Q: Dear sir/madam, Our tenant in Dubai has sublet our studio apartment to bachelors (four females staying in the studio unit). We have also confirmed this with inspection with the government and they have confirmed it is indeed four females living there and they provided us with a report. How long does it take to evict and break the contract early? In addition, can the tenant seek compensation from the landlord?

Q: Greetings, I have a tenant who has not paid his rent for over 1 year. He promises to pay but nothing happens and his checks bounce every time. I have also received warnings from building management that he is subletting the apartment without my knowledge or approval. He has promised to move out, but he hasn't done that either. What can I do the fastest to get him out of the premises? I live in Sweden so I have a property manager but he has also stopped answering my messages and phone calls since 2 months ago. Thank you in advance!

Q: Hi, My tenant has not paid the full installment of the last rent payment—AED 5000 left. He hasn't paid the last two months of the Empower bill, and it's now disconnected. I have a cheque bounce report from the bank due to insufficient funds. Additionally, I caught him overcrowding the unit without my permission. Although he promised to leave on Nov 30 (the last day of the Ejari contract), the Ejari has expired, and he is still in the apartment. Do I need to send him a 30-day notice, or can I request an eviction notice? Is there any 3-day notice?

Q: The tenant is not paying and subletting nor getting utilities connected in their name. He also changed the door lock after moving in. His security cheques and rental cheques are bouncing & he knows that he will get a. notice so he is prepared for that too. He is part of a tenancy scam where these people pay the first month's rent as cash then the security deposit post-dated cheque which gets bounced. Can we file a lawsuit directly or do we have to first send a notary notice for vacating and cheque bounce? Can one notice serve both? And can we go to our flat and get details of those staying there? Please advise. They also changed locks and only last month Ejari was signed.

Q: Hi, I have leased out a shop in Dubai, but due to huge financial losses and my husband's job loss, I can't afford to pay the rent. Meanwhile, my landlord has filed a case for eviction and payment of rent. Right now, my condition is getting better as my husband has got a job and is ready to pay the rent in installments. Can I pay in installments and hold the shop even if the judgment goes against me?

Q: The tenant refuses to give rental cheques to the agent or pay the renewal fee specified in the contract. He is forcing the landlord to directly renew the agreement without any agent in between, and the landlord is uncomfortable dealing with him directly. The tenant submitted a renewal contract in RDC with an offer and deposit case with modified terms and conditions, and removed the addendum, which is an integral part of the existing contract. Parallelly, he submitted an Ejari request to the landlord for approval. The landlord rejected his offer and deposit request at the RDC portal due to non-compliance with the existing contract. Accordingly, his Ejari request was also rejected. Since then, the tenant has not approached the landlord for renewal. The landlord is willing to renew the contract without any change in the existing contract and addendum. How can the landlord secure the renewal cheques and conclude the contract? Can he ask the tenant to vacate the apartment? Please advise

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 defaulting on commercial lease in the UAE and related procedures. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. In this article, Ludmila discusses what one should do if the tenant becomes unresponsive.

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. 

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.

The provisions of this law On Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions (Law of Evidence) govern evidence in civil and commercial disputes in the UAE.