Corporate and Commercial · Business Guide
When a supplier, customer, partner or counterparty fails to perform, a structured early review can help a business understand its position before costs and risk increase.
Legal Compass UAE · Updated 24 October 2026 · 6 minute read
Before sending a legal notice or starting proceedings, review the signed agreement and preserve the commercial record. Governing law, jurisdiction, dispute resolution clauses and notice requirements can materially affect available options.
Collect the executed agreement, schedules, purchase orders, statements of work, amendments and any renewal or termination notices. Identify the contracting entities, scope of work, delivery and acceptance terms, payment dates, limitation of liability, termination rights and any required notice or cure period.
Keep invoices, delivery notes, work product, acceptance records, account statements and correspondence in their original form. Prepare a dated timeline of what each party was required to do, what was delivered or paid and what remains disputed. Preserve relevant emails and messages, but do not delete or alter potentially important material.
Identify the contract's governing law, court jurisdiction, arbitration clause or escalation procedure. Do not assume every UAE related contract is heard by the same court. The result can depend on the parties, contract terms, emirate, applicable legal regime and any valid agreement to arbitrate or use a particular forum.
Some agreements require notice to a specified address, by a specified method, within a defined period. Others provide a process for resolving the dispute before proceedings can begin. Check these requirements and any limitation periods before sending a notice or making a demand. A poorly directed notice can create avoidable issues.
Depending on the contract and dispute, the parties may be able to negotiate a payment plan, agree corrective action, use mediation or proceed to arbitration or court. Mediation is a recognised method for resolving civil and commercial disputes in the UAE, but availability, process and enforceability depend on the arrangement and applicable law.
For an initial legal review, prepare a short summary of the parties, contract date, disputed obligation, amount at issue, key deadlines and the outcome the business is seeking. This makes it easier to identify missing evidence and questions requiring legal analysis.
Describe the contract type, key dates and issue in broad terms so that the appropriate legal service can be discussed.
Discuss commercial legal supportDisclaimer: This is general legal information, not legal advice. Contract disputes depend on the agreement, governing law, forum, evidence and circumstances. Obtain a specific legal review before making a demand, terminating an agreement or commencing proceedings.