- Construction Contract Disputes
- Main Contractor vs Subcontractor Disputes
- Construction Project Abandonment
- Construction Contract Termination
- Construction Variation Order Disputes
- What to do next
- FAQ
A subcontractor has completed 70 percent of the MEP package. The main contractor has not paid the last three certificates and has now issued a notice threatening to terminate for 'slow progress'. Site is still active and the subcontractor's labour camp costs are running.A representative scene, not a reported case.
01Construction Contract Disputes
Most projects in the UAE use a standard form, often an amended FIDIC, or a bespoke contract. The amendments and particular conditions matter more than the headline form, because that is where risk is moved.
We start by reading the contract as a whole: notice requirements, time bars, claim procedures, engineer's determination and dispute resolution. Many construction claims are lost not on merits but because a notice was missed. Check time limits before anything else.
02Main Contractor vs Subcontractor Disputes
The subcontract is a separate contract with the main contractor, not with the employer. Subcontractors are often exposed to back-to-back clauses and pay-when-paid terms that pass the employer's problems down the chain.
We examine whether those clauses are enforceable on the facts, what was certified, and what the main contractor actually received from the employer. See also construction payment disputes.
Discuss Your Construction ClaimSend us the contract or the key messages and we will tell you where you stand.
WhatsApp us03Construction Project Abandonment
Abandonment is a serious allegation. It generally means the contractor stopped working without lawful cause. A contractor who stops because it has not been paid may be exercising a suspension right, if the contract or the law allows it and notice was properly given.
Whether it is abandonment or lawful suspension turns on notices and chronology. If you are the employer, we help you preserve the position, secure the site and assess replacement costs. If you are the contractor, we look at whether suspension notices were served correctly.
04Construction Contract Termination
Termination is the most consequential step in a project. Valid termination needs a contractual or legal ground, proper notice, and often a cure period. An invalid termination can itself be a breach, and the terminating party may owe compensation.
Before terminating, we review the grounds, notices already served and the consequences for guarantees, retention and handover. Before accepting termination, we check the same points from the other side.
05Construction Variation Order Disputes
A variation changes the scope, time or cost of the works. Disputes arise when work was instructed informally, such as on site or by WhatsApp, and the contractor is later told it was not authorised.
Evidence of instruction and of the extra cost is everything. Keep dated instructions, records of resources and valuations at the time. We assess whether the contract's variation procedure was followed and, if not, whether the employer's conduct still makes the work payable.
What to do in the next 48 hours
- Calendar every notice periodMake a list of contract clauses with time limits and the dates you must act by. Missing one can cost the claim.
- Collect the project recordSite instructions, daily reports, minutes, programme updates, photographs and correspondence by date.
- Keep working or suspend only on adviceStopping work or terminating without proper notice can turn a claim into a counterclaim.
Documents we ask for first
- Contract with particular conditions and appendices
- Programme and revisions
- Interim payment certificates and applications
- Variation instructions and valuations
- Minutes of meetings and site instructions
- Notices, letters and emails by date
Questions we are asked
Do I need to follow the contract's dispute procedure?
Usually yes. Steps such as engineer's decision, adjudication or amicable settlement can be conditions to arbitration or litigation. We check them first.
Can I stop work if I am not paid?
Possibly, if the contract or the law gives a right and notices are properly served. The risk of getting it wrong is high, so take advice before suspending.
Do UAE courts appoint experts in construction cases?
Yes. Technical experts are commonly appointed, and their reports often drive the result. We prepare for that stage from the start.
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.