Q: Hi! I have recently purchased an apartment in Dubai and was planning to move to it. The tenant verbally said that he was leaving, but now refuses to vacate. The contract with the previous landlord expires in 3 days. His rent is below the market rate. Can I increase the rate? How can I evict him?

Q: Hi Legal Advice ME, I have bought a villa in Dubai with a tenant in place. I would like to move into the villa as my residence. I understand that I must issue the current tenant a 12-month notice. Can I issue the 12-month notice even though the current tenancy contract is with the old owner? Or do I need to sign up a new tenancy agreement between myself and the tenant and then issue the 12-month notice?

Q: Hi, I purchased an apartment and at that time, it was already occupied by a tenant. Since I bought it for me for personal use, as per the law, I gave 12 months-eviction notice by the notary public. His eviction date is the 30th of Jan 2023. He informed me a day back that he has finalized another apartment but can only move on 20th March 2023 as that apartment will be vacated on 20th March, and is asking for 1 month and 20 days extension. Now my questions are: 1. What is the legal way to extend the current contract for just 1 month and 20 days? 2. Should I sign a new contract for 1 month and 20 days? 3. Now the most important question is if I sign a short-term contract just for 1 month and 20 days, does it nullify the Dubai court's eviction notice?

Q: Hi Legal Advice ME, I have just bought an apartment in Dubai with a tenant in place. I would like to move into the apartment as my residence. I understand that I must issue the current tenant a 12-month written notice. However, I have only received the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) from the developer so far. Do I need to wait until I receive the title deed before issuing the eviction notice? Also, the current Ejari is between the developer and the tenant. Can I still issue the 12-month notice even though the current tenancy contract is with the developer?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I bought a property that was transferred to my name a few days ago. The previous owner had served a legal notice to vacate (reason: sale) and renewed the lease agreement for 9 more months three months after serving the notice, to align with the notice to vacate. After the transfer, I was able to access Ejari via the Dubai Rest app and saw that Ejari was renewed for 12 months instead of 9 months. Does this mean that the tenant has the right to stay until the end of the Ejari date or the date on the legal notice and lease agreement? FYI: The date on the notice served via the Dubai Court is January 31, 2024. The lease agreement is January 31, 2024, but Ejari is April 30, 2024. My wife and children are moving to Dubai by February 2024, and I need the house for myself. Please help!

Q: Hello I have a 2BHK apartment with a garden in Dubai and I have rented to the tenant for the last 2 years. We verbally agreed on WhatsApp and phone about the evacuation and he agreed he would vacate. Now he is playing with me and asking me to serve the legal notice to him to vacate.

Q: Hi, Please help me with some information! As a new landlord, if I don't sign the renewal contract, will it be renewed automatically? Can they have Ejari without the landlord's signature? Thank you for your advice!

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.

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.

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. 

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.

This Decree establishes a specialised judicial system to hear rent disputes and develops the procedure for determination of such disputes through an expeditious and simple process for the purpose of realising social and economic stability for all persons involved with the real property rental and other related sectors.