س: السلام عليكم كنت محتاج أستفسر عن شيء. أنا كنت مأجر شقة، وقبل انتهاء العقد بأسبوع أخبرت المالك بأنني سأترك الشقة مع انتهاء العقد. أخبرني أنه يريد مني إيجار شهرين لأنني لم أقم بإخطاره قبلها بشهرين. هل هذا قانوني؟ وهل يوجد نص في قانون الإيجارات ينص على هذا؟ أرجو الإفادة

Q: Hi, I am a tenant and my agreement ends on 30/8/2019, but due to unavoidable circumstances, I need to terminate the contract early on 30/4/2019. The exit clause states: 1. The penalty for breaking the contract is 2 months' rent 2. The tenant should inform the owner 2 months before vacating the unit otherwise the tenant has to pay 2 months' rent as a penalty. Already given the owner the notice on 10/2/2019, but he is still claiming the 2 months' rent penalty. Please clarify how many penalties are in play here. Thanks Didi

Q: Dear lawyer, I have a tenancy contract for one year in Dubai, ending on 25 November 2018. On the 8th of October, the landlord sent me a lease renewal, with some parts of the contract modified and contains different terms from the previous one. I decided I don't want to renew the contract; neither with the new nor old conditions. On the 1st of November, I notified the landlord that I will vacate on the current contract end date 25 Nov. He replied that I needed to notify him 90 days prior to the expiry date and I didn't, and now he is entitled to reimbursement and asks for 2 months' rent as a compensation. Our contract says only "Tenant agrees to notify the Landlord in writing 3 months (90 days) prior to the expiry of this Agreement of his intention to renew or not renew the Agreement". However, no financial penalties for breaking the clause of 90 days' notice of non-renewal are mentioned there. Please tell, can he claim from me this 2 months' amount? I will highly appreciate your opinion. Best regards

س: سؤال بخصوص تجديد عقد الإيجار لسنة أخرى. نويت التجديد لسنة أخرى، ولكن كنت أتفاوض على مبلغ الإيجار. وافق المالك على التجديد بعد الاتفاق على المبلغ المطلوب. فى نفس اليوم الذى أرسلت له الشيكات اضطرتنى ظروف العمل أن انتقل لعجمان وأنا أسكن فى دبي، فطلبت أن يكون العقد لمدة 6 أشهر فرفض المالك وقال أن التجديد لمدة سنة ولا يمكن الرجوع. قلت له أريد مناقشة بند الغرامة، وكما هو مذكور في العقد القديم أنها 3 أشهر كاملة فناقشته وقال أيضًا لا يمكن تعديله. إلى الآن لم أوقع على العقد الجديد والمالك يرفض تعديل هذا البند في العقد الجديد، علمًا بأن المالك طلب منى إرسال الشيكات كاملة للسنة وأرسلتها له بالفعل. فهل هناك مخرج من هذة المشكلة؟

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.

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.