Hi I bought an off-plan property from a developer in downtown during the peak time. My payment plan was based on construction with completion being Dec 2019. I have paid more than 50%. I requested the developer to readjust my payment plan as the project is delayed. They moved on payment forward and sneakingly changed completion date to Aug 2021 in the document. The SPA still says Dec 2019. Now I'm struggling to pay the next payment due to COVID-19 and project is completed 56% as par Dubai land department and 60% as per the developer. The developer is asking for payment and calling me every day. My question is can I still use the delay in the project as a clause to cancel my unit? Can I cancel my apartment and how much can the developer deduct? After selling me, the developer started offering customers post-handover payment plans for 4 years, which is very unfair as even if I complete my payment, no one will buy from me as the developer is selling something with 4 years post-handover. Can legal help be provided in this regard?

I am a health professional in Canada. Years back, I posted my CV to work in the middle east on a job site in the gulf. Last week, I got 3 emails claiming from a general hospital in Abu Dhabi, a hospital Dubai and another medicare hospital in Dubai for online recruitment. they showed interest in my CV. All emails were from free accounts (gmail.com address). I chose then to forward an email to the concerned HR department of the concerned hospitals. I forwarded one email to the official email of one of the hospitals (as given on the hospital site). They replied and said, yes, the email is legitimate and you can apply with confidence. Now I got an offer letter from Dubai hospital with handsome salary offer but from a Gmail address. They're asking me to start position in one month only and asking to contact a travel agency based in Dubai. Is it a scam or true? I have forwarded the email to the HR department of the hospital to determine authenticity.

Hi, What is the law if an employer wants to change a contract from an unlimited to a limited contract? Is the employer liable to pay the 3 months arbitrary dismissal (if valid) + other monies owed prior to changing the current unlimited contract to a limited contract?

Can a developer change the layout of the building as shown at the launch event and part of all brochures/online advertisements/model under the pretext that the same is not included in the SPA? For the launch, we got convinced with the building design and layout but at delivery, it’s changed without prior intimation. Can I make a legal case or can they take the guise that it’s not part of the SPA? Can I get a refund for the 30% advance payment and refuse possession of the unit?

Hi sir, I live in the UK. I am an investor and a broker for a property development company. One of my customers bought an off-plan property from it i.e just Cavalli Villa 2 years ago. 33% was completed and handover is due in 2021. My client paid part of the deposit around AED 390000 (£80000) and she has been paying to the project for the last two years until early this year when COVID- 19 hit the UK. Since then, she has been ill and lost her job and, therefore, she is unable to pay. My customer received a letter from the company saying that if the outstanding amount is not paid within 30 days, then they will take her to court. They say that they would cancel her plot and she will lose all MONEY paid so far. My client needs payment delay until her situation improves but this request has been declined. The money secured under the ESCROW account. Can the developer have the power to take money from the escrow account? What is her right under Dubai law? Can she do anything to avoid court order? The UK is in lockdown at the moment with no proper or normal banking functions. Thank you!

Hello, Is there any restriction on a diplomat buying property in the UAE, where he works as a diplomat at his country's consulate?

Hi. One of my friends joined a Telegram group. They said, "We will transfer some amount to your account, and your task is to transfer this amount to another account. Once the task is completed, you will get 30 or 50 AED per task." He completed 3 to 4 tasks, but he realized it was not good, so he stopped. After one week, when he opened his account, it was blocked, and the bank said, "We are conducting an investigation; after this, we will let you know." After some days, he had an accident and went to his home country. He then received a call from a landline number, which was from the Abu Dhabi police station. They said, "We have received a complaint against you; come to our investigation department." However, due to his surgery and treatment, he could not go. After some time, his bank account was reopened, and he did not receive any further calls. I want to know, if he comes back to the UAE or goes to any other GCC country, will he face any problems? If someone has a case in the UAE, can they travel to another GCC country? Please advise!

Hello, What legal action can I take in case the employer refuses to pay my salary and I don't have a contract with them?

I currently live in Sharjah and have a UAE residence visa but I am not a UAE or GCC national. I want to open an online shop (Etsy or Shopify) to sell handmade items, such as crocheted goods, bookmarks, greeting cards, etc. Do I need a license to open an Etsy shop? If so, which license do I need to sell my products online, including UAE and worldwide? How much would it cost me? Can I keep my residence visa (sponsored by my father) and not change it?

Hello, I am seeking your legal advice regarding a friend who was previously imprisoned in Abu Dhabi. His case there is now closed, but he has another ongoing case in Dubai. Currently, we have lost contact with him and are unsure of his whereabouts. How can we check where he is or access any other legal facility? Are there legal procedures to locate a person with an ongoing case? What steps should we take to get more information about his status and legal position?

السلام عليكم، لقد تزوجت من امرأة منفصلة ومقيمة في المانيا ولديها طفلين من زوجها السابق وهو كان مقيم في المانيا (حاليًا مقيم بالإمارات)؛ حيث أنهم مسجلين في المانيا بالسجل المدني حتى الآن زوجين. أنجبت منها طفلاً وُلد في ألمانيا وأُدرج اسم طفلي تحت اسم طليقها، ولنفي النسب طلبت منه المحكمة مرارًا بأن يرسل إيميل أو ورقة ينفي فيها نسب الطفل، ولكنه يتجاهل الأمر لكي يضغط على زوجتي كي تتنازل عن طفليها منه. طفلي الآن (9 أشهر) لا يملك أي أوراق ثبوتية بسبب هذا الأمر. ذهبت أيضًا هناك وأجريت فحص إثبات الأبوة ولكن القاضية بالمشفى طلبت توقيع طليق زوجتي على تقرير الفحص قبل أن تسلمه للمحكمة الرئيسية لإصدار الحكم بهذا الأمر. هل هناك أي طريقة قانونية تُجبر هذا الشخص على إرسال إيميل أو ورقة إلى السلطات في ألمانيا ينفي فيها نسبه للطفل كما طلبوا منه أو على الأقل إجباره على التعامل بجدية والرد على إيميلاتهم كي نحل هذا الإمر ونوقف ابتزازه بإعاقة مستقبل طفلي وإعاقة أوراقه الثبوتية؟ أنا مقيم بالإمارات. وشكرًا

سلام عليكم، أنا اشتريت ٣ وحدات عقارية من شركة كبيرة بدبي وكان العقد بتاريخ ١١/٢٠١٥ وتاريخ التسليم ١١/٢٠١٧ ولم يتم اكتمال المشروع إلا في ٥/٢٠١٩ وحدثت خسائر مادية بسبب تغيير أسعار العقارات بالإمارات والأقساط المدفوعة للشركة مقابل الوحدات مما تسبب في خسائر مالية. سعر الوحدة بتاريخ ٢٠١٥ كان ١٥٥٠٠٠٠ درهم وحاليًا بسعر ٩٠٠٠٠٠ درهم مع العلم أن المساحة الكلية للعقار أقل من المساحة بالعقد بمقدار ١٥ متر بعد الكشف على مساحة الوحدات من قبل خبير عقاري. هل يمكن إعادة مبلغ الوحدات وفسخ العقد؟ وكم نسبة التعويض في هذه الحالة؟ شكرًا لكم!

Can we add a special clause for charging some additional amount to the clients after the delivery of our product/service for delayed payment, which exceeds the time specifically mentioned in service contracts?

I purchased an apartment in August 2007 which was due for handover on October 31, 2009. The purchase price was AED 1.42 million. The payment term was 50% in 7 instalments and 50% on project completion. I paid 50% as per the agreement, The developer informed me sometime in 2008 that the project was delayed due to force majeure as the substation in Business Bay was not complete. Now it is 2020 and the project is still not completed. The substation in Business Bay had been completed years ago. I would like to know if I am entitled to compensation for the delay or can I cancel the purchase in its entirety and get my money back along with interest? Please advise me on my options and what steps should I take forward.

I had filed a complaint against my previous employer to whom I worked for 6 years and 7 months. They did not give me my End of Service Gratuity, Leaves and Salary which amount, in total, to 87,000 AED. They are now 10 months due from the time I resigned. My previous employer's legal representative first said that I am not eligible for all my claims since I did not serve notice period which is not true. I responded citing evidence and today I received a letter from them again saying that I already signed that I received all my dues. Yes, I signed the MOL cancellation, but I haven't received my money. There is no evidence that our company transferred such amount to my account. I signed because I was told that they will not cancel my MOL and I would not be able to start with my new job. I wish someone represents me as I feel like my previous employer's legal representative is only delaying what is due.