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: Hello, I received an eviction notice citing "personal reasons". If I vacate the apartment before the end of the 12-month lease term due to inconvenience: - Is the landlord obligated to refund the remainder of my rent? - Can the landlord rent the apartment again during the remainder of the lease term, despite the eviction notice and the requirement not to rent it out for two years after that? - Is it legal for the landlord to rescind the eviction notice closer to the end date and propose a higher rent, after causing inconvenience for me to look for another place or even after I have already moved out? - Can I sue them even after they cancel the eviction? (I may have an idea of their strategy and want to ensure that I am protected by the law). Thank you!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My landlord wants to evict me for "personal use of the property," but I am sure he wants to rent it out. My eviction notice came two months after my rent renewal, which means that at the end of my lease, I have to either renew my lease for two more months (which I am not sure is possible) or move out two months before the notice period ends. 1) If I choose the latter option, will I still be able to file a case against my landlord for evicting me so that he can rent out the property? 2) How much does it cost to file a case, how long does it typically take to win, and how much compensation is awarded? Is it worth it to file a case?

Q: Good morning, We bought a house in November 2022, made the eviction letter, and rented ourselves a house. Our lease is expiring in August and must renew it by the end of this month. Our tenant told us they will move this summer but did not hear from them yet. Can we just send them a letter specifying that they can stay and renew their rent if they wish or what does the law say in that case? Thank you in advance for your answer.

Q: Hello, Our landlord sold our apartment and we were served an eviction notice by the new owner. Our current contract expires on 31.1.2024 and we got the eviction notice on 17.7.2023. My question is if the eviction notice has to state the date when we need to move out. From my understanding, an eviction notice is a minimum of 12 months, so it might be longer. We obviously want one more contract so I am looking for ways how to make it happen. Plus she put the reason that she wants to use it for herself or her first-degree family member. Anyway, she also bought an apartment next to us and she emailed my husband that she is moving into this apartment next to us in January 2024, and wants to move us out so her grandma can live next to her. I read that she should not own another property if she wants to use this reason to evict us, especially if she owns another apartment and uses it for herself. So how does it work in real? Is there any way we can do something legally to make her give us one more full contract?

Q: We were served a legal notice to evict our property as the landlord wanted to use the property for his personal use. This ended in 8 September. We shared an email 3 weeks before our eviction, stating that we did not want to move out and if we could stay, and we are only moving out to follow the law. The neighbors told us that agents have been hosting visits to the property. Today, the landlord has emailed me and said his circumstances have now changed and he has offered us the property back. I believe this is a tactic and he will be renting the property out soon. His reasons are due to circumstances that started for him in May, so our email 3 weeks before the eviction was more than enough time for him to raise this to us. In this case, should we decline to move back in (we have already moved and incurred huge costs and lifestyle changes to fit the new location), and the property is then rented out within 2 years, would we still be able to claim compensation?

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.