Q: Hi, What action do I take if a developer has accepted cheques from me (towards my 30% off-plan payment plan) that were made payable to the company (and not payable to the specific escrow account for the developer's project I am buying from)? Is this illegal and voids my SPA contract with the developer? Thanks for your advice.

س: السلام عليكم، اشتريت وحدة جاهزة من أحد المطورين في دبي منذ عام، وعلى مدار العام هذا دفعت ٢٠% شاملة المقدم وبعض الأقساط ومتبقي ٨٠% تُدفع على مدار ٤ أعوام. في حال عدم استطاعتي استكمال الأقساط نظرًا لأي ظروف طارئة؛ كفقد العمل أو ترك الدولة، هل أفقد كل ما دفعت أم يمكنني المطالبة باسترداد جزء من المبلغ المدفوع؟ أيضًا هل يمكنني تحويل العقار للبنك أم لا؟ وإذا تركت الدولة، فهل سيشترط البنك بيع العقار والسداد الفوري؟ جزاكم الله خيرًا!

Q: There was an MOU which was entered between the buyer (we) and seller on 17 February 2020. Due to less valuation by the bank, the contract was revised and the initial agreement was cancelled. The new agreement was made on 11 March 2020 and it was again cancelled due to error by the agent in the agreement as he had written a wrong size of the apartment. So the third contract was made but it was not signed due to the global pandemic situation and the selling price mentioned was higher than the agreed price and it was also signed by the seller. There was no contract thereafter as all the initial contracts were cancelled and as we have given escrow cheque to the agent, they are asking for hefty fees to be paid and then they will release the escrow cheque. So can you please advise in the given case?

Q: قام مكتب تمثيل لشركة أجنبية ببيع عقار خارج الدولة وقام المكتب بإبرام استمارة الحجز واستلم شيك بنكي مني. تقدمت بإلغاء الحجز اليوم التالي فرفض المكتب إعادة المبلغ المدفوع. مع العلم بأن المكتب غير مُسجَّل لدى دائرة الأراضي والأملاك ونشاطه بالرخصة مكتب تمثيلي. كيف أتمكن من استرجاع المبلغ المدفوع؟

س: إلغاء اتفاقية حجز عقار وقعت وثيقة حجز شقة ودفعت الدفعة الأولى وتم خصمها في حساب ضمان الشركة، ووقعت شيكات مؤجلة بقيمة 30% من قيمة العقار. صارت لي ظروف غير متوقعة وأرغب في إنهاء الحجز واستعادة الشيكات، مع العلم بأني لم أوقع العقد النهائي. هل يجوز لي ذلك؟

Q: Dear Sir, I made an AED 37,000 Expression of Interest payment to a developer in August 2021. I decided not to go ahead and asked for a refund of my EOI. To date, I have not gotten these funds back into my UK account. The developer says that the funds are in their intermediary bank. They keep saying they will update me. Please advise what I can do. Thank you S.

س: مرحبًا، اشتريت شقة مفروشة، وأكد لي قسم المبيعات شفهيًا أن شقة العرض والشقة التي سأستلمها ستكونان متطابقتان. المشروع قيد الإنجاز وقسم خدمة العملاء أبلغني أنه ليست جميع التفاصيل في شقة العرض ستكون مشابهة لشقتي عند التسليم!

Q: Hi, I went to see an apartment, and the property agency asked for a 1,000 AED security deposit to block the apartment. They told me I would receive a receipt for the payment. Before giving the money, I asked for a sample contract to review the cancellation terms, and it stated: "Applicable Cancellation Policy: If canceled or modified up to 14 days before the date of arrival, no fee will be charged." After one day, due to a change in plans, I requested a cancellation and demanded my 1,000 AED back, as the cancellation was well within the 14-day period. The agency refused and is not refunding my money. Please advise!

This Law applies to developers who sell units off-plan in real estate development projects in the Emirate of Dubai and who should receive payments from purchasers or financiers towards such real property units to the special escrow accounts.

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.