My brother-in-law was successful in having Emirates's application for costs dismissed.
Emirates filed its application, never served my BIL with the application and never furnished the court with an affidavit of service (presumably because it was never served). Emirates's lawyers then lodged written submission as to why costs should have been awarded five minutes before the court closed the day before the trial (effectively, six hours before the hearing). The submissions were weak at best and in parts my BIL believed they were misleading or even false. He was able to make written submissions and the magistrate ultimately found that the case was not wholly without merit and there exceptional circumstances did not exist, at least one element of which must be proven for costs to be awarded in a small claims matter in this jurisdiction.
My BIL is of the personal opinion that Emirates acted underhandedly throughout proceedings and the lawyers earned the profession's less than stellar reputation. I know the case well and I agree with him. We have the transcripts of the hearings and will study them closely.