Q: 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!

Q: Hi I have 2 properties bought off-plan. Both are overdue. Both are above 90% completed & approximately 6-9 months overdue. I lost my job due to COVID-19 & can no longer fulfil my financial obligations. The properties are with [--------] & [-------]. Is it possible to win a case, cancel the SPA & get my money back?

Q: I have made a 20% down-payment against an off-plan property in 2017. The sale & purchase agreement does not include a "Termination/Refund" clause and the property is due for handover by the end of the month. The property value has dropped by 40% and I'm able to only get a mortgage for 80% of the current value. However, due to the current situation and the impact of COVID-19 financially, I'm not in a position to proceed with the remaining instalments. I have to forfeit the contract as the developer has not given me any options for deferral of payment and has declined the request for a delayed handover. Please advise if and how I can get a refund on the 20% amount that has already been paid upfront.

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.

This Law establishes interim property register in which sale contracts, off-plan sales, and other off-plan legal dispositions of real property are registered prior to inclusion in the property register maintained by Dubai Land Department.

The provisions of this Law supersede articles (2) and (11) of Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai.

This Resolution approves the Implementing Bylaw of Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai.