In a ruling that underscores growing judicial scrutiny of the immigration-services sector, the Dubai Court of First Instance on 18 February cancelled two service agreements and ordered a local consultancy to refund AED 92,886 plus AED 10,000 in damages and 5 percent annual interest. The Arab claimant alleged that the firm failed to deliver promised residency visas despite full payment.
The court found the consultancy in breach of contract and dismissed its request for immediate enforcement without a guarantee. Legal analysts say the decision signals a tougher stance against agencies that oversell pathways such as the Canadian Skilled Worker Programme or European investor visas—markets that attract UAE residents seeking second passports.
![Dubai Court Orders Immigration Consultancy to Repay AED 92,886 to Client Over Failed Relocation Case]()
For relocation managers the case is a cautionary tale: use licensed agents, insist on milestone-based payment schedules and verify that service agreements contain refund and dispute-resolution clauses compliant with UAE Commercial Transactions Law. The judgment also empowers consumers to pursue civil claims rather than file complaints with economic departments alone.
For applicants who want to pursue legitimate visa or residency routes after doing their due diligence, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Through its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), the service provides real-time requirements, document-assembly tools and customer support, helping travelers avoid the costly missteps now coming under judicial scrutiny.
Industry insiders expect the verdict to ripple across the booming ‘citizenship-by-investment’ advisory space, prompting firms to tighten compliance and professional-indemnity cover. Employees considering self-sponsored migration programmes should be reminded to vet providers rigorously.
The court found the consultancy in breach of contract and dismissed its request for immediate enforcement without a guarantee. Legal analysts say the decision signals a tougher stance against agencies that oversell pathways such as the Canadian Skilled Worker Programme or European investor visas—markets that attract UAE residents seeking second passports.
For relocation managers the case is a cautionary tale: use licensed agents, insist on milestone-based payment schedules and verify that service agreements contain refund and dispute-resolution clauses compliant with UAE Commercial Transactions Law. The judgment also empowers consumers to pursue civil claims rather than file complaints with economic departments alone.
For applicants who want to pursue legitimate visa or residency routes after doing their due diligence, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Through its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), the service provides real-time requirements, document-assembly tools and customer support, helping travelers avoid the costly missteps now coming under judicial scrutiny.
Industry insiders expect the verdict to ripple across the booming ‘citizenship-by-investment’ advisory space, prompting firms to tighten compliance and professional-indemnity cover. Employees considering self-sponsored migration programmes should be reminded to vet providers rigorously.
