Court orders Dh1.43m over frozen chicken imports

Dubai's Court of First Instance ordered a food importing company to pay $390,503.47, or about Dh1.43 million, to an overseas supplier for frozen chicken products, according to a June 1 Gulf News report. The court said the importer had failed to settle outstanding payments for imported shipments. The ruling also imposed legal interest of 5% a year from February 26, 2026, until full payment, along with court fees, expenses and Dh1,000 in legal representation costs. The case arose from a commercial dispute over unpaid food imports and was decided after the defendant did not appear in court or file a defence. ### Which court issued the order, and what exactly did it award? The Dubai Court of First Instance issued the order against the importing company, Gulf News reported on June 1. The judgment required payment of the principal claim of $390,503.47, which the report said was equivalent to roughly Dh1,433,147. (gulfnews.com) The 5% annual legal interest runs from February 26, 2026, the date the lawsuit was filed, until the amount is fully paid. The court also awarded court fees, expenses and Dh1,000 in legal representation costs. ### What was the supplier's claim about the frozen chicken shipments? Court records cited by Gulf News said the overseas supplier sued on February 26, 2026, to recover unpaid amounts tied to the sale and shipment of frozen chicken products. (gulfnews.com) The supplier said the defendant company had imported the goods but did not pay the remaining balance despite repeated demands. The unpaid amount totaled $390,503.47, according to the report. The supplier backed its claim with commercial invoices, shipping documents, sales order confirmations, a statement of account from its records and translated correspondence between the parties. ### What evidence did the court rely on? (gulfnews.com) The documents submitted to the court included communications in which the importing company acknowledged delays in settling the outstanding amounts, Gulf News reported. The court reviewed the invoices, shipping documents, sales confirmations, account statements and correspondence before concluding that the frozen chicken products had been imported and that the debt remained unpaid. (gulfnews.com) The judgment referred to provisions of the UAE law of evidence that treat signed private documents as full proof of the declarations they contain unless the signer proves otherwise. The court also cited Dubai Court of Cassation principles affirming that trial courts may assess documentary evidence, review correspondence between parties and determine the existence and extent of indebtedness. (gulfnews.com) ### Did the importer contest the case? During the proceedings, the claimant appeared through legal counsel, while the defendant company did not attend the hearings or submit any defence, according to Gulf News. The court said the defendant also did not produce evidence showing the debt had been paid and did not challenge the authenticity or validity of the supplier's documents. (gulfnews.com) The supplier had asked for default interest of 9% a year, but the court awarded 5%, the report said. Gulf News did not identify the importing company or the overseas supplier by name in the report available online. ### What happens next in the case? The June 1 report said the importer is liable for the principal amount, annual interest from February 26, 2026, and the additional court-ordered costs. (gulfnews.com) Any next step would center on payment of the judgment or a challenge through the available court process, though the report did not say whether an appeal had been filed. As of the report's publication on June 1, 2026, the concrete milestone in the case was the running of 5% legal interest from the filing date, February 26, 2026, until the debt is fully settled. (gulfnews.com)