Commercial & Corporate Disputes

Commercial disputes are governed by the Commercial Transactions Law and, where companies and partners are involved, by the Commercial Companies Law. Both have been updated in recent years, and the company's own constitutional documents often matter as much as the statute.

Invoices and purchase orders. Commercial claims are frequently built on invoices, purchase orders, delivery notes and correspondence rather than a single signed contract. Commercial books and records can be used as evidence, subject to the rules of evidence.

Interest on commercial debts. On a commercial loan, interest runs at the agreed rate or, if none was agreed, at the prevailing market rate, capped at 9% until full repayment. Compound interest cannot be claimed, and different rules apply to Islamic financial institutions.

Partner and management disputes. Shareholders may bring a direct claim where they are personally harmed, and in some cases a claim on behalf of the company against its managers. The memorandum of association, voting rules and any exit provisions shape what is available.

Arbitration clauses. Many commercial contracts refer disputes to arbitration. A valid arbitration clause can remove the dispute from the courts, so the contract should be reviewed before any claim is filed.

A clear account statement, the underlying documents and a record of demands made will usually determine how quickly a commercial claim can move. In partner disputes, settlement and an agreed exit are often worth considering before litigation.

Legal framework
Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022 (Commercial Transactions Law)
Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 (Commercial Companies Law), as amended including by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025
Federal Law No. 6 of 2018 on Arbitration

Free zone companies may be subject to their own regulations, and companies in the DIFC or ADGM are governed by separate legal systems and courts.