Q: There are many of private apartments in Dubai advertised as holiday homes for short-term rent. As far as I know, there is a special regulation of such leasing in Dubai, requiring a permission from the government authorities.How can I be sure, that booking of an apartment for a short stay, let's say through Airbnb, is legal? What documents should I ask from the landlord to be on a safe side?

Q: I have a property in Dubai which I rented out to a holiday home company to operate on short/long term rentals. I have been provided quarterly cheques for 1 year and executed PoA in their favour to manage the property. The cheque bounced, and despite my repeated requests, they're not clearing the dues or replying to communications. They have also not executed Ejari nor providing me documents to do so. The utility connections are being operated in my name with outstanding dues there also. Subsequently, I served a legal notice to pay the outstanding and vacate and for the cancellation of the PoA via Notary Public on 5th Dec, but they refused to take delivery of the notices and the Aramex courier was returned to me. I also sent a copy of legal notices by email. In parallel, I filed a cheque bounce case with Dubai Police and awaiting action from them. Now, I am not sure what are my further legal options. How will I be ensured that the property is vacated and payment of rent and utilities will be made?

Q: Hi, We just received our eviction notice from our Landlord for next summer 2018. We, however, would prefer exiting earlier. In our current lease contract, we have the following clause: "The Parties agree that there may be instances where the tenant shall need to terminate the lease early. In this event, and in accordance with the current guidelines, the tenant must provide the landlord with a written 2 months of notice. The landlord agrees to refund any outstanding rental amount." Kindly can you confirm the below: This means that we still get to stay in the house for the 2 month notice period and there is no penalty charge. The date on the letter is the 1st day of the 2 month notice period (notice given 23.08.2017, out by 22.10.2017). Do we need the written notice to be notarized or does an emailed letter suffice? Thank you very much and best regards, S.W

Q: Hi Madam, An agency has taken my money for providing me with 6 months of accommodation in a hotel apartment. They did not provide me with the accommodation and after a lot of efforts, I am able to get my partial money back. But the agency is not refunding my remaining amount and they are not opening their office nor responding to my call (they have blocked my number and don't respond to any new number). Can I file a case in the rental dispute centre and also claim compensation for all the trouble me and my family went through and the expenses incurred? They took AED 2000 cash, a cheque of AED 12500 dated 2nd may (which they used) and another cheque of AED 12500. After police called them, they returned my 2nd unused cheque and AED 7000 in cash. I have AED 7500 refund pending. Kindly suggest. Thanks, S.

Q: Hi, I am a tenant who is renting a studio in IMPZ through a broker company who has shown me the title deed done my Ejari, signed a contract and have a receipt. The owner came this morning asking how I rented the house and that he did not give them permission to rent it on his behalf. What are the steps I am required to take? Am I a legal tenant since they provided me with a title deed and contract and I have done Ejari?

Q: I am a non-UAE resident and willing to buy an apartment for rental investment. I have been told by the agent that once I buy this, I need to give POA to the agency to maintain the relationship with the tenant. I am not sure about this, is this how it works? Can't I manage it remotely? And, what would be their (agency) cost of maintaining?

Q: I signed a contract with a Real Estate Agent to manage my rental property for a year. I reminded the agent 90 days prior to contract expiry to inform the tenant of the rental increase in writing. The agent failed to do this in time. Now the tenant is claiming they do not have to pay any increase as they were not informed before the 90 days. Can I claim compensation from the agent? I checked the RERA rental calculator and I have the right to increase by 20%.

Q: Dear sir/madam, I have just signed a contract to lease a hotel apartment with an agency. They showed me the hotel apartment and when I say I’d like to lease the place, they took me to their office where we signed the contract. The contract was signed by me and the agent; not the hotel itself. They wanted one cheque for the contract which includes a deposit and commission; not in 3 different cheques for deposit/rent/commission. Also, they wanted the cheque to be addressed to the agency. Since I did not have enough money to pay 100% of rent/deposit/commission in one cheque, I asked them that I will give the rent in one cheque the day I move in. However, I gave them a cheque which was 10% of the rent and the agency cashed the amount already. Is there any way I can find out if this agency and contract are legit? I called the hotel to ask them if this agency is their official one, they told me they cannot confirm anything. And I found out that this agency is not registered in RETA. It is only DED licensed.

Q: Greetings! I rented a serviced hotel apartment in Abu Dhabi on a long-term lease (6 months) paying 6 months lease amount (AED 23000) in advance. After occupying the apartment on 11/04/2022, I found lots of insects and bedbugs in the room. Notified the management. However, every time I was told it is fixed. Later one night, the bedbug bite was intolerable and I was forced to vacate the serviced apartment in the middle of the night (on 28/04/2022). While vacating, I was told by email that the advance amount deducting the period of stay will be refunded within 7 working days. Now as of today (30/06/2022), I am not refunded. No one answers my calls and physical visits, I am told they are not available. The amount agreed for refund after deduction is AED 20,070. Please suggest what I should do to get the refund for the failure to provide the service. I have the receipt of payment and email from the management regarding the refund. Pictures of the bedbug bites are also available. Thank you. B.

Q: Dear sir/madam, The price of a property is 50% paid and it is under a post-payment plan. The developer is obliging the property owner to be under the property management of the developer. Is this lawful in Dubai Land Department? Does the owner/buyer have no right to choose another property management company to rent it out?

Q: Dear Sir, I booked a hotel apartment at a hotel via real estate agency called [------]. The agreement is for 6 months with a fee of 42597.60 to be paid as 6 monthly payments of AED 7500 each (which include agency fees). I have booking confirmation from hotel and I have receipt from agency. After 2 months of the contract has passed, the hotel wants to change the fee to AED 9500 per month and they want to collect the payment of the next 4 months in one cheque. As far as I know, this is against law (article 14 of law 26 of 2007 and law 33 of 2008) since the hotel wants to increase the rent without prior notice period (90 days) and during the contract not at the end of it. I need to confirm with you that I am right with what I am saying that they are breaking the law, and know how I can protect myself against them if they insisted. Thank you for your help

Q: Hi guys, Please help me! I am a young lady just trying to make ends meet, but I was scammed. I saw a flat that I wanted to rent, so I contacted the real estate company and went for a viewing. I paid an AED 8,190 booking fee, which was refundable if they did not honor the deal. The day to sign the contract came, but I was given excuses. I requested my refund and was given a check that the bank rejected. I reported this to Dubai Land, and they contacted the company to pay me back. I received AED 4,000, but they still owe me AED 4,190, which I really need back. Dubai Land said I must contact a legal advisor, but I cannot afford one. Please advise me on how to go about this situation. I would appreciate any help. These guys have since resorted to ignoring me. I have a copy of the receipt, the check, and the emails to support all of this.

With the introduction of the new procedures for obtaining a power of attorney (POA) remotely in the UAE, after it was mandatory to appear in person in front of the notary public as a global rule to ensure the identity and intention of the person requesting a POA, we put between your hands this brief guide for how you get it done.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

The law promulgates UAE Civil Procedures Code (Civil Procedure Law) which governs civil procedures in the United Arab Emirates, including the prosecution before the courts, litigation and execution.