Tenant demanding more than RDC verdict. Must I pay before the execution file is issued?

Good evening,

Thank you for sharing the details of your situation!

Under UAE tenancy law, you are legally obligated to pay only the exact amount awarded by the RDC verdict as reflected in the official receipt.

Please note that the verdict is not yet final or enforceable until the 15-day appeal period has expired without any appeal filed.

Enforcement actions such as opening an execution file or imposing a travel ban can only be initiated after the RDC issues a formal execution order.

Any additional payment demands or threats made by the tenant before this process are not legally binding. Therefore, I advise you to wait for the appeal period to end and the official execution order before making any further payments or taking action.

If you would like, I can assist you further with reviewing the documents, communicating with the RDC, or advising you on protecting your rights throughout this process.

Please feel free to reach out to arrange a consultation.

Best regards,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing the details of your situation!

I understand how unsettling it can be when a tenant threatens further action despite your good-faith payment.

1. Where the judgment stands now:

The RDC judgment is provisionary for 15 days, during which either party may file an appeal (Decree No. 26/2013). Until that appeal window closes, no execution file should lawfully proceed.

Only once the decision is marked “final” can the tenant open an execution file and apply for enforcement measures such as a travel ban.

2. Disputed costs:

The amount payable for fees and expenses must match the figure endorsed in the court’s final cost schedule, not what the tenant claims.

If you have already transferred a sum greater than (or equal to) the official RDC receipt, keep the transfer proof handy; it is your strongest defence against any execution demand.

3. Your immediate options:

Verify the official cost order. We can obtain an authenticated copy from RDC to confirm precisely what, if anything, remains due.

File a precautionary appeal or objection. If the tenant tries to execute before the judgment is final, we can lodge an urgent objection to suspend execution and prevent any travel ban.

Consider a narrow appeal on costs. If the RDC’s cost allocation appears excessive or unclear, the 15-day window allows us to challenge it.

4. How I can help:

I regularly represent landlords in RDC proceedings and execution disputes. With a brief review of the judgment, payment proofs, and the tenant’s correspondence, I can:

- Outline the exact balance (if any) still payable,

- Draft the appropriate notices to the tenant demanding acknowledgment of payment and withdrawal of threats,

- File any appeal or execution objection within the statutory deadline, and

- Shield you against unwarranted enforcement measures, including travel bans.

To move forward swiftly, please send me:

- A copy of the RDC judgment and cost decision,

- The transfer receipt or bank confirmation of the amount you paid, and

- Any written demands or threats from the tenant.

Once I have these, I can give you a fixed-fee quotation for the full representation and, if you wish, immediately act as your attorney before the RDC.

Feel free to reach me on WhatsApp or phone at [------------] to discuss the next steps and secure your position before the 15-day period lapses.

I look forward to assisting you.

Kind regards,

Suhail Rana

Advocate & Legal Consultant

Dear Client,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing the details of your situation.

Based on your message, you are correct in waiting for the execution file from the Rental Dispute Centre (RDC) before making any further payments.

The official amount you are required to pay will be determined and confirmed by the RDC during the execution phase, based on the court’s calculations and official receipts. You are not obligated to pay any additional sums to your tenant beyond what is specified by the court.

Please note that the tenant cannot initiate enforcement actions, such as an execution file or a travel ban, until the judgment becomes final (after the 15 days) and only if any court-ordered payments remain outstanding.

If you receive any formal notice from the RDC, you will have the opportunity to respond and settle the matter as required.

If you would like further guidance, representation, or assistance in communicating with the RDC or your tenant, we would be happy to offer our legal services to ensure your rights are fully protected throughout the process.

Please let us know if you would like to schedule a consultation or require any additional support.

Best regards,

After the 15-day appeal period passes without an appeal, the judgment becomes final and executable. Once the judgment is final, the winning party (in your case, the tenant) can then apply to the RDC's Execution Department to open an execution file.

Once the execution file is opened, you, as the judgment debtor, will be officially notified by the RDC's Execution Department of the judgment and given a grace period to voluntarily comply.

If you don't comply within that grace period, the Execution Judge can then order enforcement measures. The RDC verdict will specify the exact amount you are liable to pay for fees and expenses of the case.

This is usually based on official RDC fees, expert fees (if any), and possibly basic process server fees.

Dear Inquirer,

Thank you for reaching out!

If the RDC judgment is not yet final and within the 15-day appeal window, the case cannot proceed to execution unless the judgment becomes final or you waive your right to appeal.

Paying the amount directly to the tenant, especially an amount exceeding the official court fees, may not be recognized in the execution phase unless properly documented.

Therefore, we advise against any further payments until the execution file is officially opened and the court specifies the exact enforceable amount.

As for threats of a travel ban, this cannot be requested unless an execution file is filed and accepted by RDC, and even then, only under specific legal conditions.

To protect your rights and avoid unnecessary risks, we recommend that you book a consultation with Future Vision for Advocacy and Legal Consultancy or authorize our office to represent you directly before the RDC and the execution judge.

Dear Questioner,

Good day, and thank you for your message!

Please be assured that your concern is valid, and I understand your discomfort regarding the situation. Here's some clarity on the matter based on current UAE law and the procedures followed by the Rental Disputes Center (RDC):

1. Appeal Period (15 Days):

The verdict issued by the RDC is currently within the 15-day appeal window, during which the judgment is not yet final or enforceable. No execution file can be legally opened until this period has lapsed without an appeal from either party.

2. Execution File & Official Amount:

The exact amount to be paid, including fees and expenses, will be determined once the execution file is officially opened, not before. Any payments made directly to the tenant prior to this are voluntary and not legally binding unless officially acknowledged by the RDC.

3. Excess Payment Claim:

If you have already paid an amount exceeding the official RDC receipt, you are not legally obligated to pay any further amount unless directed by the RDC in the execution order. The tenant cannot demand more than what has been awarded by the RDC.

4. Threats of Travel Ban or Execution File:

The tenant cannot open an execution file or request a travel ban until the judgment becomes final. Any such threats are premature and legally unfounded at this stage.

5. Recommendation:

I advise you to wait until the 15-day period expires. If no appeal is filed, the RDC will open the execution file and you can proceed to make payment based on the official amount specified therein.

If the tenant continues to pressure or threaten you, we can file a complaint for harassment or misuse of legal rights, if necessary.

Please let me know if you would like our office to follow up formally with the RDC or assist in any further way.

Warm regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

You can send us the contracts and find out the reason for the dispute that prompted the tenant to file a lawsuit, so we can guide you properly. You can also file a lawsuit against the tenant for threatening you.

The judgment may not be executed before 15 days have passed or a certificate of execution has been issued.

Do not pay any additional amounts that are not officially documented.

The tenant's threats have no legal force now, and you can counter them by going to court and requesting an official explanation.

Dear questioner,

If you have proof of payment, then we can object to the claim of such an amount through the execution court. Execution courts do not immediately impose a travel ban unless it is a cheque bounce matter.

It will take 5 to 6 days, so be prepared to file an objection. Meanwhile, prepare evidence showing that the amount was transferred to the tenant.

If you need further clarification, kindly share your WhatsApp number.