س: مرحبًا، مستأجر شقة في دبي (ملكية حرة)، وينتهي العقد خلال أقل من 90 يومًا. يقول المالك إنه غير قادر على تجديد العقد بدون تحديد سبب. كما لم يُخطرني من خلال أي قناة رسمية. أجريت بعض المراجعات من خلال دائرة الأراضي والأملاك بدبي/مركز فض المنازعات الإيجارية واكتشفت أن هناك دعوى سارية لدى مركز فض المنازعات الإيجارية وأن العقار مدرج على أنه "عقار محظور". تبين حالة الدعوى أن معاملة البيع محظورة، وأن معاملات إيجاري محظورة أيضًا (كان المالك يحاول البيع منذ مدة) منذ رفع الدعوى. ما خياراتي نظرًا لأنني بصفتي مستأجرًا ليس لدي أي معرفة رسمية بأي من هذه الأمور ولدي النية الكاملة لتجديد عقدي؟

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am unable to renew my Ejari because my apartment is blocked in the system. The landlord has not been paying service charges to the developer for some time, which is the reason for the blockage. The landlord is in dispute with the developer and is unlikely to settle his dues anytime soon. Consequently, I cannot renew my Ejari until the landlord pays the service charges. Is it possible to renew my Ejari without the landlord settling his dues? Can the landlord increase my rent beyond the RERA rent increase cap, considering I do not have a renewed Ejari? Can the landlord evict me without prior notice? Please note that I had an Ejari from the previous year, but I cannot renew it this year.

س: السادة المحترمون، تواصلت معي شركة الإدارة التي عينها مالك العقار بخصوص تجديد عقد الإيجار. أبلغتني إدارة المبنى (شفهيًا) أن الشقة محظورة لدى دائرة الأراضي والأملاك بدبي لأن المالك مُطالب برسوم خدمة معلقة. تأكدت من الامر ووجدت الشقة محظورة لدى دائرة الأراضي والأملاك. هل يجب أن أقدم شيكاتي الخاصة بالعقد الجديد قبل حل هذه المشكلة؟ هل سأتمكن من تسجيل عقد إيجاري بعد التجديد؟ ماذا يحدث إذا لم أُعط الشيكات حتى يتم حل المشكلة؟ هل هناك أي مشكلة قانونية بالنسبة لي؟ لا أريد المخاطرة بدفع الأموال ولا يُسجًّل العقد رسميًا في دائرة الأراضي والأملاك.

س: كم من الوقت تستغرقه المحكمة لإصدار حكم بالإخلاء من الشقة بعد الجلسة الأولى؟

Q: I'm currently in the process of leasing the property and as part of the standard procedure, we attempted to register the tenancy on the Ejari system. However, we encountered a persistent error message indicating that the property is currently managed by an independent brokerage agency. In an effort to resolve this matter promptly, we reached out to the broker company and were informed that a payment of AED 300 is required to process the Ejari registration. In good faith, we transferred the requested amount to facilitate the registration process. To our surprise, the broker company has since communicated that they have applied for the cancellation of the management contract for the said property and are now requesting to return the AED 300. Despite their assurance of canceling the contract, we are still unable to register the property on the Ejari system. Given the urgency of the situation and the fact that the tenant's move-in date was January 15, 2024, we are seeking legal advice.

Q: We are a general trading company based in Dubai, and we are considering renting a space in the city for a retail point to sell food and beverage products. However, the landlord of the intended retail space is not willing to provide an Ejari contract. We would like to inquire whether, under Dubai law, we can operate a retail business without an Ejari contract for the rented space. Additionally, our company already has an office in Dubai with a registered Ejari contract. Would it be possible to use this existing Ejari contract to obtain the necessary approvals for retail activities in the new rental space?

Q: I had selected an apartment and paid the first cheque also. After paying, I came to know that Ejari is getting delayed because of a block on the property. How can I get the owner to return my money now?

The provisions of this Law apply to real property leased out in the Emirate of Dubai, including vacant and agricultural lands, but excluding hotel establishments and real property provided by natural or legal persons as accommodation to their employees at no charge.

Provisions of this Law supersede articles (2), (3), (4), (9), (13), (14), (15), (25), (26), (29), and (36) of Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. 

This Decree establishes a specialised judicial system to hear rent disputes and develops the procedure for determination of such disputes through an expeditious and simple process for the purpose of realising social and economic stability for all persons involved with the real property rental and other related sectors.