Abu Dhabi court rejects man’s Dh25,000 claim over failed car deal with no proof of agreement

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi family and civil court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a man seeking Dh 25,000 from a woman he claimed had misled him into replacing his car through her aunt, who allegedly works in the car import business.

According to the plaintiff, the woman promised to help him upgrade his vehicle via her aunt, suggesting she could facilitate the purchase of a newer model.

Trusting her assurances, the man sold his own car and transferred Dh 25,000 to her, expecting that she would cover the remaining amount as a gift, based on a verbal agreement.

The man alleged that the woman later acknowledged receiving the money and requested time to repay it. She eventually offered to return the amount in monthly installments of Dh 3,000, citing financial difficulty.

After initially filing a criminal complaint, which was dismissed on grounds that the dispute was civil in nature, the man pursued a civil claim.

However, the court ruled that the man had failed to provide sufficient evidence proving the existence of a binding agreement or the purpose of the transaction.

It emphasized that a money transfer alone does not constitute proof of debt, and that claims must be supported by admissible evidence such as written agreements, testimony, or clear documentation.

The WhatsApp and social media messages submitted by the plaintiff, the court found, did not explicitly reference the car deal in a manner sufficient to support his claim. As a result, and in accordance with UAE civil procedure, the court rejected the case.

Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE.