A legal document, usually in writing, giving details of a formal legally binding agreement, between two or more different people or groups. To be legally binding it must contain certain elements: it must contain an offer made by one party and accepted in its entirety by the other, it must include some form of consideration whether it be money, goods or services, and it must be properly signed by all parties to it, and dated.

A contract in which all elements of a contract are specifically stated (offer, acceptance and consideration), and the terms are set out, as compared with an implied contract in which the existence of the contract is assumed by the circumstances.

A violation of a statute, regulation or ordinance, which may be criminal or merely not in conformity; that which lacks authority of or support from the law.

An informal and legally non-binding agreement between two or more parties. It is typically made orally, though it may be written, or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or through mutually beneficial etiquette. The essence of a gentleman’s agreement is that it relies upon the honour of the parties for its fulfilment, rather than in any way being enforceable. It is, therefore, distinct from a legal agreement or contract, which can be enforced if necessary.

The taking of another person’s property without that person’s permission or consent, with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently.

Any matter of fact that a party to a claim or action offers to provide to prove or disprove an issue in the case. The strongest type of evidence is that which provides direct proof of the truth of an assertion. At the other extreme is evidence that is merely consistent with an assertion but does not rule out other, contradictory assertions, and may be viewed as circumstantial evidence.

The term that describes a duty that is enforced by a court and where non-fulfilment may incur a penalty.

A decision of a court regarding the rights and liabilities of the parties to legal proceedings. Judgments generally provide the court’s explanation as to why it has chosen to make a particular decision.

RERA stands for Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency, a government agency, the regulatory arm of Dubai Land Department. RERA was founded on July 31, 2007, by virtue of Dubai Law No. (16) of 2007 Establishing the Real Estate Regulatory Agency. The primary objective of the Agency is to regulate the real estate sector in the Emirate of Dubai by contributing to the preparation of strategies related to the industry and to the development and implementation of the required action plans, including setting legislation regulating the relationship between contracting parties in the real estate market. RERA involved in planning, organising and evaluating operations related to real estate licenses, organisation and development of real estate activities, monitoring property development projects financially and technically, to protect investors.