Q: My company is suffering under the current challenging circumstances. It provides an important service in Dubai. However, due to a major decline in revenue, we are trying to negotiate with the landlord which is proving difficult and can lead to eviction. What are the options available to us? Relocating is not an option as a lot of investment has been taken place at the current location. Thanks!

Q: Good Morning, Due to the global pandemic, Hotels and Tourism business is majorly effected and that resulted in my 50% salary reduction for the month of March, April 2020. I am not sure if I might get paid these coming months as well. My wife is a Cabin Crew and is effected with the same salary reduction scenario and due to no flights assigned is getting paid only 20% of the actual she was earning before the Covid-19 outbreak. I politely requested my landlord to either decrease rent for the month my salary will be effected or extend the tenancy contract free of charge for a few months, that will ease my financial burden for the Year 2020. Please guide me through this financial crisis & rental relief situation. Thank you

Q: Please advise on this case as a landlord. My tenant informed me that she has lost her job because of COVID 19 and wants to delay the rent cheque due this month. On asking for how long she wants the delay and what is her plan for the future, she said that she does not want to pay for 3 months and then continue payment after 3 months. She has no plans to leave Dubai or the property; her whole situation is uncertain because of the current situation. The property is a townhouse in Dubai. Please advise what should I reply to her? Quote from her email (Please ask the landlord to either send back the 15th April cheque or maybe overwrite it and send a picture. My kind request is to freeze the payment for the period of 3 months and continue payment from the next cheque on the 15th of July. As for your question, I do not intend to leave Dubai, and I hope the situation will get back to normal soon, so I will be able to get a job.)

Q: Hello, A client is willing to rent a flat, but the real estate agent has refused to add a force majeure clause to the rental contract. What can the client do to include a force majeure clause in the rental agreement?

As the world is currently experiencing a major lockdown and suspension of almost all commercial and civil operations, the question arises in the novelty of Coronavirus outbreak on how serious it is to be dealt with as a Force Majeure.

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.

This article discusses the Ministerial Resolution No. (279) of 2020 Regarding Employment Stability in the Private Sector during the Period of Application of Precautionary Measures to Curb the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus Issued by the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization in Abu Dhabi on 26/3/2020.

This article tries to explain the concept of Force Majeure and its application in residential tenancy contracts in the light of a recent RDC judgement.

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.

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.

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.