DCC 473/2004

The key issue was whether the Dubai courts had jurisdiction to hear a case merely because a shipping agent based in Dubai had not been notified of changes under the bill of lading when there was no other connection with Dubai in the transaction.

Background

A Respondent Company filed suit against the Appellant No. 6/2004 requesting the payment of 1,283,372 AED and 12% interest from the date of the issue of a bill of lading on 25-11-2002 until full payment. The Plaintiff explained that it was a registered company in Dubai and conducted general trade and the Defendant respondent (the maritime carrier) had issued on 25-11-2002 under a bill of lading to ship container on a ship a new battery for cars which was to be transported from the port of Busan - South Korea to the port of Alexandria. The bill of lading specified the name of the Claimant. The value of the shipment amounted according to the purchase invoice issued on 24-11-2002 from the shipper for the Plaintiff's account the equivalent to 1,051,944 AED.