Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
4 available 4 • View allMold in apartment due to construction fault: Can I get compensation?
1
Q: Hi everyone,
I rent an apartment. After two days in the apartment, water started leaking from the ceiling.
It turned out to be a fault in the building's construction, which caused condensation in the false ceilings. When the panels were demolished, it was found that they were all full of mold.
The building manager has started work, but the apartment is no longer habitable.
Should the landlord compensate me for the lack of peaceful enjoyment of the property?

Jul 17, 2023
448
How can I oblige the landlord and building management to do maintenance for leakage?

2
Q: What are my options to take legal action against my apartment building for not fixing the constant issues that I am facing in my bathroom?
For over 2 months now, I have been fighting with them to get more hot water and to stop leaks in my bathroom that are caused by a bad water heater.
The building management has not been able to fix these issues and is now telling me to find my own technician and pay for another water heater. I know this is illegal.
Please help!


Mar 5, 2023
485
Responsibility for the maintenance of defects in a rented apartment
1
Q: I live in a 4 bedroom apartment in Deira/Dubai.
3 out of the 4 bedrooms have sewage leakage problem somewhere in the ceiling and the smell is horrible. The landlord refuses to fix the problem even though my tenancy contract clearly states that he must fix on his expense.
To make the story short, After filing for a case against him at the RDC, It all went down to the police station where he refused to sign a paper that states his willingness to fix.
Next, a Dubai Municipality official visited the apartment and submitted a report to the Land Department confirming that the apartment smells very bad. All meanwhile I refused to pay any rent to pressure this landlord to fix.
So now 4 months have passed and the accumulated rent has built up to above AED 100,000. The landlord has filed a case to claim the rental amount.
What to do? And how can he file a case against me at the RDC without the RDC asking him to fix the apartment first?!
Can I refuse to pay this landlord? I think it is unfair to pay!

Jul 12, 2018
6512
How can I claim damages from a tenant who left my commercial property in poor condition?




2
Q: Hello,
I need advice on claiming damages from a tenant who left my commercial premises in poor condition (e.g., damaged flooring, broken fixtures, broken partitions, and holes in the wall).
What steps should I take to document the damage?
How can I recover the costs, and do I need to file an RDC case?
Can I withhold the security deposit, as the damages exceed the deposit amount?





+3
Feb 13, 2025
68
Legal blog
1 available 1 • View allWhat You Should Know While Renting a Property in the UAE 5
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.
Feb 24, 2020
4002
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • View allLaw No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai 12
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.
Nov 26, 2007
24370
Decree No. (26) of 2013 Concerning the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre in the Emirate of Dubai 0
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.
Sep 18, 2013
7326
Law No. (33) of 2008 Amending Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai 8
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.
Dec 1, 2008
25096

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My husband sold the house we bought jointlyand took a cheque plus 1-year instalments from me. What can I do? 0
Hi,
I am a non-Muslim indian expatriate, residing in Dubai since 2015. The first 5 years, I was on a working visa, and after the delivery of my first baby, I left my job and became dependent on my husband.
In 2018, we bought a house together where I invested AED 2 hundred thousand from my income (I have proof in the form of a cheque). I also paid AED 3300 monthly installment for 1 year, for a personal loan taken out for the house.
But in spite of my resistance, my husband tactfully put the house in his name, so the title deed was in his name. In 2024, when my kids and I were in India for vacation, he cancelled our visas and residency. He also filed for a divorce in India.
The divorce is not yet finalised, and we are still married. Since August 2024, he hasn't let me access my house in Dubai, so I filed a case, which eventually went in my favor in January 2025.
Since I used to travel on a visit visa, I left for India and returned in March, to find out that my husband had already sold the house. The new owner is residing there.
What can I do now?
Help!
May 1, 2025
30
My spouse's visa was rejected due to an administrative issue. What does that mean? 0
Hi,
I applied for my spouse's visa and entry permit, but it was rejected due to an administrative issue.
I don’t know what that means. Can anyone explain what an administrative issue is?
May 12, 2025
11
Can the employer force the housmaid to work for unlimited hours without rest? 0
Hi
I'm a nanny, and at the same time, I work as a housemaid (khadama) here in the house. I work, but as I know, the nannies and housemaids have different rights, and my employer doesn't give me rest.
My work starts at 7:30 am and then finishes at 10 pm or less. It depends on whether the baby is asleep or what time they will take on me if not yet asleep. Is this right?
Also, at the time of eating, I'm still working because the baby is with me, so I just let her sit in her chair. That's how I eat.
Please answer me. I want to know my rights.
Because if I can leave during the 6-month probation, I want to take it if the employer is this kind. I don't know.
They are also expats, but they don't follow the rules of the UAE regarding a housemaid.
May 1, 2025
35
How can I change my visa status if my ID is about to expire and the company is blocked? 0
Hello,
My ID will expire on 14th May. The company is blocked.
I want to change my status. How can I do this?
May 9, 2025
18
Can I renew my trade license and visa if I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me? 0
Hello,
I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year.
My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID.
Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases?
The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority.
I look forward to your response.
Thanks.
May 1, 2025
63

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Where can I view a copy of a judgment issued by the Sharjah Court? 0
Hello,
Where can I view a copy of a judgment issued by the Sharjah Court?
May 13, 2025
14
How can I change my visa status if my ID is about to expire and the company is blocked? 0
Hello,
My ID will expire on 14th May. The company is blocked.
I want to change my status. How can I do this?
May 9, 2025
18
How can I clear an absconding case and claim my settlement after jail time? 0
Sir,
I was in jail for 2 months in a drugs case, and then my company filed an absconding case against me.
Now they are not removing the absconding case and are not ready to give me the settlement money.
What do I have to do?
May 9, 2025
25
Can the authorities allow me to leave the UAE on my own after completing my imprisonment? 0
Hello,
Is there a way out or a possibility that the authorities don't deport me and instead give me a time period to leave the UAE on my own after I have completed my imprisonment and paid the fine?
May 7, 2025
35
Is it possible to pay a fine instead of serving 1 month imprisonment and still face deportation? 0
Hello,
I got 1 month imprisonment, a 100 AED fine, and deportation.
Is there a way out if I can pay instead of serving 1 month imprisonment and still get deported?
May 7, 2025
37

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My spouse's visa was rejected due to an administrative issue. What does that mean? 0
Hi,
I applied for my spouse's visa and entry permit, but it was rejected due to an administrative issue.
I don’t know what that means. Can anyone explain what an administrative issue is?
May 12, 2025
11
Where can I view a copy of a judgment issued by the Sharjah Court? 0
Hello,
Where can I view a copy of a judgment issued by the Sharjah Court?
May 13, 2025
14
How can I modify the custody agreement and enforce my parental rights? 0
As-Salaam-Alaikum everyone,
Please advise me on where I can find an affordable family lawyer. I'm only earning less than 5k AED monthly.
I really want to apply for modification of the agreement for my 3-year-old daughter, but my ex-wife is not responding or cooperating, assuming she wants to retain the current agreement for 3 hours per week.
I want to enforce my role as a guardian of my child and modify the agreement for more time and to be more included in the decision-making for her well-being.
May 12, 2025
18
My lawyer overcharged me for registering my labour case. What should I do? 0
Hello,
My lawyer has charged me more than the actual amount for registering my labour case.
What should I do?
May 13, 2025
15
How can I change my visa status if my ID is about to expire and the company is blocked? 0
Hello,
My ID will expire on 14th May. The company is blocked.
I want to change my status. How can I do this?
May 9, 2025
18

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I want to open a company to do crypto P2P trading on Binance. How to guarantee the bank account not to be closed? 0
I want to do crypto P2P trading on Binance. But I want to do it safely, so I want to open a company and do it. My monthly turnover will be around 4 million AED.
I heard a lot that banks are freezing or closing business bank accounts because of this kind of activity. I want to know whether that is true or not.
Apr 2, 2025
104
How to solve the OTP issue blocking my visa change while changing jobs and get a new visa? 0
I need legal advice regarding the cancellation of my work permit to join a new company. Here’s a brief overview:
I have worked for a contracting company in Dubai since 2018, with my visa later transferred to Sharjah. After receiving a job offer in Dubai, I resigned, but my old employer’s attempt to cancel my work permit failed due to an OTP issue.
ICP granted permission to cancel my change-of-status visa, but when my new employer applied for my permit, they found the old one still active. I raised a labor complaint with MOHRE on 21 March 2025, but it's still under process.
My family’s grace period expired on 27 Mar 2025, so I sent them back to India. I’m now facing a daily fine of AED 50 for overstaying since my change of status was canceled on 13 Mar 2025.
Once this is resolved, I plan to bring my family back as my son’s school reopens on 07 April 2025.
I would appreciate your advice on resolving the permit cancellation and overstay fines.
Mar 28, 2025
74
Are the non-compete clauses enforceable in case of resignation to take a better offer? 0
Currently working at Company X in Dubai. I recently got a stronger offer from Company Y, a much larger firm in the same industry but in a different free zone.
When I asked if Company X could match the offer, they proposed a bonus, not a salary adjustment. I resigned. While I didn’t disclose where I was going, they seem to know, and their legal team has started sending letters.
My contract has restrictive clauses, including: “For 12 months post-termination, the employee shall not, without prior written consent, (a) be employed or engaged in any capacity by any business in competition in the UAE with any Restricted Business; (b) have business dealings with any Client or Prospective Client in such competition.”
Friends in law say it’s too broad to enforce. I held a manager role, AED 30k/month, not C-level, though considered a key member. Despite the pressure, I believe they’re overreaching legally.
Please advise if these non-compete clauses are enforceable.
Mar 28, 2025
95
What can I do in case of odometer tampering, false ownership information, and a flood-damaged vehicle? 0
What can I do in case of odometer tampering, false ownership information, and a flood-damaged vehicle?
What is the procedure for filing a fraud complaint about these issues?
Mar 21, 2025
120
Can we legally act against community management for a noisy pool unit? 1
Hello,
We live in a development in Ras Al Khaimah, and under our apartment block, there is a loud swimming pool heater/chiller unit that runs 24/7, producing a rattling and humming noise that disturbs our peace.
We can hardly use our balcony due to this noise. Other apartments face the same issue, but the community management refuses to take action.
What legal recourse do we have? Can we serve the community management office with a legal notice?
Mar 24, 2025
84

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How can I modify the custody agreement and enforce my parental rights? 0
As-Salaam-Alaikum everyone,
Please advise me on where I can find an affordable family lawyer. I'm only earning less than 5k AED monthly.
I really want to apply for modification of the agreement for my 3-year-old daughter, but my ex-wife is not responding or cooperating, assuming she wants to retain the current agreement for 3 hours per week.
I want to enforce my role as a guardian of my child and modify the agreement for more time and to be more included in the decision-making for her well-being.
May 12, 2025
18
How can I claim my gratuity for almost 7 and a half years in the government sector? 0
Hello,
How can I claim my gratuity for almost 7 and a half years in the government sector?
They said they will only give me 2 months' salary and a one-way ticket.
May 7, 2025
21
Can I submit my outpass and travel tickets in advance to speed up deportation? 0
Hello Sir,
In one of your comments/answers to a query, you mentioned that if the individual does not have a valid passport, the process may take longer to obtain a travel document from their embassy.
Is it possible, before getting arrested, that I hand over the outpass and travel tickets to the police so it might be easier for them to deport me?
May 7, 2025
10
Can I be convicted of driving under the influence even if the alcohol test came back negative? 0
Hello,
I was driving my car when the police stopped me at one point on the road and told me that I was driving under the influence of alcohol.
I tried hard to deny that because I had not actually consumed any alcoholic beverages that day or in the previous three days.
However, a report was filed and a case was opened, but the alcohol test report came back negative. Will I be convicted despite that?
Please answer me. It is urgent.
May 7, 2025
30
Can we legally claim unpaid dues for food supplies based on emails and invoices? 0
Hello,
We have an agreement with a company to supply food for their buffet on a daily basis, with invoices to be issued monthly and payment to be made every three months.
The relationship actually lasted for nine months, and payment was made for two periods. In the third period, due to disagreements between our company and the company to which the supply was made, they refused to pay, noting that the outstanding amount so far is fifty-four thousand dirhams.
Can we claim the amount, noting that the agreement is not written, but there are emails exchanged between us and invoices?
May 7, 2025
27

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Can I renew my trade license and visa if I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me? 0
Hello,
I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year.
My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID.
Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases?
The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority.
I look forward to your response.
Thanks.
May 1, 2025
63
What can I do if my tenant is not providing rent cheques nor responding to renew the tenancy contract? 0
Hi,
I am a landlord and need advice on the following scenario.
- The contract with my tenant expired in Sep 2024. Upon requesting the renewal, the tenant mentioned that she is out of the country and will sign the renewal contract and provide the rent checks. In the meantime, she paid the first quarter of rent through a bank transfer.
- After 3 months, when the next quarter's payment was due, she deposited the next quarter's rent into my bank but did not sign the contract renewal despite my follow-up with her multiple times. At this time, she had returned to Dubai.
- Now the next quarter payment is due, however, the tenant is not responding to WhatsApp or answering calls. She is NOT paying rent or renewing the contract.
What action can I take since she is not answering my calls or messages?
She does not have a valid contract or Ejari, and her rent is delayed by 1 month. All WhatsApp messages are delivered, but she chooses not to respond.
Apr 18, 2025
54
How can I register a complaint against my employer for holding my passport after visa cancellation? 0
My new employer is not changing my visa status and refuses to provide cancellation papers, especially when I don’t recall signing any cancellation documents and haven’t received my gratuity yet.
How can I register a complaint against my employer for holding my passport after visa cancellation?
I had completed my one-month notice period and followed all procedures properly when I resigned. I'm currently working in a free zone company.
Apr 18, 2025
53
How many days do I need to wait for company cancellation following resignation and notice? 0
Hello,
How many days do I need to wait for company cancellation following resignation and one-month notice?
Apr 29, 2025
50
How can we claim our money back if the cheque we received have bounced for insufficient funds? 0
We received a cheque which has now bounced. We have tried for over a month and a half now to get a new cheque from the person, and every day he says the next day.
We need the money now. We have been to the police station, and they said they can not do anything as the reason the cheque bounced is "Insufficient funds."
We have been to Al Barsha - Dubai Courts, and they said there is nothing they can do about it.
We are not sure what we can do. We need the money asap to pay our kids' school fees, let alone all the interest we have lost.
Apr 28, 2025
58

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Can I file a case against a friend for privacy breach if he claimed I scolded him for his act? 0
On Jan 2, 2025, one of my close friends did a privacy breach and recorded me and my van in some specific place.
On Feb 5, when I called and asked him why he did this to me, he went and gave a complaint that I scolded him and threatened him.
The same case was later closed by the PP when we negotiated outside the station and apologized.
At this juncture, can I file a privacy breach case against him, which happened on Jan 2, 2025, and on Feb 5 I scolded him only for the privacy breach that happened on Jan 2?
Mar 18, 2025
90
How should I reply to the legal notice sent by the landlord on email and stuck at the door of my villa? 0
I received a legal notice from my landlord and wanted to know how to answer it.
Shall I answer it myself?
Also, he sent this notice via email and also put it on the door of the villa, is this acceptable?
Thanks.
Mar 17, 2025
108
How can I obtain the new Ejari as proof if the owner re-rents the property? 1
Good afternoon,
Ramadan Kareem!
The owner of the property I’m renting has sent me an eviction notice so he can sell the property. According to the notice, I am required to leave. My questions are:
1. If the owner rents the property again, how can I obtain the new Ejari as proof that the property has been rented?
2. Do I have the right to ask for compensation? On what basis is compensation determined?
3. I currently have a signed tenancy contract with the owner. Do I need an Ejari to raise a case?
Thank you!
Wish you a great day ahead.
Mar 13, 2025
105
Hired from abroad but fired without proper tools or training. What are my options? 1
Hello,
They hired me from London and, within a month or two, are considering firing me even though they haven’t provided the tools or training needed for the job.
Do I have legal grounds to sue if I am let go?
Mar 11, 2025
75
Can I sign a new contract for my property if the previous buyer not arrange funds? 1
Hello,
I signed a Contract F, but the buyer could not arrange funds within 30 days.
Now, I have a new buyer, but the broker says I cannot sign another Contract F for 15 more days under DLD law and cannot sell the property during this period. Is this true?
Mar 10, 2025
95
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