A Dubai court ordered a tenant to pay Dh20,000 in compensation after threatening to burn down a warehouse during a dispute over rental fees.
The ruling was issued by the Dubai Court of First Instance following an earlier criminal conviction against the tenant for intimidation and criminal threat.
Court records showed the conflict began during negotiations over the renewal of a warehouse lease. The landlord proposed a rent increase, which the tenant rejected, saying he could no longer afford the higher amount.
The argument later escalated into a heated confrontation.
According to court documents, the tenant threatened to set the factory on fire and leave the country if the rent was not kept at the same rate.
Alarmed by the statement, the landlord reported the incident to police. The tenant later admitted making the threat and was fined Dh5,000 by the Misdemeanors Court, a ruling later upheld on appeal.
Following the criminal conviction, the landlord filed a civil case seeking compensation for damages, claiming the incident caused fear, panic, and anxiety.
The landlord also told the court he became concerned about the safety of his wider property portfolio, which reportedly includes more than 100 warehouses and several labor accommodations.
While the court rejected claims for material damages due to lack of evidence, it ruled that the threat caused moral and psychological harm.
The court awarded Dh20,000 in compensation, along with 5 percent legal interest once the ruling becomes final. The tenant was also ordered to shoulder court and legal fees.
