Q: I have a mortgage of 1.3m with a bank. It is a lease and the property is registered on my name. At the moment, I live outside the UAE and cannot sell the property because of COVID-19. There is a 40-day delay with payments - 1.5 installment is due. The bank sent me information to clear the outstanding amount within 1 day or they will start a police case and repossess the property. Is a 40-60-day payment delay long enough to start a police case and repossess the property? What can I do to avoid consequences? I can settle the outstanding amount within 15 days. I plan to sell the property when the borders get reopened.

Q: I had purchased a unit in an off-plan project in Dubai in 2018. I had paid 25% of the total amount. This property has been registered in DLD also on my name by the developer. I have not paid any further instalment because of my weak financial condition. On top of this, because of coronavirus spreading, I have lost my job as well. This project has also been delayed by one and a half year. Now the developer's people are pressuring me to pay the balance otherwise they will inform the DLD and cancel the unit and forfeit my money. Can you suggest the way so that I can get refund of my money? I am really worried because I am a middle-class person and in deep financial crisis.

Q: I have booked a unit under construction with a developer 3 years ago. I paid 30% during construction and 70% was due since Jan this year. When I booked the unit, my plan was to get financing from a bank to cover 70% payment because I was working with a semi-government company. But I lost my job and my credit score went low due to defaulting on financing payments and I could not get financing from the bank. I have contacted the developer asking them for refund or change of payment plan but they give me instalment plan for 5 years and increased the price which I cannot go for. I am not in a stable situation with my current job and the company gave me 3 months unpaid leave because of Coronavirus situation. The developer completed 100% construction and they sent me a building completion certificate in Jan this year and now they are calculating 3% late payment fee every month as per SPA. Now I do not have any source of income. Can I get refund from developer so I can cover my expenses?

س: سلام عليكم، قام المطور بتقديم رسالة فسخ عقد بسبب تأخُّري عن دفع دفعة أخيرة فقط بقيمة ٧٥ ألف من أصل ٣٧٥ ألف. سبب تخلفي عن دفعها هو تأخُّره عن إكمال المشروع بما يقارب ٣ سنوات. أثناء تقديمه للرسالة، أبرمنا اتفاقية ودية بأن أدفع المبلغ على دفعات بسبب عدم قدرتي حينها. دفعت ٢٠ ألف وبعدها ٢٥ ألف في غضون ٣ أشهر وهي المدة التي كانت فيها الرسالة قيد التنفيذ من الجهة المرسلة. بالرغم من إرسالي كافة المستندات للجهة المرسلة إثباتًا للدفع، إلا أنه تم إكمال الإجراء وفسخ العقد. مع العلم أنه عند مراجعتي للجهة المسؤولة وإثبات أنني قمت بسداد ٤٤.٣٪؜ من أصل ٥٠٪؜ قبل إيصالي رسالة فسخ العقد، لم يقم المطور بإعطاء بيانات كاملة عن دفعاتي وبالتالي اتخذت الجهة قرار فسخ العقد مع علمها بعد ذلك بأنني سددت ٤٤،٣٪؜ ولكنها طالبت المطور بإرجاع الوحدة ولكنه باعها لمشترٍ آخر فور حصول على نسخة فسخ العقد. إلى الآن المطور لا يجيب ولم تتخذ الجهة أي إجراء ضده وفي الأخير أهدرت أموالي. سؤالي: هل لي مقتضى مما ذكرت بشكل قانوني؟ وبأي طريقة أستطيع رفع دعوى قضائية ضده للتعويض؟ ما تكلفتها؟ وهل قضيتي مضمونة باسترجاع المبالغ؟ إن كانت نعم، فكم تستغرق؟

س: السلام عليكم أستاذي الفاضل، أرجو من حضراتكم تقديم المشورة لي! اشتريت استوديو في مشروع بدبي. المطور تأخر في تسليم المشروع حوالي سنة. أُبلغت أن المشروع سيتم تسليمه في شهر 4/2023. هل يمكنني خصم المبلغ المتبقي للمشروع من المطور؟ أشكرك!

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

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.

This Law applies to merchants, as well as to all acts of commerce carried out in the UAE by any person even though he be not a trader. Commercial matters regarding which specific Federal laws are issued shall be subject to the provisions of such laws, and to the provisions hereof which do not contradict with said laws.