Q: Hello, I am a landlord in Dubai and I wish to send a 12-month legal eviction notice to my tenant for my intention to sell my property after the 12-month eviction notice. My question is: If after putting my property on the market for sale I don't manage to sell it and I decide to rent it out again, can my tenant take any legal action against me or ask for any compensation? Will they be entitled to that?

Q: I am a landlord and gave notice (Notary Public) to the tenant to vacate the villa for personal use or to sell 14 months back. Now the tenant has vacated the villa two months before after completing one year of the notice period. There are three real estate agents working to sell the villa for the last two months but the price offered is less compared to my purchase price. Please let me know if I can rent the villa again since I am not able to get a buyer for the villa and keeping the villa vacant for more than two months is a loss for me. I have to pay monthly house loan EMI and it is becoming difficult to manage.

Q: Hi, A Dubai Sports City apartment was rented out. The tenant was served a 12 months' notice (reason to sell). The tenant terminated the contract with 2 months' notice and 1-month penalty, 6 months early. The apartment cannot be sold now due to the market conditions, and thinking of renting the apartment out again for a lower rent than before. The apartment is mortgaged so need to rent out. Dubai rental law says that the apartment cannot be rented for 2 years if the tenant is evicted. But as the tenant terminated the contract 4 months early, does it nullify my eviction notice to him? 1. In this case, am I prohibited from renting out the apartment for 2 years? 2. Can my previous tenant take me to the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) though he ended the contract early? 3. If he is successful at the RDC what can the judge award him? He owns several apartments himself in Dubai and moved into one of them. What could the RDC award him in this case? 4. Any other implications for me renting the apartment out again bearing in mind all the above? Any advice appreciated. Thank you

Q: Dear Lawyers I am a tenant. I have received a legal, notarised, 12-month eviction notice stating that my landlord wishes to sell his villa. I received no calls from any agents for any viewings for some time and no viewings done to date. What if the current owner does not sell the villa by the 12-month notice period? Do I have the right to remain in the villa? Should the owner prove the sale with a valid sale MoU/title deed transfer certificate? I have to renew my lease as it expires before the 12-month notice date so do I renew for 12 months or up to the eviction notice date? Please help

Q: My landlord served me a 12-month notice to vacate saying he wants to move in himself. I know he will not move in and did this to rent the apartment at a much higher rate. I will vacate as per the notice. If he uses the apartment for any purpose other than his own living, what legal options will I have? Do I need to inform him of anything before I vacate?

Q: Dear Questioner, Abusing tenant trust for fake eviction! We are based in Dubai and have had a good three-year relationship with our landlord, who is in Abu Dhabi. The building had a lot of maintenance issues, and I always kept him informed about the increasing problems. Six months before the contract expiry date, the landlord visited us and said: "I have decided to return to Dubai with my family. Thanks to our relationship since 2020 and the problems you're facing in the building, I assume this is okay for you. I don't want to send a legal notice. Can you please send me an email for eviction?" As we knew the family and trusted them, we accepted their request. However, after moving out, I saw that he was renting the house for a higher rent! Is it worth initiating a legal case, as he lied to us? By chance, in my email to him, I mentioned that "we are leaving as you told us that you're moving into your house," and he responded positively. The emails were through the registered mail addresses. Thanks in advance for your guidance!

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.

An interview-format article covering the topic of residential retail properties pertaining to the liability for property maintenance and the repercussions of defaulting on rent payments in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

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.

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. 

This Decree determines the maximum percentage of rent increase for real property in the Emirate of Dubai when renewing lease contracts.