Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
8 available 8 • View allClaiming back money paid to contractors for failing to perform their obligations


2
Q: Would like to file a case in Dubai against a real estate company.
They were supposed to build my villa in Marrakech, Morocco. Nothing was done after 5 years. I have paid $ 200000 so far and want my money back.
Please advise.
Thanks



Sep 5, 2021
457
The breach of contract with a builder and legal action for delay in delivery



1
Q: Dear Lawyer,
We are 18 landowners 200 yards each entered into a development agreement with a builder on 2/2014.
Then conditions are that the builder in his share of 50:50 can construct flats and sell. With a GPA fraudulently obtained, 18 months time with a grace period of 6 months to complete and handover fully furnished the flats.
In case of delay, a rent of 6000 per month and 3 lakhs refundable deposit are to be paid to each landowner.
The builder neither handed over the flats (60% built) nor paying rent or deposit of 3 lakhs. Electricity meters are fixed on our name and we are all paying minimum charges.
The builder is not responding to our phone calls nor attending meetings whenever called for. The builder sold his share of flats.
Please advise me the best.
L.




Sep 14, 2021
548
What to do legally with a contractor who keeps delaying garden construction?

0
Q: Hello,
I have hired a contracting company to redesign my garden area back in January. We got all authorizations in March and the construction has been ongoing ever since.
They initially told me that the whole project would take 3 months. They postponed their deadline 3 times already. The 1st deadline was the end of June, 2nd end of summer and 3rd deadline 30th of September.
Today they are far from being over. Is there anything I can do against them?
They keep lying to me and have not been honest. I have paused the last payment.
Thank you


Sep 30, 2021
272
A contractor breaches his obligations of apartment renovation. What to do?
3
Q: Dear sir/madam,
I engaged a general contractor to help renovate my apartment. It has now been over 4 months. I have major issues with the bathrooms (leaks, incorrect installation). In addition, he has used real cheap quality material which is scratched and has a horrible finish.
Finally, I have a long list of items still not complete. He has been promising for the past 3 weeks that someone will come to review and correct but no one has come and every day I have a new excuse.
I paid him 90% of the money as he talked a good game. I would welcome some advice on the best course of action to move forward.

Apr 10, 2022
331
The contractor does not deliver the renovation work as agreed. What to do?



6
Q: Dear sir/madam,
I hired a contractor to do my villa renovation in Meadows, Dubai in April 2022. The contractor's team is not technically sound, and everything has to be worked on a minimum of 2-3 times to make it right.
There are structural defects in the workmanship of his team; for instance, the concrete pillar they made to support the structure was titled. His entire on-site team is illiterate (meaning they can't read and write in English) including the project manager.
My husband and I have been doing project management to keep things going for the past 4 months. Based on our contract, he has got more work within the Meadows community, and he pays no attention to our work now.
Things have gone from bad to worse. The whole process has been delayed by more than 4 months. We are sick and tired of it.
By the way, the contract that both parties signed is loosely written.
Kindly advise what legal recourse we have in this case.
Many thanks!




Jan 3, 2023
1095
Filing a complaint against a contractor for a faulty swimming pool



1
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
How can we file a complaint against a contractor?
Our swimming pool was completed in October and has been leaking ever since. They have attempted to repair it twice, but it is still leaking.
We have sent them a letter stating that we are terminating the contract because they are unable to complete the work to an acceptable standard.
What should be our next step?




Apr 5, 2023
139
How can I get a refund from a contractor who failed to complete renovation work?




1
Q: Dear Lawyers,
I hired a contractor for my apartment renovation, and we agreed on the scope of work based on the quotation they provided. I have paid them almost 90% of the total value, but they have not completed the work on time and have not used the materials specified in the quote.
They have also significantly delayed the project, and despite multiple follow-ups, they never provided the milestone details for the payment schedule, nor did they adhere to the timelines they committed to.
I have payment details, the agreed-upon quotation signed by them, as well as email exchanges and WhatsApp group discussions. However, I don’t have a formal contract or agreement.
I made payments whenever they requested, but they have cheated me, resulting in a significant loss of time and money due to delays.
I am seeking legal help to obtain a refund from this company and take necessary action against them.





Aug 14, 2024
205
A contractor did waterproofing on my roof but water leaked and made damages. What can I do?




0
Q: A contractor recently did waterproofing on my townhouse roof and confirmed a warranty of 5 years (on WhatsApp). The payment receipt and invoice are available.
In 4 months, water leaks from the roof damaged the false ceiling inside the house. When contacted, he avoids calls and delays by making some excuses.
Is there any way I can get my money back?





+1
Dec 26, 2024
42
Laws & Regulations
1 available 1 • View allFederal Law No. (5) of 1985 On the Civil Transactions Law of the United Arab Emirates 96
The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.
Dec 15, 1985
148342

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337 337 answers •
View allCan a debt agency access AECB reports without consent for a 15-year-old closed case? 0
Dear Respected Lawyers,
Subject: Request for Legal Advice Regarding Unlawful Practices by a Debt Collection Agency
I would greatly appreciate your advice and guidance regarding a troubling issue my colleague is facing with a collection agency.
The company has been contacting the employer, urging them to ask my colleague to get in touch with them regarding a supposed liability.
This claim is related to a 15-year-old closed dispute with a bank credit card, and the issue seems to stem from outdated and inaccurate information on the AECB report.
Our main concerns are as follows:
Unauthorized Access: The company is accessing her AECB report without her consent. She has never given permission for them to retrieve or view her personal financial information.
How is it possible for a third-party agency to openly access and track AECB reports, especially for a dispute that was resolved 15 years ago?
Apr 8, 2025
74
I was evicted from my apartment to be sold but it was gifted and rented at a higher price. What can I do? 0
I was evicted from my apartment after living there for five years. My landlord informed me a year in advance that the lease would not be renewed because he intended to sell the property.
Prior to this, he attempted to impose a rent increase that was not compliant with RERA regulations, which I refused to accept. He then served me with an official Dubai Court eviction notice, citing the need to take back the property for sale.
Five months after I moved out, I discovered the property was rented out at a much higher price. Upon further investigation, I found that the ownership was transferred as a "Gift" rather than a sale.
This makes it seem like the eviction was only to raise the rent rather than a genuine need to sell.
Do I have a valid case for wrongful eviction against my landlord?
Also, under Dubai law, does transferring ownership as a "Gift" hold the same legal grounds as selling in justifying eviction?
Dec 18, 2024
87
Can I file a case for cyberbullying or defamation after my ex-wife's abusive messages? 0
Hello,
My ex-wife has abused me in chat and called me the following: illiterate, beggar, and said that I don’t have [------].
She called me a bad parent and a bad son.
Can I file a cyberbullying, defamation, or abuse case against her? What are my options?
Jan 3, 2025
104
I invested money in a business but my partner is removing me out from partnership. Can I pursue legal action? 0
Hi
I'm an Irish citizen and a resident of the United Kingdom. I got investment fraud in Dubai. I invested money into a business with a Pakistani national guy in March 2024 via bank transfer into his business account.
Now he's giving back the money which I invested in business after 9 months. He's preparing a letter from a local lawyer to kick me out of the business. I do not have any other option than to take out at least my money.
But it's unfair to me that he used my money in business and took all the advantage.
Some people say to me that if you claim money or take legal action against him, it will take too much time and I need to travel to Dubai to appear in court because it is a civil matter. But I'm not a resident.
How can I follow the civil case there?
That's why my partner knows that I can not do anything and this case keeps running long time and in the end nothing happens. But I'm thinking that I will submit a complaint through my embassy and I also have a solicitor in the United Kingdom.
Dec 24, 2024
48
Seeking justice and compensation for wife's loss due to medical negligence during childbirth 0
Dear Lawyers,
My relative lost his wife during childbirth due to clear medical negligence, as stated in the report from the DHA medical committee.
He had to relocate to India due to the situation and is currently working there.
Please guide us on the steps to take for justice and compensation.
Dec 19, 2024
75

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177 177 answers •
View allHow to liquidate a free zone company after the death of one partner 0
I am a company owner In Shams free zone of 50 per cent share and have a partner visa. My partner was a Russian who went to Russia and died.
When I went to the free zone to cancel my visa and close the company, they have asked me to get his attested death certificate and NOC from his heirs.
The problem I am facing is his family doesn’t want to give the death certificate nor they want to give NOC. Now my resident visa validity is over and I am on fine every day.
Neither the free zone is cooperating nor the partner's family. What is the other way I can cancel my visa and close the company?
Can someone guide me, please?
Apr 19, 2021
684
How the objection of a client be dealt with after being notified for termination by DLD? 0
I have been notified by DLD that I am in breach of an off-plan sales agreement, and the developer wishes to terminate the agreement.
The date on the notice is March 9, 2021, and I received it from the developer on March 11, 2021. The notice says I have 30 days "from the date of being notified" to make the outstanding payment.
On the termination notice from DLD, a list of objections is present. One of the objections states that the developer must hand over the final SPA to me.
In this case, I have not received the final SPA from the developer. I made an objection in writing to the DLD pointing this fact out and sent it via email, and received a confirmation of the same from DLD by return e-mail on April 6, 2021.
30 days from March 9th is April 8th, or from March 11th is April 10th. Does the developer have to respond to my objection before the DLD will allow them to terminate the agreement?
In this case, will the time I have to make the payment be extended by any period?
Apr 19, 2021
1399
Opening a trustee with wife and signing a postnuptial agreement 0
I would like to open a trustee with my wife and sign a postnuptial agreement.
Apr 19, 2021
447
Closing a business while the local service agent is not reachable 0
Hi,
We have a professional services license (2 partners) + 1 local service agent registered with DED, Dubai.
The partners wish to close the business because of unavoidable circumstances. We wish to proceed with all the necessary paperwork for cancellation.
Unfortunately, the local service agent is not available. We have been trying to connect to him multiple times but have not been able to reach him.
The due date for the renewal of the company is coming up and we want to proceed with all the paperwork for cancellation prior to that.
Kindly advise us about the options if the local service agent is unavailable.
Apr 19, 2021
796
Returning to the UAE to run business after being convicted with a crime 0
Hi,
I want some information regarding my uncle. He was arrested in November 2015 and was in prison until 13 June 2016 when he was deported to Pakistan.
The reason for the arrest was that my uncle had his own business in Sharjah and he was involved in a case where his employee accused him of attacking him and other allegations. He was arrested and convicted.
He needs to reenter the country as he has his business in Sharjah but I believe he is blacklisted/banned. How can I find out if he is blacklisted/banned and how can it be removed to allow my uncle to reenter the country and take over his business?
Is there any way of helping to resolve this issue?
I know that if he enters on a visa, he could be arrested at the airport, and don’t want that to happen.
Thank you!
Apr 5, 2021
497
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