Q: I invested in a Dubai property in 2007. It was completed in 2016. In my handover notice was included a size increase letter which says my property size has increased by 50% and I now need to pay an extra 463,000 AED. Under Executive Council Resolution No. (6) of 2010 Approving the Implementing Bylaw of Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register: "Any area in excess of the net area of the sold Real Property Unit may not be taken into consideration. Unless otherwise agreed, the developer may not claim the value of such extra area." The developer is saying because I agreed to pay for any increase in my SPA which I signed in 2007 I have to pay for the increase. I am saying since the law came out in 2008 and decree 6 came in 2010 they would have to agree the increase with me again. Can you please advise.

Q: I have purchased a property developed by a developer. They told me verbally that the property is located in Downtown, and in the SPA they used the location Burj Khalifa community developed by another developer. As a first-time property buyer, I trusted them. Now, they are saying that the property is in Business Bay. How can Dubai laws support a customer for the disguised real estate marketing or cheating?

Q: Hi There, I am about to buy a unit in JLT, Concorde Tower. The title deed indicates one space (not allocated). The allocation was only on a paper held by security. When I went to check the allocated space I realized it was very inconvenient and far. I requested the option to change but it was denied by the building management on the grounds that the spaces were assigned long time ago when the developer sold the units. No record of this. This allocated space is not even within the buildings own basement but next door on level 2 of DMCC land, as I understand. Do I have the right to claim a closer space? Even within DMCC, but closer? Thank you so much for your advice. Regards

Q: Dear Sir, For my apartment, I had paid for 943 Sqf and at the time of delivery, the developer is giving me space which is 6.16% less. As per the DLD law, the developer has to compensate me but the developer is compensating for only 1.16% and stating that according to Law, the calculation in the decreased area will be based on the area above the 5% only. Resolution of the Executive Council No. (6) of 2010 Approving the Regulation of Law No. (13) of 2008 Concerning Regulating the Initial Real Estate Register in the Emirate of Dubai - Article 13 – paragraphs 3 and 4 states that: “3- The developer shall compensate the purchaser for any change if the net area decreased to more than (5%) of the unit net area. 4- The compensation due to the purchaser will be calculated, if the decrease in the net area exceeding the percentage stipulated in paragraph (3) hereof, on the basis of the value of the real estate unit..." Need your advice. Will the developer compensate for 6.16% or only 1.16%?

Q: I bought two off-plan apartments from a developer. Later I found that the covered area given in the  "Sale and Purchase Agreement" (SPA) is 20% more than the area calculated from design drawings provided by the developer. The units are ready for handover now and the final area is as per drawings i.e. less than that given in the SPA. The developer is adjusting the price for anything below 95% of the SPA area as the SPA allows 5% downward variation. As per my understanding, the developer already knew that the area is less and they exaggerated the area in the SPA. They also made a false statement of the area in the SPA. This should be a type of fraud or cheating. I have been writing this to the developer for the last two years but without any response. I want the units to be cancelled with a refund of the full amount and necessary compensation. Please advise the way forward.

Q: An online company represents that it can offer financial CFD services to the UAE residents but it is later found that the correct authorization or licence was not held. Would this misrepresentation allow the recission of any contracts and refund?

Q: Hello, I have a friend who invested 15 million dirhams in real estate projects in Ajman. The developer took the money and fled the UAE. The case has been in Ajman courts for 15 years and nothing had been done. The developer had recently died aboard. Can we sue his estate?

The UAE Penal Code, like all other laws, addresses the crime of fraud in Article 399 of the UAE Federal Penal Code, which stipulates that whoever seizes, for himself or another, a movable property, or obtains a document or signature thereon, cancellation or destruction thereof or amendment thereto by fraudulent means, or by assuming a false name or capacity, where such an act leads to deception of a victim and leads him to surrender shall be punished by imprisonment or fine.

This Law establishes interim property register in which sale contracts, off-plan sales, and other off-plan legal dispositions of real property are registered prior to inclusion in the property register maintained by Dubai Land Department.

This Resolution approves the Implementing Bylaw of Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai.