Q: Dear Sirs I will appreciate your kind advice regarding my case. I am renting from the landlord since 3 years now, all payments are done on time and even I am doing maintenance for things in my house which I am not supposed to do but to maintain the property in good shape out of goodwill. I received an email from my landlord asking for renewal as per the agreement, 3 months prior to the termination of my current contract. I visited them and handed over the new cheques for the new rental year in advance and signed the new tenancy contract. Now I discovered that he may be selling the property and may not renew my contract despite receiving my cheques and delaying EJARI renewal. I still have 2 months to go in the current contract. my question to you is, are they allowed to renew or to compensate if they already took my cheques for the new year rental and exchange of emails with the same is available? What are my legal rights here? Thanks and have a great day.

Q: I am a tenant in Discovery Garden and my landlord registered the Empower in his name and took AED 2000 for registration. Now he has sold the flat and not returning the Empower registration amount. The new owner was not aware of this and when he came to know he registered the same and asked me to register as a tenant plus pay AED 2000, while the due date to register the amount is passed. I told him I will not pay another AED 2000 until I get the same from the previous owner. Now I am stuck between the new owner and the old one.

Q: Hello, I have just renewed my lease in Dubai a few weeks ago with a property management company, and have been informed today that the property has been sold and I should start interacting with the new landlord. Should I sign my lease again with the new landlord? Can I refuse to sign a new lease and pay all fees again until the lease renewal expires?

Q: Hello, My question is regarding Ejari. What is its purpose? In case of a disagreement over vacating or rent payments, how does it affect the landlord and the tenant? Thanks!

Q: Hello, Is it mandatory to register the rental agreement with Ejari? What is the process?

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.