Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
6 available 6 • View allCan landlord sell the property without notifying the tenant?
1
Q: We rent an apartment in Abu Dhabi. This month we renewed our contract for the next year.
We have signed the cheques to the real estate agency since they are the owners of this property. But a week after the other agents came to our apartment and said that the apartment is on sale and we have to let them in so that they could take pictures.
Can the landlord sell this apartment without prior notice to the tenant and will this affects our tenancy contract?

Apr 14, 2017
2156
A landlord asks a tenant to vacate a villa to sell it

10
Q: Hello,
I have a disagreement with my landlord. We rented a villa in Dubai for one year and before only one month of the end of our tenancy contract, the landlord asked us to vacate and informed us that he is not willing to renew because he is selling the villa.
We have a clause in the contract that:
The tenant and the Land Lord have to submit in advance 60 days' written notice before the expiry of the tenancy contract for vacating or renewal of the tenancy contract.
We did not express our intention to renew before 60 days from the expiry of the contract but we did after he asked us to vacate.
I tried a lot of times to convince my landlord to renew because he needs to send 12 months evicting notice for selling and also he did not send the non-renewal rental before 60 days.
I would like to know my rights please and if I go to the rent committee, would I win the dispute?
Thank you very much!


Jan 20, 2021
3429
Tenant's rights in case the landlord wants to sell the apartment
2
Q: Dear Sirs
I will appreciate your kind advice regarding my case.
I am renting from the landlord since 3 years now, all payments are done on time and even I am doing maintenance for things in my house which I am not supposed to do but to maintain the property in good shape out of goodwill.
I received an email from my landlord asking for renewal as per the agreement, 3 months prior to the termination of my current contract. I visited them and handed over the new cheques for the new rental year in advance and signed the new tenancy contract.
Now I discovered that he may be selling the property and may not renew my contract despite receiving my cheques and delaying EJARI renewal. I still have 2 months to go in the current contract.
my question to you is, are they allowed to renew or to compensate if they already took my cheques for the new year rental and exchange of emails with the same is available?
What are my legal rights here?
Thanks and have a great day.

Jan 12, 2021
3565
How long can the tenant stay in the property if the landlord sold it?
2
Q: Dear lawyer,
I am a tenant in Dubai, seeking advice about the following situation:
The current 1-year lease terminates on 22/09/2022 (in 78 days). As the tenant, I want to renew the lease and the landlord knows it.
The landlord would like to sell the flat, however, she is still uncertain as no buyer has been found.
No official eviction notice has been ever sent, only random WhatsApp messages that invite me to wait so that more potential buyers can come to see the flat.
For obvious reasons, I am not willing to wait until the last minute to know if the lease can be renewed - and the real estate agent (appointed by the landlord) is pressing to bring more viewers.
Considering the points above:
1- Can I "force" the landlord to extend the lease now?
2- If the landlord sells the propriety prior to the end date, will I be forced to move out on the end date (without any notice)?
Thank you in advance

Jul 6, 2022
659
What happens if the property is not sold after evicting the tenant?


8
Q: Hello,
I am a landlord in Dubai and I wish to send a 12-month legal eviction notice to my tenant for my intention to sell my property after the 12-month eviction notice.
My question is:
If after putting my property on the market for sale I don't manage to sell it and I decide to rent it out again, can my tenant take any legal action against me or ask for any compensation? Will they be entitled to that?



Nov 15, 2022
3018
Eviction and property sale: How does it affect the rental contract?


3
Q: Hi,
Our rental contract ends on June 2023, but in November 2022, we were officially served eviction through Dubai courts stating we need to vacate the property by November 2023.
The landlord is planning to sell the property. What happens in terms of the contract for the time period of June to November 2023?
Does the current landlord extend the current contract until the end of the eviction? What is the process?
I did contact RERA but did not receive any information over the phone.
Thanks!



Jan 25, 2023
180
Legal blog
3 available 3 • View allProcedures of the Rental Dispute Settlement Center in Dubai 21
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.
Oct 20, 2018
21365
What You Should Know While Renting a Property in the UAE 5
An interview-format article covering the topic of residential retail properties pertaining to the liability for property maintenance and the repercussions of defaulting on rent payments in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
Feb 24, 2020
3938
ماهية وأهمية الإخطارات والإنذارات القانونية 7
الإخطار أو الإنذار القانوني هو إجراء قانوني يتم اتخاذه من قبل شخص أو منشأة أو كيان يدعى (المنذر- المخطر) بناء على نص قانوني أو اتفاق عقدي موجه إلى شخص آخر يدعى (المنذر إليه - المخطر اليه) لإبلاغه او إخطاره أو تحذيره باتخاذ إجراء قانوني معين أو تقديم شكوى قضائية ضده في حال لم يتم تنفيذ ما تضمنه الإنذار القانوني خلال المدة الزمنية المحددة به.
Dec 8, 2023
364
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • View allLaw No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai 12
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.
Nov 26, 2007
24293
Law No. (33) of 2008 Amending Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai 8
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.
Dec 1, 2008
24963
Decree No. (43) of 2013 Determining Rent Increases for Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai 9
This Decree determines the maximum percentage of rent increase for real property in the Emirate of Dubai when renewing lease contracts.
Dec 18, 2013
13244

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Other answers by
1293 1293 answers •
View allHow can I renew my Ejari if the landlord hasn’t signed the new contract? 0
Hi,
I have been here for 3 years now and paid the increased amount (as per the agreement) for the 4th year.
However, the landlord did not send me back the signed contract, although I have both made the payment for the full year via bank transfer and sent my signed contract to him.
I need to renew my Ejari; however, how can I do it without the landlord's signature?
I have all the previous contracts signed by both parties, along with the Ejari for those contracts.
Apr 14, 2025
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How can I file a counter-complaint for a false public cursing accusation? 0
Hello,
How can I file a counter-complaint against a person who made a false report about me for public cursing, which I never did?
He made the complaint about three months after we last met. I now have a case because of it, but I never said any bad words to him.
I was stopped at the airport because of that.
Apr 7, 2025
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I got a work permit and entry from a Dubai employer for work. What documents do I need to carry? 0
I got a work permit and entry from a Dubai employer for work.
During the travel to Dubai, do I need to show any accommodation proof, return ticket, or anything?
What documents do I need to carry?
Apr 14, 2025
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I would like to know how to clear my police record due to a legal case that was closed a year ago 0
I would like to know how to clear my police record due to a legal case that was closed 1 year ago.
I need to clear it in order to be able to get a job position.
Apr 14, 2025
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My company has filed a case against a client for failure to pay and bounced cheque. How to follow up? 0
Hello.
My company has filed a case against a client for failure to pay and a bounced cheque. The client's company is registered as a virtual office in the Creative City Free Zone in Fujairah, so our case is filed there.
The client basically purchased some equipment from us, and his payment via bank transfer did not go through and was rejected. Then, when we deposited his security cheque after multiple attempts to contact and no answer, the cheque bounced.
The company is under his wife's name, and we have filed a case on the same.
The court has accepted our application, however, they have instructed the execution bureau to get the Emirates ID of this authorised signatory. The bureau is asking us to get it, and we have no way to do so, unfortunately.
Without the Emirates ID, the court cannot freeze the bank accounts or put a travel ban, etc.
What are our options here?
Apr 14, 2025
22

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Other answers by
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
76
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
94
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
114
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
57
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
78

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183 183 answers •
View allThe landlord refuses to wait for days beyond rental cheque due date. What to do? 0
Dear sir/madam,
My rental cheque is due tomorrow and unfortunately, I’m not able to honor it. I asked my landlord to wait a couple of days but he doesn’t want to wait and said that he is going to cash the cheque tomorrow.
Of course, the cheque will bounce, what would be the procedure then?
Do I have a certain amount of days before eviction to pay the rent?
Sep 25, 2022
484
What happens when the property is sold mid-lease? 0
Dear Sir/Madam,
Does the existing tenancy contract between the tenant and the previous owner remain in force even after the new landlord has purchased the property in the middle of an ongoing lease?
And when should a new tenancy contract be made?
Should it be made immediately after the property has been sold, or at the end of the ongoing tenancy contract signed between the previous owner of the property and the tenant?
Also, does a new contract have to be in place for the tenant to exchange the cheques, or does the existing tenancy contract with the previous owner remain valid for the purpose of exchanging the cheques?
Apr 5, 2023
770
Evicting an employee from school accommodation while a labor case is pending 0
Dear Sir/Madam,
I was wrongfully terminated by my school under Article 44 on March 20th, 2023. I have a case in the labor courts, and the first hearing is on April 4th, 2023.
However, my employer is asking me to vacate the school accommodation. I asked the Ministry of Labor and the courts, and they informed me that the school cannot evict me until the case is resolved.
Is this information correct?
I am currently unemployed and have nowhere else to go until I find another job.
Apr 3, 2023
128
If I have a travel ban in KSA, can I travel to the UAE on a work visa? 0
Hi,
May you and your family be blessed.
I'm extremely tense and need your kind feedback on the following issue.
If I have a travel ban in KSA, can I travel to the UAE on a work visa?
I have been visiting Dubai on a tourist visa without any problems.
The ban was imposed because I had to leave KSA suddenly and could not return after an exit-entry, and I was unable to pay back my car EMI and credit card payment totaling 30k SAR, which I intend to pay off gradually now.
When I left KSA, they only had my fingerprints at the time. I also understand that while coming for a visit to Dubai, only a retinal scan is done.
On the other hand, when obtaining a work visa, UAE takes and registers fingerprints as well. Could this lead to any issues for me?
I have finally obtained a better-paying job after a long time and can finally save up to pay off my debts. The case registered for which the travel ban is imposed is only for SAR 16000.
As of now, I cannot afford to hire a lawyer to check in UAE.
Thank you for your help!
Mar 29, 2023
1895
Tenant's rights: Can my landlord evict me, raise my rent, and ban my pet? 0
Dear Sir/Madam,
My landlord wants to evict me from the property where I reside. They have not provided a court order for eviction within the past 12 months.
Additionally, they are requesting a 40% increase in rent and are insisting on a 6-month fixed-term renewal, despite the RERA index indicating no such increase.
Furthermore, they have included an unreasonable clause that prohibits pets, even though I have lived on the property with a pet for over three years.
What options do I have if I do not agree to these demands?
Mar 16, 2023
449
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