Q: Hi I bought an off-plan property from a developer in downtown during the peak time. My payment plan was based on construction with completion being Dec 2019. I have paid more than 50%. I requested the developer to readjust my payment plan as the project is delayed. They moved on payment forward and sneakingly changed completion date to Aug 2021 in the document. The SPA still says Dec 2019. Now I'm struggling to pay the next payment due to COVID-19 and project is completed 56% as par Dubai land department and 60% as per the developer. The developer is asking for payment and calling me every day. My question is can I still use the delay in the project as a clause to cancel my unit? Can I cancel my apartment and how much can the developer deduct? After selling me, the developer started offering customers post-handover payment plans for 4 years, which is very unfair as even if I complete my payment, no one will buy from me as the developer is selling something with 4 years post-handover. Can legal help be provided in this regard?

Q: Good afternoon. My name is E., I have been made redundant last week and I have paid down payment last year for an off-plan building. Is there any chance I can get that money back? Thank you

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I wanted some legal advice regarding my property issue. I have purchased a quarter share of a hotel room investment in a project in Dubai Marina. I have paid about 31% of the total purchase price. I have signed all the paperwork and obtained the partial property deed. Due to the Coronavirus, I am unable to continue to make the payments required. Now the developers are saying that by Dubai Law, they are allowed to keep 25% of the total purchase price from the monies I have paid. I want to know if there is any case law or discretion that the developers have to consider in circumstances such as mine where I want to complete the transaction but I am unable to due to not having a job and financially being able to complete the transaction. I am trying to sell the interest but at present cannot find a buyer. Please let me know what my legal rights are if the developer does keep the full 25% of the purchase price, do I have any legal remedies? Thank you Z.

Q: Good morning, I have a question in regard to delayed property handover. In March 2019 I deposited 5% of the property value and signed the reservation form which stated the unit price (736,000). I was promised (verbally) that the handover will be in August 2019. A couple of months later, I received the SPA which stated the same price and the new completion date which was set in February 2020. I refused to sign until they changed to the agreed date. 2 years after this date, I paid 20% of the unit price in total and I am refusing to pay the 5% left as agreed in the reservation form. I met with the developer more than a year ago (October 2020) and he said he will reduce the price of the unit. But when I went to sign the SPA again, the unit price was the same and the completion date was left blank to which I have refused to sign again. I received the handover notice today (7 days later than stated), the developer doesn't respond. What can I do? Thank you in advance.

Q: Hello, Can I ask who exactly decides the percentage of completion on a property, and what checks are done to ensure this is correct? I've been told the property I invested in is around 85% complete now at this time, however, on-site looks another story.

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.