Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
3 available 3 • View allHow to cancel an off-plan property contract and recover the amount paid?
1
Q: I have paid about 15% of installments to an off-plan project. However, due to Covid-19, I am unable to keep up with repayments at the time being.
I am also concerned that it has been almost 2 years since I signed the contract and no work has started on the project, it seems no progress.
The handover was scheduled to be in 2021 but now delayed to 2022. How could I cancel without losing my 15% paid?
And if I continue to pay, but I am not happy with being delayed and never starting work, what should be done?

Nov 15, 2020
966
Termination of an off-plan property contract for delay in delivery
0
Q: I bought a one-bedroom apartment in 2015 for AED 1.04 m with a completion date of June 2017. I had paid 40% of the price, and 60% (AED 625,000) was to have been paid on completion in two years (2017).
The project has been delayed significantly, and when I visited the apartment at the end of Feb 2020, it was not ready.
The developer now claims to have received the BCC from the Dubai Land authorities and hence wants full payment of the balance AED 625,000. They claimed the property is ready for handover, but it needs work to be habitable.
I am a British citizen, and my own situation has changed in the five years since. I kept the 60%, but since then, my financial situation is such I no longer have the 60% of the fund AED 625,000 to pay them.
I can't get the remaining as a mortgage for as an expatriate, I can get a maximum of 50% of the value which is now only AED 750000 max.
How can I get compensation and my money back from the developer?

May 17, 2020
620
The possibility of delaying the delivery of an off-plan property for a year



0
Q: Does Dubai law have any regulation concerning the off-plan delay for one year?
Can I cancel the contract?




Mar 8, 2020
621
Legal blog
1 available 1 • View allContracts 101: Official Agreements to WhatsApp Messages 2
An interview-format article covering the topic of contracts in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
Mar 3, 2021
1155
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
4853
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
3140
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
5155

Premium
Other answers by
Are there any restrictions on a diplomat buying property in the UAE? 2
Hello,
Is there any restriction on a diplomat buying property in the UAE, where he works as a diplomat at his country's consulate?
Feb 20, 2025
98
If someone has a case in the UAE, can they travel to another GCC country? 2
Hi.
One of my friends joined a Telegram group. They said, "We will transfer some amount to your account, and your task is to transfer this amount to another account. Once the task is completed, you will get 30 or 50 AED per task."
He completed 3 to 4 tasks, but he realized it was not good, so he stopped. After one week, when he opened his account, it was blocked, and the bank said, "We are conducting an investigation; after this, we will let you know."
After some days, he had an accident and went to his home country. He then received a call from a landline number, which was from the Abu Dhabi police station.
They said, "We have received a complaint against you; come to our investigation department." However, due to his surgery and treatment, he could not go.
After some time, his bank account was reopened, and he did not receive any further calls. I want to know, if he comes back to the UAE or goes to any other GCC country, will he face any problems?
If someone has a case in the UAE, can they travel to another GCC country?
Please advise!
Feb 17, 2025
177
What can I do if my employer refuses to pay me and I have no contract? 5
Hello,
What legal action can I take in case the employer refuses to pay my salary and I don't have a contract with them?
Feb 18, 2025
168
I want to open an online shop. Do I need a license to open an Etsy shop? 1
I currently live in Sharjah and have a UAE residence visa but I am not a UAE or GCC national. I want to open an online shop (Etsy or Shopify) to sell handmade items, such as crocheted goods, bookmarks, greeting cards, etc.
Do I need a license to open an Etsy shop?
If so, which license do I need to sell my products online, including UAE and worldwide?
How much would it cost me?
Can I keep my residence visa (sponsored by my father) and not change it?
Feb 14, 2025
170
How can we locate a person with an ongoing legal case? 1
Hello,
I am seeking your legal advice regarding a friend who was previously imprisoned in Abu Dhabi. His case there is now closed, but he has another ongoing case in Dubai.
Currently, we have lost contact with him and are unsure of his whereabouts. How can we check where he is or access any other legal facility?
Are there legal procedures to locate a person with an ongoing case?
What steps should we take to get more information about his status and legal position?
Feb 11, 2025
192

Other answers by
Is there hope for bail in a 25-year sentence for a minor drug charge? 1
Dear Lawyers,
My brother was sentenced to 25 years in jail for a minor drug case (1 gram) on October 24, 2024. Can he get bail?
What will happen next, and what can I do to help him get released?
Kindly advise!
Nov 12, 2024
197
If you had a case for defaulting on a loan and resolved it, how to clear it from the database? 0
Hello,
I have a question.
My husband had a loan 15 years ago, he had difficulty paying this loan, and the bank opened a case, which was solved, and he paid the full loan.
He is still in Dubai and has a good work position.
How is it possible to remove the solved bank case from the database to have the possibility of getting the credit card and loan?
Thank you.
Sep 16, 2024
112
How can I inform authorities I signed a police statement I didn't understand? 1
Good Day,
As someone unfamiliar with local laws and a non-Arabic speaker, the police took my statement but did not provide a translation and told me to sign. I have no idea what they wrote or presented in the case.
The case is now with the Public Prosecution. What should I do to ensure the authorities are aware of this?
Sep 5, 2024
117
Can I bail my husband out if I'm a visitor and provide my passport? 1
Dear Lawyers,
My husband is under investigation, and I want to get him bailed out from detention.
However, I am a visitor. Can I get him bail by providing my passport?
Aug 29, 2024
134
How can I file for divorce in the UAE as an Indian Christian with a son, and ensure custody? 1
Hi, good morning,
I’m an Indian residing in the UAE and want to apply for a divorce. My husband and I have been living separately for more than 3 years, and he has been living in India since our separation.
We are both Indians and Christians (non-Muslims). We have a son who is 8 years old now. Can you please let me know the divorce procedure if we want to proceed in the UAE, both with and without mutual consent?
Additionally, please advise on how to proceed with custody, as my son currently resides with me.
Thank you!
Aug 28, 2024
176

Other answers by
Can the new owner of an apartment increase my rent if it is against RERA Index? 0
Hi
I'm a tenant of an apartment and a new owner has purchased the apartment. I would like to know:
1. Should I revise the Ejari by canceling the previous one and applying for a new one?
2. My current rent is 35% less than the current market value. Can the new owner change the rent as per the market value, or he still has to follow the RERA Index calculator for a new contract?
Nov 19, 2023
126
I agreed with my landlord to increase the rent 10% I pay in cash. Should I insist on changing the contract? 0
I'm staying in JLT in a house with a rent of AED 140,000 per year. The lease starts on 1st Sep '23 and expires on 31st Aug '24.
The landlord sent me a legal notice from the Dubai Courts in mid-Sep '23, giving me 1-year notice to vacate the house as he plans to sell the house. The notice was received by me through email from the court.
He claims the email notice sent by the court is not valid till I receive it by courier via Aramex for my physical signature. Can you please confirm if this is true?
The landlord is now ready to let me stay in this house for two more years. He has proposed that we maintain the existing lease agreement and Ejari. However, I should pay him AED 14,000 in cash (10% increment).
We will sign a separate paper document wherein we will agree that I will further rent increase of 10% (10% on (140,000+14,000)) on 1st Sep'24 when my current lease expires.
Should I insist on making a fresh written contract with the higher rent (140,000+14,000=154,000)?
Nov 18, 2023
151
Is it possible to terminate a labor contract before the end of the two-year term? 1
Hello.
I have been with my employer for 15 months, and my employment contract is for two years.
Is it possible to terminate the contract before the end of the two-year term?
Nov 24, 2023
145
I have signed Form F and got the mortgage but the seller is in breach. What to do? 1
Hi
I have signed the MOU Form F since July 2023 and we prepared all the papers and the loan from my end on 23/8/2023.
When I went to DLD for the transfer, the seller had registration issues and asked for some papers to be provided as the property is under the company not an individual.
Since that time, we have kept renewing the MOU every month in the hope of finalizing but I am not seeing any progress.
So I am asking about legal action as I already got a bank mortgage and started paying as well but not seeing any progress from the seller.
So I need to ask the following:
1. If my MOU expired on 20.11.2023, can I file a complaint on 20 or after a couple of days like 23?
2. What will happen in terms of 10%? Will it be returned and what about the fees paid to the bank like mortgage fees, evaluation, and cancellation of loan? Will the EMI payment be compensated by the seller?
3. What is your advice?
Thanks
Nov 16, 2023
921
Dubai landlord served eviction notice to tenant but now wants to revoke it 1
Dear Sir/Madam,
I own an apartment in Dubai and served the tenant a legal eviction notice through Dubai courts in March 2023. The reason for the eviction notice was that I was planning to move into the apartment.
However, my circumstances have changed, and the original tenancy contract end date is December 2023. The tenant has now requested a one-month extension of the contract until January 2024.
Can I revoke the eviction notice that I have already served?
Nov 13, 2023
213
Get quotes from lawyers
Find the right lawyer for your legal needs.
Submit your request and get multiple
competitive offers from
qualified lawyers.
Popular Q&A
View all Looking for something else?
Ask for advice from a lawyer