The DIFC Court issued an amended order with reasons on 18 June 2026 in Olan v Obelix, Claim Nos. ARB 053/2025 and ARB 054/2025. The Court dismissed Olan’s application to set aside the arbitral award and dismissed its challenge to the order recognising and enforcing the award in the DIFC.

The dispute arose from a contract concerning the development of a Dubai mall and involved DIAC arbitration seated in the DIFC. The Court also discharged the stay that had paused the recognition and enforcement order while the challenge was under consideration.

The reasons illustrate the limited nature of set-aside proceedings and the distinction between statutory grounds for challenging an award and an appeal on the merits. A party’s disagreement with the tribunal’s factual or legal conclusions does not, without more, convert the set-aside process into a rehearing of the underlying dispute.

The order dealt with the challenge and the stay on recognition and enforcement, while costs and consequential applications were to be addressed separately. The full amended order and reasons are available through the DIFC Courts’ published arbitration decisions.