Q: Hi. My daughter had stayed at an apartment 807, Marina Diamond 2 in Dubai from 1st May 2017 to 31st July 2018 on the lease of Mr Alex Hejazi's US national apartment. The first contract was for one year and then extended for six months. The original contract had two months notice clause and renewed one with one month notice. He was given a month's notice as per the tenancy agreement on 25th June 2018 by mail and over the phone and vacated on 31st July 2018. Returned to India on 8th August 2018. The landlord is now not responding to mails or texts and has not returned any money. The dues are three months' rent and the security deposit total of AED 15600. Now, she is back in India and cannot travel to lodge a case in RDC. How do I get back my hard-earned money without travelling to Dubai?

Q: I have vacated my flat in the first week of February. The old tenant made so many changes in the flat and the landlord knows about this one. They told me that they will not charge me. It was in 2016. Now, they refused to pay my security deposit back because they don't have any proof whether they deducted from the old tenant or not. What can I do? Please help.

Q: I am having an issue with my real estate company regarding security and advance rent payment. I am following up with them for more than the past 3 months but it is still not resolved.

Q: Dear sir/madam, In the event of sale/purchase, both parties need to issue a security cheque of 10% of the agreed transaction value. Will both parties issue this cheque in each other's name or in the name of the broker's company? What does the law say?

Q: Hi! I have been living in a rented house which I haven't signed an agreement with for almost three months. But due to some issues with my work, I had to hand over my resignation and now I am waiting for the payment from my work to pay the rent which is due on the 3rd of the month. My landlord keeps threatening that he will file a case against me and hand over my copy of emirates ID which I send him as he asked to prepare the agreement (but I haven't signed any document). The rental amount is AED 1000. Can he file a complaint against me and go to the police? Also, one of the police officers keeps sending me WhatsApp messages regarding the payment which I haven't even opened to read.

Q: My building asked the tenants to register for the empower portal after 1 year of tenancy. After my lease renewal, I asked the management team to provide me the Ejari and they stated I have to pay for the non-registration period (the 1 year before empowering registration) to the landlord, otherwise, I won't get the Ejari. Am I supposed to pay for that period?

The relationship between tenants and landlords is regulated in Dubai by Law No. 33 of 2008 Concerning the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. The arising rental disputes are referred to Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (“RDSC”) created by Decree No. 26 of 2013 to reconcile between the parties and reach an amicable settlement or seek a final judgment issued and enforced by the RDSC.

عرف قانون المعاملات المدنية الإمارات في المادة 872 منه عقد المقاولة بأنه العقد الذي يتعهد فيه أحد طرفيه بأن يصنع شيئاً أو يؤدي عملاً لقاء بدل يتعهد به الطرف الآخر. وينقضي عقد المقاولة إما بانقضاء العمل المتفق عليه أو بالفسخ، وفي الحالة الأخيرة، يتم التعويض على الطرف المتضرر من الفسخ كما هم معمول به قانوناً وعرفاً.

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.