On 24 April 2026, the DIFC Court of Appeal delivered what is understood to be the DIFC Courts’ first decision setting aside a DIFC-seated arbitral award. In Oheo Bank v Parker [2025] DIFC CA 006, the Court partly set aside a DIAC award ordering Oheo Bank to pay EUR 1 million because the Bank had […]
Can Claimants Avoid Arbitration by Adding Non-Signatory Defendants?
Arbitration clauses are not always challenged directly. Often, the challenge is more subtle: a claimant brings court proceedings against both the contractual counterparty and an additional defendant who never signed the arbitration agreement, i.e., a non-signatory or third party. The question then becomes whether that party structure is enough to keep the dispute in court. […]
The Iran Conflict and Arbitration Disputes
In addition to its human toll, the current conflict involving Iran creates immediate commercial and legal challenges for companies operating in the Middle East. It directly affects contract performance, payment flows, shipping, energy supply and dispute resolution. In sectors such as energy, infrastructure, commodities and maritime transport, these impacts are already tangible, appearing in delayed […]
Onshore UAE Pro-Arbitration Court Decisions 2024-2025
The UAE’s arbitration landscape continues to mature, and recent Court of Cassation decisions from 2024 and 2025 show that the onshore courts are actively supporting that trajectory. Three themes stand out. First, the courts are increasingly protecting the arbitral process from judicial interference, most notably by confirming that interim measures issued by tribunals cannot be […]
Claiming Interest in Arbitrations in the Middle East
Sharia law shapes the legal frameworks in the Middle East. Traditionally, it was the primary uncodified source of law in the region. However, throughout the 20th century, many Middle Eastern countries developed their own Civil Codes, which continue to be rooted in Sharia principles. One of the key areas where Sharia law exerts substantial influence […]