ARB 008/2026 Oberlin v Ovidiu
ARB 008/2026 Oberlin v Ovidiu
March 26, 2026  Arbitration - Orders
Claim No. ARB 008/2026
IN THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE COURT
IN THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
BETWEEN
OBERLIN
Claimant
and
OVIDIU
Defendant
ORDER WITH REASONS OF H.E. JUSTICE SHAMLAN AL SAWALEHI
UPON
the Claimant’s Arbitration Claim issued on 26 January 2026 seeking recognition and enforcement of the arbitration award dated 5 December 2025 (the “Arbitration Claim”)
AND UPON
the Order of H.E. Justice Shamlan Al Sawalehi dated 16 March 2026, by which the Defendant was ordered to pay the Claimant’s costs of the Arbitration Claim, with the Claimant to file submissions on costs (the “Order”)
AND UPON
the Claimant’s Statement of Costs dated 23 March 2026
AND UPON
considering Part 38 of the Rules of the DIFC Courts (“RDC”) and Practice Direction No. 4 of 2017 Interest on Judgments
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. The Defendant shall pay the Claimant 80% of the Claimant’s costs of the Arbitration Claim in the total sum of AED 76,785.81 (the “Costs Award”).
2. The Defendant shall pay the Costs Award within 14 days of the date of this Order, pursuant to RDC 38.40.
3. In the event that the Defendant fails to pay the Costs Award within 14 days of the date of this Order, interest shall accrue at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of this Order until payment in full, in accordance with Practice Direction No. 4 of 2017.
Issued by:
Hayley Norton
Assistant Registrar
Date of issue: 26 March 2026
At: 10am
SCHEDULE OF REASONS
1. This Order concerns the costs of the Arbitration Claim for recognition and enforcement of an arbitration award.
2. By the Order dated 16 March 2026, the Defendant was directed to pay the Claimant’s costs of the Arbitration Claim, with a Statement of Costs to be filed within five working days.
3. The Claimant filed a Statement of Costs dated 23 March 2026, claiming a total sum of AED 95,982.26, comprising professional fees incurred in connection with the Arbitration Claim and related filings, together with disbursements including Court filing fees.
4. In assessing those costs, the Court has had regard to RDC 38.7, 38.8 and 38.23, and to the requirement that costs allowed on the standard basis be both reasonable and proportionate.
5. While the Claimant was the successful party in the Arbitration Claim, I consider it appropriate, in the exercise of the Court’s discretion, to allow recovery of 80% of the total costs claimed, reflecting the nature of the proceedings and the need to ensure proportionality.
6. The Defendant shall therefore pay the Claimant the sum of AED 76,785.81, as set out in the Order above.