What decides a dispute between two companies?
Three things: the written terms, the way the parties behaved afterwards, and who can prove what. A short contract plus a long email history is common. We read both together, because conduct can fill gaps in a thin agreement and can also undo a strict clause the other side never enforced.
Where will the claim be heard?
Check the contract for an arbitration clause or a chosen court before anything else. If there is none, the Dubai Courts are the usual forum. For some claims a pre-filing conciliation step applies, and a legal notice often comes first. Filing in the wrong place wastes months.
When is settlement the better route?
When the relationship still has value, when the sum is modest compared with the cost of a trial, or when the other side's finances make a judgment hard to collect. We tell you the likely cost and time of litigation so you can compare it honestly with a negotiated figure.
Documents to have ready
- Signed contract and any amendments
- Purchase orders, quotations and invoices
- Statement of account
- Emails and WhatsApp messages between the companies
- Trade licences of both parties
Send us the documentsA short message and the key papers are enough for a first assessment.
WhatsApp usCommon questions
Can a WhatsApp message be evidence in a commercial claim?
Yes. Messages are commonly used to show instructions, acceptance and promises to pay. Keep the full thread, not selected screenshots.
Should I stop trading with the other company while the dispute runs?
Not automatically. Stopping supply or payment can itself be a breach. Take advice on notice and continue to perform what you must.
More on commercial disputes
This 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.