Q: I paid 90% of a property that was meant to be complete in 2011. The original developer crashed & ran out of money. No contract was signed but the new developer took over in 2017 and the project was completed in 2019. The new developer has a record of my payments and I have all receipts. I have not signed any new agreement with the new developer. When the project finished it was nothing like what was planned. Can I claim my money back?

س: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله، أمتلك شقة في دبي وأقيم فيها وهي تملُّك حر موجودة في الطابق الثاني. في الطابق الأول توجد خدمات المبنى من مسبح وجيم وساونا وصالات لاستخدام القاطنين في المبنى ولكن منذ فترة اكتشفت أن المطور قد اقتطع جزءًا كبيرًا من طابق الخدمات وحولَّه لعقار تجاري ليتحول فيما بعد لحضانة أطفال. لدي عدة استفسارات وأسئلة أرجو الإجابة عليها: 1- هل يحق للمطوِّر الاقتطاع من الأجزاء الخدمية في المبنى والاستفادة منها تجاريًا؟ 2- هل يحق لي المطالبة بعطل وضرر لأنه فيما بعد سيحدث ضجيج وإزعاج بسبب حضانة الأطفال وخصوصًا أنني لم أكن على علم و تم الإنشاء بعد أن سكنت بأكثر من سنة وما الطريقة القانونية للشكوى؟ 3- كيف أتحقق من أن ما قام به المطوِّر قانونيًا أم لا وخصوصًا أن أعمال البناء للحضانة قد اكتملت؟

Q: Dears, I've purchased an off-plan property in Dubai in 2016 which was due for handover in Dec 2017 but still incomplete (approx. 80%). 70% has been paid from a purchase price of 1.35 million. By contract, I am entitled to 8% compensation from the amount already paid since the end of 2018 (sunset). Early this year, I signed an amendment with updated payment terms with new sunset at the end of 2020. As of January 1st, am I entitled to cancel the purchase in its entirety and recover all payments done? Thanks and regards,

Q: Dear Ma'am, I have received a letter from my property developer about defaulting on payment and requesting to pay within 30 days or they "reserve the right to commence legal proceedings to cancel the unit registration from your name from Dubai land departments records". I am currently arranging the funds to settle this outstanding amount, however, I would like any information regarding the procedure should I fail to pay in exact time and if you think there is any chance to delay by a week or two. Also if proceedings were to start, what is the expected process? Thanks in advance for any support! Regards,

Q: How difficult or easy is it to obtain a refund from the developer who took installment payments but never made a project, then refused to refund funds for nearly 10 years?

Q: I have bought a property in Dubai off-plan. The villa was completed at the end of Jan (1.5 months ago). I haven't had the funds to register the property with DLD until now, mid-March. Until now, I have paid the 20% deposit to the builder and taking 80% on mortgage. The mortgage with the bank is now ready with the manager's cheque and sent to the DLD office ready for registration. As it has taken some time for me to arrange the 4% DLD, the builder is now telling me he is going to cancel the contract or charge me an additional amount as the market price has gone up. Is this possible? What rights does the builder have? I am ready to register the property next week with DLD but the builder is threatening to take alternative action.

Q: Hi, We bought an off-plan property from a developer in March 2023. We signed the SPA, but the developer hasn't signed it yet; telling us it takes time. We have already paid 40%, but the construction has not started yet, according to the information in their application. Can we request to stop paying any future installments?

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.