Q: I was looking for a property online and submitted my number. A broker contacted me saying it's the last day of the offer and we agreed to visit the site. I was shown a mock-up flat and although I requested one to think and finalize, they requested a PDC as a token to hold the offer until I decide. The next day after checking the reputation of the developer and the project status, I decided not to proceed with the deal. Now the broker is not returning the cheque. I am afraid that if the cheque is deposited then it will bounce. What should I do in this case? Thanks for your valuable time and advice in advance!

Q: Dear Dr Amira, I entered into an agreement with mortgage brokerage to help me procure a loan for a property in Dubai, further to which the firm asked me to pay upfront an amount of AED 470K. This included down payment and other misc. charges. The brokerage company has managed to procure the loan but now have used my down payment and does not have the funds to conclude the transfer. What are my legal options? Please advise

Q: A broker told me that to reserve a villa unit, I have to give a 50k cheque and assured me that he will not send it to the bank to be encashed; it is just for reservation purposes. I told him clearly I don’t have funds and not to deposit my cheque until I confirm him to present it. I liked one unit and asked him to reserve it but to make sure not to deposit the cheque until I give him confirmation for the same. He didn’t wait for my confirmation and called me saying the cheque got deposited but I refused and told him strongly to take back the cheque from the bank. I managed somehow to hold the cheque from banking and the sales guy offered me to stop the cheque and make a payment of 20k which will hold back my cheque. He also said he will return back the cheque to me, and with this agreement, I paid 20k through a credit card. I got online payment receipts also. After this transaction, the sales guy went out of the UAE and came back after 10 days. But still, I did not get my cheque back nor the new reservation form. Every time I ask him about the cheque he says it's in process.

Q: What action can I take against a contractor who has been paid but did not deliver a project and is no longer responding?

This Bylaw regulates the Real Estate Brokers Register in the Emirate of Dubai. No person may engage in real estate brokerage activities in Dubai unless he is licensed by the competent entities and entered in the register, which is maintained by Dubai Land Department.

The law promulgates UAE Civil Procedures Code (Civil Procedure Law) which governs civil procedures in the United Arab Emirates, including the prosecution before the courts, litigation and execution.

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.