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The plaintiff entered into a construction contract with the defendant dated 15/01/2024 for building works with a total value of AED 500,000, with works to be completed within six months from the date of contracting. However, the defendant failed to comply with the agreed timeframe and delayed completion of the works by an additional three months without providing a legally acceptable justification.

This matter is legally characterized as a breach of contractual obligation consisting of delay in the performance of a time-bound obligation arising from a construction contract, which constitutes a form of contractual liability once damage and the causal link between the delay and damage are established.

Article 872 of the Civil Transactions Law stipulates the contractor's obligation to complete work in accordance with the terms and timelines agreed upon in the contract. Article 390 of the same law provides that the creditor may claim compensation for damages incurred as a result of the debtor's breach of contractual obligation, once damage and causation are established. It follows that unjustified delay in performing a contractual obligation gives rise to the debtor's liability and entitles the creditor to claim compensation for resulting damages.

Whereas it is established from the facts that the defendant was contractually obligated to complete the works within a specified period, yet delayed performance by three months without proving the existence of a force majeure or external cause preventing timely performance, such delay constitutes a breach of contractual obligation. Furthermore, delay in construction works inherently causes foreseeable harm to the creditor, whether through loss of use of the project or incurring additional financial burdens. Accordingly, the elements of contractual liability are met: contractual fault (delay), damage, and the causal link between them. This can only be altered by the defendant proving the existence of an external cause negating liability, which has not been established from the presented facts.