Q: My rental contract ends in November 2023, but my landlord has sold the apartment. Also, she sent me a notice in November 2022 to vacate in November 2023. My question is: - The new landlord doesn't want to sign a new contract until November but he is asking me to give him the cheques. What shall I do? Note: my current rental contract is not in Ejari as the previous landlord didn't register it, but it was created through a typing center as per the recommendation of the Dubai Land Department and signed by her.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have been a tenant of an industrial unit since 2017. In 2022, the landlord's real estate forced extra rent on me, and without much thought, I agreed to it. In 2023, they asked for another increase just one day before the tenancy expired. At that time, I filed with RDC and the tenancy was renewed. Later, the real estate sent me an email for non-renewal for the year 2024, but since it was not an official legal notice, I filed again with RDC and deposited the cheques. Now, the real estate wants to renew with a 10% increase in rent. I received the email 6 days prior to expiry, and I informed them about the law requiring a 90-day notice as per RERA. Yes, it is a challenge for me to fight for my rights, but I am not interested in giving the real estate an undue advantage in the case of renewal. RERA should look into the facilities and amenities that the property has before granting them rights to increase the rent as per the Index. Kindly guide me!

Q: Dear Madam/Sir, We live in Dubai. My landlord is trying to increase my rent outside the RERA index, based on a DLD valuation, which he still hasn't received (for 2 months). 1. 90 days before the renewal of my lease, the landlord offered me a new lease with a 20% increase in my current rent, with these words: "Please be advised of a rent increase of 20% based on rental evaluation report which is under process and in line with RERA rules and regulation." 2. I contested this offer by communicating the result of the RERA rent index, indicating that the maximum percentage increase is 5%. 3. The landlord insisted, saying that the 20% increase would indeed be effective and that he would communicate the rental evaluation to us shortly. 4. Now, we still don't have the evaluation report, 2 months after his e-mail requesting a 20% rent increase. Can the landlord legally increase our rent without even waiting for the evaluation report and without respecting the RERA rules? Thank you!

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 determines the maximum percentage of rent increase for real property in the Emirate of Dubai when renewing lease contracts.