Hi, I need some guidance regarding a property transaction that is not progressing as expected. My broker initiated a manual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between me (the Buyer) and the Seller, with an expiry date of 01/02/2025. Within this period, I successfully arranged the bank mortgage, property evaluation, and NOC. However, the broker started giving excuses, such as the seller being hospitalized. Later, the broker attempted to arrange a Power of Attorney (POA). However, after that, they started ignoring my messages and calls. It now seems like they no longer intend to proceed with me, and the MOU has already expired. Meanwhile, my bank EMI has already started, and I have paid two monthly installments. The broker is still unresponsive. I have raised multiple complaints through DLD RVS against the broker, but the response has been very slow and unsatisfactory. I’m feeling stuck and financially burdened. Please advise

Hey, I'm building my house in Dubai, and it was going well. I gave the contractor 420k as a first payment, and we both agreed that the rest would be in installments. Just two months ago, the contractor went off the grid, and I can't find him. All I have is a security cheque that bounced back when I went to the bank, as the signature doesn't match what's in the file. However, I learnt that he does have money, but not the amount that's in the cheque. What should I do now to get my money back? I need advice.

Hello, I was an employee of a major group in the UAE. Now, they have transferred me to another entity within the same group in the UAE. What happens to the benefits and allowances agreed upon by the first entity? Please provide the legal details related to this matter, along with the relevant statutory provisions.

Hello, A client of mine used our consulting services online and is refusing to pay. Despite multiple reminders, she still has not made the payment. What legal action can I take against her?

Hello, A juvenile case has been withdrawn by a third party, but the prosecution doesn’t want to end it. The child is out on bail. Now the case has moved to court. What steps should be taken next, or how will they handle it?

Dear sir/madam, I would like someone to be honest with me. I am in the UK. How long have I got to claim inheritance in Dubai? I was reading in the Gulf News that the laws of the country of the deceased at the time of death can be applied regarding the will. Is this true or false? I am really looking for these two questions to be answered first. Can anyone help me with this, please?

Dear Advocate Sweta Singh, I am from India and in Sep 2018, I purchased an apartment in a hotel. The hotel has not been completed and the delay is more than a year. They have not paid any compensation as per the contract, nor do they talk about it. I have paid more than 80% in installments and paying it regularly. Please help me, guide me on how to cancel the deal and get a full refund, or any other way which helps me recover my investment. Regards

Dear questioner, My father (Muslim) has passed away in South Africa. He leaves behind 4 children, his wife (our mother) and his own mother. He had a will for South Africa in which, I (oldest son) am executor. The will does state that it encompasses all property and assets wherever they may be. He has various properties and assets in the UAE. My questions are: 1. Does his will have power in the UAE or will it be divided by Sharia? 2. What documents are required to wind up his estate? 3. What is the wind-up process within the UAE?

My son tragically died in Dubai and his salary has been paid into a UAE HSBC bank account. My daughter also lives in Dubai and has an HSBC account. How can I access my Son's bank account, please? I live in the UK.

My uncle died 2 weeks ago in one of the private hospitals here in Dubai. We have already completed everything regarding the repatriation of his body with the help of his employer and his remains are already sent back to our home country last week. He used to give me an access of his ATM card before and I tried to access it just few days ago and I found out that there is some amount of money left on his bank account. I am aware that he has some pending bank loan requests before he died, so I am afraid that amount might be the reason of such big amount. Being the only family member of my deceased uncle, what should I do in order to make sure that the amount is from his savings and not from his bank loans? In case the amount is proved to be his own savings, is there any chance for me to get the authorization to claim that amount from the bank to be used by his family? He has a wife with 3 kids back home. Thanks a lot in advance.

حصلت على قرض شخصي وكريدت كارد من مؤسسة للتمويل بإجمالي ٥٠ ألف وتعثرت لفترة والآن يطالبونني بدفع مبلغ ٢٠٠ ألف درهم بالفوائد وكنت أعطيتهم شيك بقيمة ٤٢ ألف وقتها. سؤالي: هل يوجد سند لأمر داخل عقد القرض (الأبليكيشن) الخاص بالشركة التي وقعت معها في البداية؟ أم لا يملكون ضمانًا آخر يُمكِّنهم من مقاضاتي به سوى الشيك الذي أعطيته لهم فقط؟ مع جزيل الشكر!

هناك مشكلة مع مقاول إذ اتفقنا على بناء ملحق داخل منزل خاص ووقعنا العقد واستلم أول دفعة. اشتغل حسب العقد واستلم الدفعة الثانية وأوقف العمل ويرفض المواصلة. تبين لي بعدما حاولت أن أقدم شكوى ضده أنه يستخدم ختم وعقد لشركة منتهية في سنة 2013 ولا يوجد لديه أي ترخيص. كيف أستطيع أن أشكوه وبنفس الوقت أواصل البناء؟

My wife and I are non-Muslims. Divorce was settled in our home country court which decided that I am the custodian of the children and no alimony has to be paid to her. Children are living with me here in the UAE. However, she still resides here in the UAE using a tourist visa. She is planning to file a Maintenance Case against me in the UAE Family Court. Can she do that? Am I obliged to pay her alimony?

فصلتني الشركة فصلاً تعسفيًا وقمت بمقاضاة الشركة والحمد لله حصلت على حكم بمستحقاتي المالية من رواتب متأخرة ومكافأة نهاية الخدمة. تقدمت بطلب تنفيذ ولم تدفع الشركة لي أي مبالغ حتى الآن! ما الخطوة الواجب فعلها في هذه الحالة؟

Hello I bought an off-plan apartment with a developer, paid half and the other half was supposed to be paid on receiving the apartment which was supposed to be received end of 2019. But they postponed it till March 2020, and now the project is way behind and no improvement at all as I'm in phase 2 and they are still building phase one. What can I do to get my money back?

I live in Dubai Marina, and the landlord claimed that according to new Dubai Land regulations, the chiller now has to be paid by the person occupying the apartment. Even though my contract says that the landlord should pay the chiller, they want to implement this mid-contract. I understand that the terms upon renewal will be renegotiated, but on what grounds can they implement the change mid-contract? Does a new DLD regulation precede a tenancy contract? Moreover, I am receiving a disconnection notice from the chiller company due to non-payment. What can I do if this happens? Please advise.

Can I travel with a non-paid telecom bill in the UAE if my visa is canceled?

Hi, I'm a new landlord of the property which is already rented. Kindly advise, do we have to sign a new tenancy contract with the tenant for the remaining period? And who will pay the cost of Ejari?

Hello, Good afternoon! My friend works as a cleaner for a cleaning company and she now wants to resign with a 30-day notice. However, she has not completed the two-year contract and has only served for 16 months. Additionally, she has not taken any vacation leave. The sad part is that when she signed the offer letter, she did not receive a copy of it and only signed it. I would be very grateful if you could let me know if she would have to pay or if her boss has the right to not accept the resignation if the notice period mentioned in the offer letter is more than a month. Her boss has not provided her with any kind of proof that she can use in the future if anything happens.

Hello, I represent a tech-based marketplace company registered in a Freezone, in the UAE. This is in regards to the UAE's law regarding the ownership of code when there is no clause mentioned in the agreement. One of our products (web application) is being developed by an agency in the UAE. While we do have agreements in place, there is no clause regarding ownership of code. In the situation mentioned above, I've heard that the ownership of code either goes to the author or the agency that employed the author. Is this true? Your assistance and help would be of great help.