Q: I have purchased an apartment in a master community project in Sharjah in Dec-2018 with an anticipated apartment completion date of 31-Dec-2020. The developer has announced, through a periodic masterplan construction newsletter, the construction contract award of my apartment phase on Aug-2020 with a new anticipated completion date by the end of 2021. On Nov-2020, the developer sent a Notification of Extension of Anticipated Completion Date E-mail to postpone the anticipated completion date from 31-Dec-2020 to 31-Dec-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a Force Majeure event referring to the Force Majeure Events and Foreign Delay Events Clause in the signed Initial Sale and Purchase Agreement. As per the initial anticipated completion date, the construction contract award should have been done prior COVID-19 pandemic to be ready for handover on Dec-2020, however, the developer has justified all the delays due to the COVID-19. The intent is to know if any compensation can be done due to such delays.

Q: Hi, I purchased an off-plan property in Dubai that had an estimated completion date of August 31, 2020. I received an email that due to a delay, my completion date has been pushed forward to April 30, 2022. The email they sent for the delay did not say what was the reason for the delay. Since the developer has violated the SPA by delaying the project past 12 months of the completion date, can I request that the contract be cancelled and get what I have paid back? Do you believe that the developer could utilize Covid-19 as Force Majeure as a reason for not following the contract? Regards

Q: I've purchased an off-plan property in Dubai which was due for handover in Dec 2017 but still incomplete (approx. 80%). 70% has been paid from a purchase price of 1.8 million. Am I entitled to compensation for the delay or can I cancel the purchase in its entirety? Thanks

Q: I am seeking legal advice to terminate the contract due to a delay in the project for a period of 16 months only. The following is the details of the project as per SPA and some givens: - 30% paid in installments (on time, no delay in payment). - 70% to be Paid on Handing Over. - Expected Handing over date: 1st April 2019. - Longstop date of Handing over: 1st April 2020. - Actual date of delivery announced by developer: 10th August 2020. - Notification sent to the developer by myself to terminate the SPA and return the 30% paid amount. - Developer responded that the notification is rejected as the delay is due to force majeure (Covid-19 Pandemic). Question: Do I have a winning case if I filed to court to return the paid amount?

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.

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020 by WHO. To slow down the spread of the virus, the entire world went into lockdown during March-April 2020. In some places, it continued even after that. The pandemic has affected not only the healthcare system but also businesses, economy, education and even the legal system throughout the world. This has had damaging repercussions on the delivery of justice.

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.