The launch of ArbitrateAD represents a turning point for arbitration in Abu Dhabi and, by extension, the wider UAE. Effective from 1 February 2024, the ArbitrateAD Arbitration Rules replace the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Center (ADCCAC). This shift positions Abu Dhabi alongside the world’s leading arbitral centers, offering businesses a forum that is
ArbitrateAD and the UAE’s Arbitration Future: Key Rules and Takeaways Read More »
The United Arab Emirates has taken a significant step toward strengthening its reputation as an arbitration-friendly jurisdiction. On August 04, 2025, the Committee for the Unification of Federal and Local Judicial Principles (Committee) issued a landmark clarification: only the final page of an arbitral award must be signed for the award to be valid. This
UAE Clarifies Arbitration Awards: Only Last Page Signature Required Read More »
يُقدم المستشار رضا إسماعيل حجازي ورشة عمل ينظمها مركز الشارقة للتحكيم التجاري الدولي بعنوان: تنفيذ الأحكام الأجنبية وأحكام التحكيم، وذلك يوم الإثنين، 22 سبتمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة 11 صباحًا عبر تقنية الاتصال المرئي. تتناول الورشة الجوانب القانونية والتنفيذية المتعلقة بالأحكام الأجنبية وأحكام التحكيم ضمن النظام القانوني في دولة الإمارات. رابط تسجيل الحضور: اضغط هنا
ورشة عمل: تنفيذ الأحكام الأجنبية وأحكام التحكيم Read More »
Legal Update | Law No. 9 of 2025 Dubai has introduced sweeping reforms to its pre-litigation settlement process, signalling a move toward faster, more efficient dispute resolution. Now in effect, Law No. 9 of 2025 amends key provisions of Law No. 18 of 2021, introducing new procedural powers for the courts and the Centre for Amicable Settlement of
Dubai Enhances Pre-Litigation Dispute Resolution Framework Read More »
Alsuwaidi & Company is proud to announce a significant legal victory in a landmark criminal case involving one of the UAE’s most complex cross-border financial crime prosecutions. The case, which spanned several years and jurisdictions, involved criminal activities committed across multiple countries, including the UAE, and encompassed multiple layers of judicial oversight. It sets a
Cassation Judgments 595/2025 and 608/2025 | July 2025 The Dubai Court of Cassation has issued a landmark ruling confirming that late payment interest clauses in Islamic finance agreements are unenforceable, regardless of how they are labelled. The judgment reinforces the position that Sharia-compliant finance must fully adhere to Islamic legal principles, including the prohibition on
Judgment dated 3 July 2025 | Strengthening Tribunal Autonomy Under UAE Arbitration Law In a landmark decision, the Dubai Court of Cassation has confirmed that arbitral tribunals seated in the UAE have the authority to issue interim anti-suit injunctions to prevent parties from initiating parallel court proceedings during arbitration. Crucially, the Court ruled that such
Dubai Court of Cassation Confirms Arbitral Tribunals May Issue Anti-Suit Injunctions Read More »
This article outlines how certain criminal cases in the UAE may be resolved outside of formal court proceedings under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2022. It explains when criminal settlement is permitted, the legal conditions required, and its practical effects, offering a clearer understanding of this structured, alternative approach to justice. What is Criminal Settlement
Criminal Settlement in the UAE: An Alternative Route to Justice Read More »
Alsuwaidi & Company successfully challenges tribunal’s attempt to block court access Alsuwaidi & Company successfully challenged an arbitral order barring court access during ongoing proceedings. The Court confirmed that judicial access is constitutionally protected and cannot be overridden by interim measures unless expressly permitted by law. Background An arbitral tribunal seated in Dubai under ICC
Alsuwaidi & Company is pleased to announce that we have joined the Greener Arbitration Pledge, furthering our commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. This initiative reflects our dedication to adopting responsible and sustainable practices across our arbitration work and wider operations. The Greener Arbitration Pledge promotes concrete steps to reduce the environmental impact
Delve into the complexities of recognizing and enforcing foreign court judgments in UAE local courts with practical insights in a write up authored by our Senior Associate, Rajiv Suri. Explore the Montevideo Convention’s principles, the ‘lotus principle,’ and the territoriality principle, uncovering the nuances of sovereignty and jurisdiction. Understand the pivotal role of bilateral agreements
Enforcement of Foreign Court Judgments in Civil Proceedings Read More »
Check out our latest insight of LexisNexis, authored by our Senior Associate, Rajiv Suri, which elaborates on the criminal liability of Directors under UAE law. Criminal liability of directors under most of the texts of law do not necessarily apply on directors by virtue of their titles but rather on the basis of the abuse
Criminal Liability of Directors under UAE Law Read More »
“ESG, Environmental, Social & Governances, is a hot topic for every business discussion and on top of the agenda for every business strategy meeting.” Mr. Mohammed Alsuwaidi, Managing Partner of Alsuwaidi & Company, and Mr. Suneer Kumar, Head of Corporate and Commercial team, shed light on ESG engagement and litigation in various jurisdictions in
ESG Engagement & Litigation 2024-UAE Read More »
As the words suggest, alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) implies any process, system or method which helps resolve disputes between the parties without them having to resort to litigation. Some of the most used forms of ADR methods are arbitration and settlement through mediation. We are pleased to share with you that one of our Senior Associates,
بالتعاون مع غرفة تجارة وصناعة عجمان سيقيم مكتب السويدي ومشاركوه ندوة حول قانون تنظيم علاقات العمل يقدمها المستشار/رضا حجازي يوم الاربعاء الموافق 13 سبتمبر 2023 الساعة 10 صباحاً. تأتي هذه الندوة ضمن سلسلة فعاليات تهدف إلى تعزيز الوعي حول القوانين والأنظمة والتي سيتم تقديمها من خلال خبراء في المجال القانوني. ندعو جميع الشركات والأفراد المهتمين بموضوع
ندوة حول قانون تنظيم علاقات العمل بالتعاون مع غرفة تجارة وصناعة عجمان Read More »
بالاشتراك مع المنظمة العربية للمحامين الشباب نظم مكتب السويدي ومشاركوه بتاريخ 25 يوليو 2023 ندوة علمية من خلال الانترنت حول موضوع : المحاماة والرقمنة تحديات وآفاق، وخلال هذه الندوة تولى عدد من المستشارين من بلدان عربية مختلفة تقديم عروضا تناولت محاور مختلفة بعلاقة مهنة المحاماة بالرقمنة وتحدياتها من ناحية وما يمكن أن توفره من فرص
ندوة علمية من خلال الانترنت حول موضوع : المحاماة والرقمنة تحديات وآفاق Read More »
We are pleased to share with you Craig Cothill’s article which featured in the Legal 500 Disputes Yearbook 2023. ‘Legal 500’s ‘Disputes Yearbook 2023’ contains an important article on data flows and data privacy issues in the UAE by Mr. Craig Cothill, Senior Associate resident in Alsuwaidi & Company’s Abu Dhabi office. Cothill’s analysis will
Legal 500-Dispute Yearbook 2023 Read More »
We are pleased to invite you to attend the Zoom Legal Webinar ‘A Tale of 3 Cities: Overview of the legal systems of Abu Dhabi, Dubai & Hong Kong SAR’ which will commence on Thursday 1st June at 11.00 am UAE time (3:00 pm Hong Kong time). Legal experts from Abu Dhabi and Dubai are
A Tale Of Three Cities-Webinar Read More »
“ESG, Environmental, Social & Governances, is a hot topic for every business discussion and on top of the agenda for every business strategy meeting.” Mr. Mohammed Alsuwaidi, Managing Partner of Alsuwaidi & Company, and Mr. Suneer Kumar, Head of Corporate and Commercial team, shed light on ESG engagement and litigation in various jurisdictions in
ESG Engagement & Litigation 2023-UAE Read More »
We are pleased to share with you our contribution to the Chambers Global Practice Guide, Litigation 2023 for the UAE. The latest guide provides expert legal commentary on litigation funding, initiating a lawsuit, representative or collective actions, pre-trial proceedings, discovery, injunctive relief, settlement, damages, appeals, costs, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and arbitration. Many thanks to Mohammed Alsuwaidi, Robert
Chambers Global Practice Guide UAE: Litigation 2023 Read More »
Alsuwaidi & Company handles all matters before the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The off shore legal system operates independently to the onshore system. This short guide aims to give you an overview of the various courts the operate in the DIFC and ADGM. For further information, please
Alsuwaidi & Company Legal Guide to the DIFC and ADGM Courts Read More »
Abdelhak Attallah, head of the Alsuwaidi & Company’s shipping practice shares his insight on maritime liens and ship arrests in the UAE. This article was published with Legal Business’s Global 100 end of year publication which can also be viewed here: https://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/co-publishing/sponsored-briefing-ship-arrest-maritime-liens-and-ship-mortgages-in-the-uae/. READ MORE
Ship arrest, maritime liens and ship mortgages in the UAE Read More »
We are proud to be this year’s sponsors of Global Arbitration Week Dubai (GAR Dubai). Should you wish to attend the event, you can purchase your tickets here Read More
Global Arbitration Week Dubai (GAR Dubai) Read More »
Read Legal Business Week’s interview with Managing Partner Mohammed Alsuwaidi where he talks about the role of technology in the legal profession, what sets Alsuwaidi & Company apart from other law firms in the region, and how the firm navigated the pandemic so that it provided continuous support to all its clients. You can view
Legal Business Week interview with Mohammed Alsuwaidi, September/October 2021 Read More »
The complete Alsuwaidi & Company Legal Guide on Litigation & Arbitration in the UAE is now available. This legal guide was written with the purposes of demystifying dispute resolution in the UAE for those on the ground in the UAE, and those based internationally and who may have interests in the UAE. The complete guide
Alsuwaidi & Company sponsored this year’s Inhouse Congress. Our panel focused on Anti Money laundering and Dispute Resolution. Read More
Key Takeaways from Inhouse Congress 2021 Read More »
A new chapter has arrived with arbitration in Dubai being under the umbrella of DIAC with DIFC-LCI continuing as a division of DIAC with its own rules and case officers. This will make the process of arbitration more streamlined and allow users to have a real choice in the arbitration procedures and rules to be
News update: Arbitrations in Dubai Read More »
We are pleased to share with you our contribution to Legal Business. Our article takes a look at the recent English Supreme Court judgements that affect International Arbitration and how this interpreted into the world of arbitration within the GCC region. The cases of Enka Insaat Ve Sanayi AS v 000Insurance Company Chubb [2020] and
Part 2 of our three-part guide to Litigation & Arbitration in the UAE focuses on the off-short courts of the UAE – namely the DIFC and ADGM. REad more
Alsuwaidi & Company Legal Guides – Guide to Litigation & Arbitration in the UAE Part 2 Read More »
What do you need to know? Read Part 1 of 3 of the Alsuwaidi & Company Dispute Resolution Guide in the UAE. REad more
Alsuwaidi & Company Legal Guides – Guide to Litigation & Arbitration in the UAE Part 1 Read More »
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has just announced its first successful cross-border merger under the DIFC’s Companies Law. The DIFC Companies Law allows mergers between both private and public companies established in the DIFC and companies established in jurisdictions outside of the DIFC. This is a huge step forward that allows the DIFC to attract
DIFC Success in first cross-border merger Read More »
Congratulations to Robert Sliwinski for achieving the award for Dispute Resolution lawyer of the year for the Middle East Robert primarily deals with claims for professional negligence, property, landlord & tenant, delay analysis, costs, variations, defects, interpretation of contracts, repudiation, and many other aspects of contract in the areas of building, civil engineering, mechanical & electrical,
Award for Dispute Resolution in Middle East Read More »
“On 17 September 2020 Robert Sliwinski of Alsuwaidi & Company joined distinguished speakers from the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration and ArbDB Chambers discussing ADR in the GCC Region (and in particular KSA) as well as the importance of Arbitration and Mediation to Family-Owned Business, Energy and Infrastructure. The event has assisted in raising awareness
Mr. Mohammed Alsuwaidi attended The Arab & International Arbitrators Roundtable Discussion (The Future of Dispute Resolution in the UAE) held on 27 of Jan 2019 in ADGM Arbitration Center in Abu Dhabi. The main points covered by the Discussion are: 1- The new Arbitration Law and how this development will shape the dispute resolution landscape