Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
8 available 8 • View allMisleading real estate marketing in Dubai
2
Q: I have purchased a property developed by a developer. They told me verbally that the property is located in Downtown, and in the SPA they used the location Burj Khalifa community developed by another developer.
As a first-time property buyer, I trusted them. Now, they are saying that the property is in Business Bay.
How can Dubai laws support a customer for the disguised real estate marketing or cheating?

Nov 28, 2017
1499
Refund case against the developer for project over-delay
0
Q: We are based in England, and we have invested in one of the projects called Lawns III at Jumeirah Village, Dubai in April 2009.
We paid about AED 448335 to a company called DEC LLC, P.O. Box 333876, and came to know that the project did not even start.
Now, we are chasing to get the refund with no answer from them and would like to know our right to get the refund in full with no delay.
Could you also provide me with legal help in order to submit my case?

Jan 10, 2018
1961
Real estate brokerage fees and obligation to pay
5
Q: Hello,
Recently, I am in contact with a real estate broker for a 2 BHK apartment. He showed me an apartment and he said there is an agency fee of 5% and a broker fee of 2500.
I did not agree with it. He did ask for my documents which I have given but then I thought of reaching the landlord. The apartment display the real estate management company number of this building.
I called them and they said they didn't appoint any broker nor did they retain. So, I booked the flat directly with the property management since they insisted to book through.
Now, the broker is claiming that he needs his fee, if not, he will follow a legal approach. It's a small amount but the whole process to secure this apartment is done by myself, why should I pay?
Is there any rule as show fee?

Jul 5, 2018
4173
What are the market fees of the broker when you sell a property in Dubai?

0
Q: I have agreed through a real estate broker to sell a property in Dubai. The agent is charging the buyer a commission and the seller (me) a marketing fee which is about 40% of the size of the commission.
In the event of the contract not being completed through my fault, the contract I am being asked to sign requires me to:
a) repay the deposit to the seller,
b) repay an additional amount equal to the deposit to the seller, and
c) pay the broker commission to the agent.
This contract is between myself and the buyer, and the contract between myself and the broker does not cover me paying the broker commission, so is c) above enforceable?


Nov 24, 2020
1107
Legal action against a contracting company for forging a government permit
0
Q: A contracting company in the UAE sent us an email with a DDA Permit to build a room in our house. Then subsequently they got approval from DDA (Dubai Development Authority).
We have the original email from the Authority that the documents were issued with a permit, dated 04.07.21. But the contract changed the DDA document date to 04.08.21.
We seek legal advice if this can be termed as a crime in the UAE for manipulating a document and if any lawyer can confirm to us if this is a genuine case that can be filed in Dubai Courts and which law applies to forging a document by email.
The reason why the contractor forged the document is that they took the payment from us and wanted to delay the project and kept on telling us that DDA has not given any approval.
Only after contacting DDA directly, we got the original document which shows a different date.

Jan 18, 2022
278
How can I terminate a warehouse lease contract and get refund due to the agent's breach?


0
Q: Hi!
An agent provided us with misleading information regarding a warehouse like fake pictures and misrepresented the size. He said it's 3660 but in reality, it's 3076.
While we had reached a verbal agreement with him with coordination between him and the owner, and through WhatsApp and Email, they refused the terms we agreed upon during the contract signing.
They claimed that the terms needed to be agreed upon solely by the owner.
Due to the owner's unwillingness to find a mutually acceptable resolution, we decided not to proceed with renting the warehouse.
We have transferred the amount for the broker fees and the amount for the security deposit to the agent as requested. We received a receipt from the agent.
We requested to return the transferred funds. We have all the necessary documentation. We asked the agent for refunding the transferred amount and we didn't get a reply from him yet.
In case he refused to transfer the funds, we kindly request your legal assistance in this matter.



Jun 10, 2023
112
What can I do if the real estate agent refuses to hand the house after payment?

1
Q: I have a two-pronged question.
I was looking to rent a house and I've paid the first three months, deposit, and agent fees together. I've also signed a contract.
The agent has refused to give us the keys until we give him the SEWA deposit as well. Now at this point, I'm having misgivings about the agent. The agency is not listed on the Sharjah government's RERA website.
The agent showed us a free zone license which is valid till September 30th. The agent also keeps insisting on cash and is not sending us a copy of the contract we signed.
At this point, should I give him any more money or can I insist on receiving the house keys first?
The tenancy is supposed to start on the 1st of October, but previously he had told us that we would get the keys as soon as we pay the first installment.
Also secondly, if the agency is listed as a free zone business, is it not required to be registered on the Sharjah government website?


Sep 27, 2023
278
How can I get my promised cash back from the real estate agent if he left the company?




1
Q: An agent from a company in the housing space promised me 3% cash back from the brokerage if I booked the house through him.
He has sent this understanding over email from his company email. He also paid 2% but before he paid the remaining 1% he left the company.
Now despite sending numerous emails, the company is not responding. I put a bad review on Google and their lawyer warned me for a complaint with Dubai police.
I removed my review as not sure of the laws. Tell me my next steps and whether the review can get me in trouble.
Also, can I go to the police with the email to get support?





Jun 10, 2024
194
Legal blog
2 available 2 • View allThe law does not protect fraudsters 8
The UAE Penal Code, like all other laws, addresses the crime of fraud in Article 399 of the UAE Federal Penal Code, which stipulates that whoever seizes, for himself or another, a movable property, or obtains a document or signature thereon, cancellation or destruction thereof or amendment thereto by fraudulent means, or by assuming a false name or capacity, where such an act leads to deception of a victim and leads him to surrender shall be punished by imprisonment or fine.
Apr 19, 2023
648
Protecting Your Real Estate Brokerage Firm 3
Did you know that 225 establishments were fined approximately AED 77 million for flouting AML regulations? About, 50 entities’ operations and licenses were put on suspension in 2023-Q3 for failing to register in the goAML system. That’s alarming! Out of the said numbers, many were real estate brokerage firms.
May 9, 2024
190
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • View allLaw No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai 1
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.
Aug 14, 2008
4848
Law No. (9) of 2009 Amending Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai 2
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.
Apr 12, 2009
3135
Executive Council Resolution No. (6) of 2010 Approving the Implementing Bylaw of Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai 3
This Resolution approves the Implementing Bylaw of Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai.
Feb 14, 2010
5146

Premium
Other answers by
Can I cancel my house sale contract without extra fees after personal plans changed? 2
Dear Lawyers,
I signed a Form F with a buyer for the sale of my house as we were planning to leave the country. The contract was signed about a month ago, but the handover is not until August.
Due to personal circumstances changing, we are no longer leaving Dubai and would like to cancel Form F.
The Form F contract stipulates that we have to pay the buyer 10% of the purchase value. The real estate agent is now claiming that we also have to pay the buyer's real estate commission and the conveyancing fee.
Our understanding is that the 10% penalty is the only penalty. Which is correct, and what are the next steps to dispute this?
Also, is there any way to dispute the 10% itself under the law due to personal circumstances changing?
Jul 12, 2024
606
How to know if an offer letter I received from a company in the UAE is legit? 2
I got an offer letter from Al-Haldin Gulf Construction & Petroleum LLC. Can you please advise about the company?
Mar 18, 2024
260
Tenant always late with payments, hasn't renewed contract. What to do? 2
Hello,
I have a tenant who is always late with their payment. Their renewal was supposed to be last December 2023.
Currently, they have not signed any new contract, provided any new cheques, and have stayed for three months from December until now without paying rent.
Additionally, I just discovered that they have sublet the apartment with partitions, which is clearly stated as not allowed in the old contract.
Please let me know what should I do legally!
Mar 14, 2024
490
How soon will I receive the cancellation paper from my previous employer? 1
Dear Concern,
How long will it take to receive the cancellation paper from my previous employer?
My last working day at my current company will be on April 7, 2024.
Mar 16, 2024
304
Tenant received renewal notice, rejected proposed rent on renewal day. What next? 2
Hi,
We sent a renewal notice to our Dubai-based tenant 84 days before his contract renewal, with a 10% increase in rent.
The tenant neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposed rent and replied on the day of renewal that he wouldn't be paying the proposed rent.
Due to the argument, the landlord decided to reduce the rent, but the tenant has not yet renewed his contract. It has been 12 days since his contract expired.
Kindly suggest what could be done in this matter.
Mar 12, 2024
306

Premium
Other answers by
Can 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
103
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
110
Can I file a case for cyberbullying or defamation after my ex-wife's abusive messages? 1
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
130
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
68
Seeking justice and compensation for wife's loss due to medical negligence during childbirth 1
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
91
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