A Dubai civil court has dismissed a Dh5 million damages claim filed by an African visitor who alleged she sustained serious injuries after slipping on a “pool of water” inside a hotel restaurant, ruling that she failed to prove the incident occurred on the premises. Court records show the woman claimed the fall happened one morning while she and her husband were heading to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Witnesses recalled hearing a scream before finding her on the floor. The court emphasized that the burden of proof rests entirely on the claimant. The judge concluded that the plaintiff’s documentation, including medical reports and personal messages, was insufficient to establish liability. The lawsuit was rejected, and the plaintiff was ordered to pay court fees, other expenses, and the hotel’s legal costs. The hotel also maintained that medical records alone did not establish a direct link between her injuries and any incident inside the hotel. The court reviewed submissions from both sides and cited civil law principles that require proof of fault, actual damage, and a direct causal link.
