Court battle over Dh4 million luxury yacht in Dubai



DUBAI // A yacht builder locked in a legal battle with a customer over a vessel worth Dh4 million has denied using a forged document to support his claim.

The Criminal Court heard that B?G, 41, from Iceland, had been looking for a local sponsor to help him start his yacht-making company in Abu Dhabi about four years ago.

The yacht maker’s lawyer said his client met the Emirati M?J, also 41, who offered to sponsor the company if the man first made him a yacht.

The yacht maker then sent him a vessel worth Dh4m, but did not receive any documents to start sponsorship proceedings.

In 2010, the yacht maker lodged a lawsuit against the Emirati in an Abu Dhabi court for refusing the return the yacht after reneging on his promise to sponsor the company.

The court ordered the Emirati to pay the yacht maker Dh4m. But after the verdict, the yacht maker was charged with forging an official document he was alleged to have used in the court battle.

It was not clear what the document was, but the yacht maker denied the charge in court yesterday.

Judge Hamad Abdul Latif adjourned the case to September 29 and ordered the man’s release on bail, with the conditions that he hand over his passport and a financial guarantee of Dh50,000.

salamir@thenational.ae

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Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).