Q: Hi there, We were staying on a monthly rent basis in one small apartment which was vacated on 31 Jan 2021. We paid all rents but unfortunately, we don't have any proof for Nov, Dec and Jan. Now the landlord has filed a case against us saying we are staying at the property and not paying them. Before leaving, we informed them through my email (which is not registered in the records) and cc my husband. We didn't know that the paper we are signing was a sub-agreement as we never saw a contract before. Now based on this, they have filed a case and fine and rent is levied on us now if the case number is generated. We have a hearing for settlement but the landlord is not agreeing to settle as he is asking us to sign a key form saying we vacated just now on the current date. We need to travel urgently. Will we have a travel ban? We want to resolve the case even if we travel. Please advise

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, We won an eviction case and appeal against a tenant. We filed for execution, and the tenant has filed a reconsideration case. The eviction date is 12th Feb, and the hearing date for the reconsideration case is 7th Mar. 1) Can the eviction happen on 12th Feb despite the reconsideration case? 2) Is our final right of eviction of the tenant based on the judgment of the Reconsideration case? If so, can we request an earlier hearing date for it? The tenant fraudulently kept us away from the court proceedings in an offer to deposit case he filed before the eviction case and got a favorable judgment. His basis is that he already has a judgment for an extension of Ejari which precedes the eviction judgment (i.e., an argument of Res Judicata). The court recognizes our reply that the argument doesn't apply as the cause of action of both judgments is different. The tenant has already extended his stay in the property by 8 months this year (post end date of Ejari) and has not paid rent either. We served a 12-month legal vacating notice for sale as per law. How can we evict him at the earliest?

Q: Dear Madam, I am staying in Dubai. I had a rent bounced cheque due to the account being closed. I paid the bounced cheque amount in cash to the manager but he is absconding now and without giving me the receipt. Now the rental agency has opened up a case against me in the police. I am going to meet their lawyer. Need your advice on the correct procedures to follow in this case. How can I settle this dispute?

Q: I have a case related to rent where I had to pay 5,555 and 9,600 for the month (01/02/2023) that we stayed till the evacuation date (01/03/2023) plus the court fees. The total amount is 17,350. Then he filed an execution order on (09/03/2023) and I received a document with the details, so I had 2 weeks to pay it off but I didn’t so they issued a letter to arrest the defendant on (30/03/2023) then on (09/11/2023) they issued a travel ban, I’m planning to pay it off now in installments. However, when I went to check for the amount now it says I have to pay 34,000. They included the 5,555 plus the court fees and they calculated the amount of the rent from 14/12/2022 to 01/03/2023 which equals 24,618. However, that doesn’t make sense because I only have to pay 15,155, excluding court fees, as stated in the letter I received on 09/03/2023. So what do I do? Do I have to appeal?

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 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.