Questions & Answers
My friend’s storage burnt down in Dubai. What should he do?
Hello,
My friend has just come back from traveling to find his storage space burnt down in Dubai.
He is a photographer and musician with high-value items.
Everything has been burnt down. What does he do now?
Hello,
We’re sorry to hear about your friend's unfortunate situation!
When a valuable storage space is damaged as a result of fire in Dubai, the first steps typically involve reporting the incident to the relevant authorities and your insurance provider, gathering evidence of losses, and reviewing any contractual agreements regarding the storage facility.
We can help assess his situation, advise on his legal rights, and guide him through the claim process against insurers or any other liable parties.
For tailored advice and to discuss further steps, please book a consultation with us or consider appointing us as your legal representatives.
Best regards,
Hello,
Firstly, it is essential to review the storage contract signed with the storage company. Most storage contracts include terms regarding liability for damage or loss of stored items, insurance coverage, and responsibilities of the storage provider.
This means the storage company is legally obliged to protect the stored items unless the damage was caused by a force majeure event (such as a fire beyond their control) or if they had excluded liability in the contract.
Secondly, your friend should immediately notify the storage company in writing about the incident, requesting a copy of the fire report from the Civil Defence Department and any investigation reports available.
Thirdly, if the storage company is insured, your friend may be entitled to compensation under the storage company’s insurance policy. Alternatively, if your friend had personal insurance for his items (home contents or business insurance), he should contact his insurer to file a claim.
If there is evidence of negligence by the storage company - such as a lack of fire safety measures - your friend may have the right to file a compensation claim before the Dubai Courts under the general rules of tort liability stated in the Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 (UAE Penal Code), which states: "Any harm caused to another obliges the perpetrator to compensate the victim for the damage."
