The UAE judiciary rules in favor of Elissa in her dispute with Watary.

On June 16, 2025, the Dubai Courts Chamber of Commerce issued a final court ruling terminating the distribution agreement signed between artist Elissa and Watary, which had been in effect since August 12, 2023. The ruling marked a clear legal victory for Elissa, especially after months of tension and legal wrangling over the distribution rights of her works.

Complete ban on songs whose rights have been violated

The ruling not only terminated the agreement, but also banned Watary from distributing or publishing the songs “Min Awal Daqiqa” and “Ana W Bas,” after the court found a clear infringement of Elissa’s literary and artistic rights through the song “Wabteer,” which has sparked widespread controversy since its release.

Regain control of the official channel

In a move considered central to the case, the ruling ordered Watary to hand over all access keys to the digital platforms through which it distributes Elissa's work, while terminating any connection to the artist's official YouTube channel. This means that Elissa now regains full control over her channel and artistic content, a demand she has been demanding since the beginning of the dispute.

A message from Elissa...and hope for support from the Lebanese judiciary

Following the ruling, Elissa shared a statement on her Instagram Stories, thanking her legal teams: Marc Habaka & Associates in Lebanon and Tamimi & Associates in Dubai. She also expressed her hope that the Lebanese judiciary would follow the example of its Emirati counterpart in swiftly adjudicating the lawsuits related to the same case, which are still pending before Lebanese courts.