The Dubai Court of First Instance has ordered a man and his son to jointly pay Dh16.1 million to the man's wife after they took jewellery, luxury watches and cash from her during a marital dispute.

The award is made up of Dh15.1 million, the value of more than 100 pieces of gold and diamond jewellery, watches and cash, and Dh1 million in compensation for material and moral damage.

Both men had already been convicted of theft in a criminal court, sentenced to one year in prison and jointly fined Dh15.1 million. The Court of Appeal upheld the convictions.

The wife then filed a civil lawsuit seeking Dh50 million, including about Dh11 million in profits she said she had lost as gold prices rose by at least 70 per cent, and around Dh23.9 million for emotional and moral damage.

The court rejected the claim for lost gold profits, ruling that compensation must rest on actual damage rather than hypothetical gains, and dismissed the remaining claims.

(Source: Khaleej Times)