Q: Hi, I just bought a villa in Dubai, wherein the previous owner had served an eviction notice in Aug. to the tenant with the reason that he intends to sell the property. Based on this eviction notice, I bought the property, and now I was told that I need to serve a new eviction notice to the tenant again as a new owner. If I do this, then the tenant will get 12 months to vacate from the new notice date. Then what is the use of the old eviction notice? As I understand the new owner will need to honor all obligations of the old landlord and in which case the new landlord should also be entitled to the right of eviction notice served by the old landlord, right? Kindly clarify

Q: I recently bought an apartment with an existing tenant. The previous owner served the tenant an eviction notice via Dubai Courts. By using this notice, can I evict the tenant or not? The eviction period ends on September 2023 and the current contract ends on April 2023. If I can evict the existing tenant, how should I prepare a new contract? Is it enough to prepare a 5-month contract and refer to the eviction notice in additional terms?

Q: I signed a lease renewal for an apartment in Abu Dhabi for one year starting 28 October 2019. The owner is now selling the apartment and the new owners want to evict me with two months notice once they own the apartment. I have no contract with the new owners. Is this legal? Thank you.

Q: Hi, My friend purchased a business from someone this year. The seller later wrote to the landlord of the office that she was no longer the owner of the business and that she would not continue to be the tenant. She gave that in writing. After this, a real estate agent mailed my friend that since the business was sold without getting approval from the landlord who wants to sell it, hence, they want to cancel Ejari or vacate upon the expiry of Ejari which is due 40 days from now. So my friend who had no RERA experience gave the real estate agent a letter in the name of the landlord that they would vacate it after Ejari. But now they r not getting the office of their needs immediately and Landlord is not ready to extend even one hour extra. What can he do now in Ejari? There is a clause that rental rights cannot be transferred. Please note that Ejari is in the name of Business and not an individual. 1- Should they ask for legal notice? 2- Can he evict them due to the letter? Please advise how to extend it?

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.