Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I recently purchased a studio flat in Dubai that was previously tenanted under a Tenancy Contract from November 2022 to November 2023. However, there is no registered Ejari to establish a tenant-landlord relationship in the Dubai Government record. The previous landlord had given the tenant a year's notice to vacate the flat, which was given six months ago. Now that I have purchased the flat, I have asked the tenant to replace the cheques, but she has refused to cooperate. Can you please advise me on whether I am obligated to continue the Tenancy Agreement signed by the previous owner, given the absence of an Ejari? Alternatively, when can I tell her to vacate the flat, or do I have to wait until November 2023? Secondly, I would like to know if I need to serve the tenant with an eviction notice again to vacate the flat. If so, for how long is the remaining period valid, or do I need to issue a new eviction notice of one year? I would appreciate your prompt response. Many thanks! Kind Regards,

Q: Hi, I'm a new landlord of the property which is already rented. Kindly advise, do we have to sign a new tenancy contract with the tenant for the remaining period? And who will pay the cost of Ejari?

Q: Dear Questioner, I have bought a villa in which a tenant is living. The last tenancy contract registered with Ejari expired in 2021. The tenant has shown me a new tenancy contract in his mother's name, which is not registered in Ejari. How can I evict the tenant? He claims to have made one payment and is unwilling to pay the rent further.

Q: Dear Team, I recently purchased a studio on May 10th for 660k, which is currently rented out for 60k in 2 cheques. The second cheque is due on June 1st. We have approached the tenant to sign the new contract and provide the new cheque under my name. She is refusing to do so due to an "ongoing" dispute she claims to have with the previous agency and landlord regarding chiller charges. She alleges that she was informed that the unit is chiller-free, although this was not specified in the contract. She insists it was verbally communicated during her property viewing, but there is no written documentation to support this claim. I seek your advice on how to proceed to compel the tenant to sign the contract and provide the new cheque promptly, as she has indicated no intention to vacate the premises or issue the cheque. It is important to note that none of these issues was disclosed to us by the previous agent during the transaction. I appreciate your guidance on handling this matter effectively.

Q: Dear Lawyers, I am buying a property from an auction house that is already rented out. What is the process to get the property vacated?

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.

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.

This Decree establishes a specialised judicial system to hear rent disputes and develops the procedure for determination of such disputes through an expeditious and simple process for the purpose of realising social and economic stability for all persons involved with the real property rental and other related sectors.