Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
3 available 3 • View allRefund for delay in possession of apartment and compensation

1
Q: I bought an off-plan apartment in a tower in Dubai. 10+ years later, it still has not been finished and I have paid in full. Yet, they keep coming back to me and making changes and asking for more money.
The latest is about the size of my apartment. They are saying that it's bigger than what I agreed to and want me to pay more for the extra space.
In addition, they are asking for some electrical money, yet the apartment has not been finished. I feel they are asking for money that is not due. They send threatening emails for payment with no explanation.
As I have no knowledge about Dubai law and do not live in Dubai, I feel they would act differently if they had to speak to a knowledgeable person.


Oct 25, 2018
875
The right to claim refund from developer for breach of obligations
1
Q: I had invested in a project in Dubai in Oct 2018, in a 3 bedroom townhouse.
I have paid them 24% of the house amount till now but haven't received anything except for SPA and receipts from them.
No registration of the property has also been done wherein we were supposed to get the house in Dec 2019 the handover.
On checking, we got to know that they haven't even got permission from the land department for that particular row of townhouses in which we had booked our unit, and no construction has also happened till now.
They offered us another unit instead to take which they claim will get finished in Dec 2020.
But because they have been lying to us since the beginning and have taken money from us without any permission being in place, we want to exit from the agreement and get our money refunded.
Wanted to know what are we eligible to get money in this case?
Seeking the correct advice.
Please help.

May 19, 2020
435
Can I terminate a property purchase MOU and claim refund due to seller's breach?



3
Q: I signed an MOU for purchasing a property from the seller. It has now been close to two months, with no progress.
The tenant at the seller's property is not allowing time for valuation purposes. And now the seller is saying it's not his problem and is not willing to pay the 10% agreed as per the MOU.
There's a specific clause in the MOU as below:
"In the event that the 'seller' fails to complete the transfer on the agreed date due to his own act or omissions, then the full deposit will be refunded to the buyer, and also the 'seller' agrees to pay the same deposit amount to the buyer as a compensation for the loss of the said property unless they agreed amicably to different terms or dates."




May 4, 2021
3542
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
4854
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
3141
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

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Other answers by
My husband sold the house we bought jointlyand took a cheque plus 1-year instalments from me. What can I do? 0
Hi,
I am a non-Muslim indian expatriate, residing in Dubai since 2015. The first 5 years, I was on a working visa, and after the delivery of my first baby, I left my job and became dependent on my husband.
In 2018, we bought a house together where I invested AED 2 hundred thousand from my income (I have proof in the form of a cheque). I also paid AED 3300 monthly installment for 1 year, for a personal loan taken out for the house.
But in spite of my resistance, my husband tactfully put the house in his name, so the title deed was in his name. In 2024, when my kids and I were in India for vacation, he cancelled our visas and residency. He also filed for a divorce in India.
The divorce is not yet finalised, and we are still married. Since August 2024, he hasn't let me access my house in Dubai, so I filed a case, which eventually went in my favor in January 2025.
Since I used to travel on a visit visa, I left for India and returned in March, to find out that my husband had already sold the house. The new owner is residing there.
What can I do now?
Help!
May 1, 2025
8
Can the employer force the housmaid to work for unlimited hours without rest? 0
Hi
I'm a nanny, and at the same time, I work as a housemaid (khadama) here in the house. I work, but as I know, the nannies and housemaids have different rights, and my employer doesn't give me rest.
My work starts at 7:30 am and then finishes at 10 pm or less. It depends on whether the baby is asleep or what time they will take on me if not yet asleep. Is this right?
Also, at the time of eating, I'm still working because the baby is with me, so I just let her sit in her chair. That's how I eat.
Please answer me. I want to know my rights.
Because if I can leave during the 6-month probation, I want to take it if the employer is this kind. I don't know.
They are also expats, but they don't follow the rules of the UAE regarding a housemaid.
May 1, 2025
12
My previous organization has not yet released EOSB because I contacted a client. Is this legal? 0
I recently joined a new organization in the Hamriyah Free Zone, and my previous organization has not released my end-of-service benefits.
The HR has instructed the finance team not to do so because I had contacted one of their clients.
In my DMCC contract, there is no Non-Compete clause, but the offer letter has one, and now they are not releasing the end-of-service.
Is this legal? What are my rights?
Apr 30, 2025
17
Can I renew my trade license and visa if I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me? 0
Hello,
I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year.
My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID.
Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases?
The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority.
I look forward to your response.
Thanks.
May 1, 2025
40
Employer agreed to settle before MOHRE. What if they don’t pay the promised amount? 0
Hello,
I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case.
What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?
Apr 29, 2025
41

Other answers by
Unregulated Forex scam in UAE: Should we hire a lawyer or report to the police? 3
Hi Lawyers,
Many individuals have invested in a Forex trading company based in the UAE.
Should we hire a lawyer to file a case, or can we report it to the police station to summon the involved party, allowing them to settle and refund our money?
The company is not regulated in the UAE, yet it accepts payments in the UAE and manipulates trades, causing clients to lose their money.
Please help us.
Thank you!
Dec 7, 2023
470
How to recover money when the borrower disappeared without a security check? 2
Good day,
One person owes me 50,000 dirhams and was supposed to return the entire amount, including the monthly investment with 5% interest.
However, he has suddenly disappeared and is not returning the principal amount or the interest. I have not received any security check from him.
Can I take him to court or explore other options to ban him in this country?
Dec 7, 2023
129
Filing an infidelity complaint with the Dubai police 1
Hi,
I need help in filing an infidelity complaint with the Dubai police. The perpetrator is a serial sex abuser who holds an EU passport and resides in Dubai.
He is English-speaking. Please provide me with the necessary procedures and post-submission processes.
I can verify the power of attorney (POA) via UAE Pass.
Nov 20, 2023
428
My employer is not willing to cancel my visa. Can I cancel it by waiting six months outside the UAE? 0
I am in India right now and I wanted to cancel my work visa in the UAE but my employer is not willing to cancel it.
If I stay more than 6 months, will my visa be canceled automatically?
After that, will I face any problems coming back to find a new work or when I get a new visa?
Nov 17, 2023
864
I have a travel ban issued from the UAE due to an unpaid credit card. Can I travel to KSA? 1
I have a travel ban (blacklisted) issued from the UAE due to an unpaid credit card outstanding (approx AED 20k).
Can I enter Saudi Arabia on a visit visa (French citizen) and how long will the travel ban last?
Nov 8, 2023
631

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Other answers by
Can the employer force the housmaid to work for unlimited hours without rest? 0
Hi
I'm a nanny, and at the same time, I work as a housemaid (khadama) here in the house. I work, but as I know, the nannies and housemaids have different rights, and my employer doesn't give me rest.
My work starts at 7:30 am and then finishes at 10 pm or less. It depends on whether the baby is asleep or what time they will take on me if not yet asleep. Is this right?
Also, at the time of eating, I'm still working because the baby is with me, so I just let her sit in her chair. That's how I eat.
Please answer me. I want to know my rights.
Because if I can leave during the 6-month probation, I want to take it if the employer is this kind. I don't know.
They are also expats, but they don't follow the rules of the UAE regarding a housemaid.
May 1, 2025
12
My previous organization has not yet released EOSB because I contacted a client. Is this legal? 0
I recently joined a new organization in the Hamriyah Free Zone, and my previous organization has not released my end-of-service benefits.
The HR has instructed the finance team not to do so because I had contacted one of their clients.
In my DMCC contract, there is no Non-Compete clause, but the offer letter has one, and now they are not releasing the end-of-service.
Is this legal? What are my rights?
Apr 30, 2025
17
Can I renew my trade license and visa if I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me? 0
Hello,
I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year.
My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID.
Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases?
The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority.
I look forward to your response.
Thanks.
May 1, 2025
40
How to file a case against my former company for unpaid salary I was not on their visa? 0
Dear Legal Advice Middle East,
I hope you are well.
I am seeking legal advice regarding an unpaid salary issue with my former employer, [-----]2 LLC. I was employed with them from December 4, 2024, to January 7, 2025, on a monthly salary of 5,000 AED.
However, I only received a partial payment of 2,473 AED on February 24, 2025. The remaining 2,527 AED is still unpaid.
I submitted a complaint to MOHRE on March 2, 2025, but I am unable to proceed further through their official channels.
This is because I was working under the visa of my previous employer, [---] LLC, and not under [----]’s sponsorship.
As a result, I do not meet the criteria to file a labor complaint via the MOHRE app or hotline.
Given this situation, I would appreciate your guidance on how I can legally pursue the recovery of my remaining salary, considering the complications related to my visa status during the employment.
Apr 30, 2025
21
Employer agreed to settle before MOHRE. What if they don’t pay the promised amount? 0
Hello,
I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case.
What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?
Apr 29, 2025
41

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Other answers by
A firm took payment but didn’t ship cargo or refund. Can we file a case? 0
Hello,
The matter is whether we can file a case against an Ajman-based firm for non-shipment of cargo against the payment made to them.
They haven’t delivered the cargo nor returned the amount.
Apr 17, 2025
56
Bought a used car with a tampered odometer. What legal steps can I take now? 0
Hello,
Two days ago, I bought a used car. But yesterday, I found out that there has been major tampering with the odometer.
I have all the necessary proof to provide. Where do I move forward from this?
Apr 17, 2025
54
Can I petition for immediate eviction due to tenant violations and refusal to vacate after notice? 1
Dear Lawyers,
I have a question regarding an immediate eviction petition to the Urgent Judge. The tenant did not return the apartment on 26 January 2025, despite a 12-month legal notice that ended on 25 January 2025.
The tenant rejected all gas and fire prevention maintenance for 12 months. Al-Fanar Gas submitted a report with the tenant's signature and refusal after the tenant broke the gas detector.
The apartment was sold, and the new owner gave the tenant 90 days' notice. The tenant refused to show the new owner the apartment and ran away, according to building management.
The tenant ignored the 12-month legal notice, did not return the apartment, broke the gas detector, and refused gas and fire detection system maintenance.
The deal will be voided if the new owner cannot enter the property promptly. Can I petition the Urgent Matters Judge for quick eviction based on the tenant's violations?
Jan 27, 2025
96
A contractor did waterproofing on my roof but water leaked and made damages. What can I do? 0
A contractor recently did waterproofing on my townhouse roof and confirmed a warranty of 5 years (on WhatsApp). The payment receipt and invoice are available.
In 4 months, water leaks from the roof damaged the false ceiling inside the house. When contacted, he avoids calls and delays by making some excuses.
Is there any way I can get my money back?
Dec 26, 2024
66
How can I exit a partnership linked to an expired license and accumulating fines? 1
Good Day!
I am a partner in a trading license with two other individuals. Both of them were managing the business together as a cash-based operation without a bank account, while I was working elsewhere as an employee.
Now, one of the partners has passed away, and his parents are in conflict with the remaining partner, claiming he owes them money. However, the surviving partner insists that no money is owed and that everything is settled.
The license has now expired and cannot be renewed because the deceased partner’s family is not cooperating, leading to fines due to the inability to renew it.
Additionally, the remaining partner continues to conduct the same business, occasionally purchasing items under the company name.
As I am a low-salaried individual and cannot afford court fees, is there a way to remove myself from this situation, or are there any authorities who can assist me in this matter?
I am willing to help and provide whatever is required as evidence in this case.
Please advise!
Dec 30, 2024
136
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