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: Dear Sir/Madam, I have just found proof that my former landlord in Dubai rented out my old apartment at a much higher price to a new tenant the month after I moved out. I also have proof that he was “intending to sell” the apartment in a message. I signed a contract stating that I would move out at the end of the lease, which I did, based on his advice that he is selling the apartment. I received an official legal notice with “sale” as the reason for eviction four months after I signed the contract. I left on the date as per the contract in good faith that he would be selling the apartment. Please let me know if I have a case and can file for compensation.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I agreed with my landlord to vacate his apartment because he wanted to sell the property. He provided me with one year's notice from a notary public. My current contract ends on June 4th, 2023. However, the one-year notice period expires at the end of November 2023. I have two questions: - Can he increase the rent from June 4th, 2023 to November 2023? - How can I request evidence from the landlord that he is selling the property?

Q: I want to move out after the completion of my tenancy contract. the building management requires NOC from the landlord before allowing me to move out. My landlord is refusing to give me NOC asking me to first disconnect DEWA. DEWA is in my name. Disconnection of DEWA is not possible before I move out as it is required while I move out. 1. What are my options to get NOC from the landlord? What happens if he continues to refuse to issue NOC? 2. Is it legally ok for building management to ask for NOC before allowing move out?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My landlord sent me a legal notice through the Dubai Courts notary, giving me 12 months' notice to vacate. He stated that he is willing to sell the house, but it is highly likely that this is not accurate and he is looking to rent it out at a much higher rent. My current lease ends on November 14, 2023, and the legal notice is dated August 7, 2023. The landlord has also emailed me asking to sign a lease for the period November 2023 to August 2024. What are my options? Is it useful for me to send a response to their legal notice stating that we have received their notice, and that if they do not actually sell the villa, we will monitor the situation and not only report to RERA but also file for compensatory damages? Can we request any evidence of them selling the villa? Finally, if I speak to them and it turns out that they want to rent the villa at a much higher rate and they send me a lease with the higher rent, can I use that as support for their intention?

Q: Hello, Our landlord served us an eviction notice with an "intent to sell". We asked the agent for the asking price, as we would be interested in buying the property. The agent said that the landlord will set a price a couple of months before our eviction because prices are increasing. Does this cancel out their intent to sell at the time of serving the eviction notice, since at the moment they have no intent to sell? Thanks!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My landlord recently gave me a mandatory legal notice for eviction with the intention to sell. Ideally, I have to move out in a few months, and then one of the secretaries of my landlord mentioned that they want to talk to me in person (not officially in chat or email). They mentioned that if I'm interested, I can stay with a new contract & new price. Basically what they're saying is, since they've given me a notice, they want to treat me as a new tenant with a new price instead of sticking to the max 20% limit enforced by RERA for renewals. He also mentioned that even after this, they would give me a court notice again and a new price. This sounded crazy to me because it feels like a loophole to get rid of this RERA renewal restriction and they plan to kick anyone after a year. I'm planning to find a new place anyway because I need to secure a house for my family first before fighting wrongful eviction. But what would be my chances here? is this normal?

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.