Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
3 available 3 • View allI have defaulted on my rent cheques twice in Dubai. How can I negotiate a settlement with my landlord?




0
Q: I have defaulted on my rent cheques twice with my landlord in Dubai, each for AED 16,250 (totaling AED 32,500).
I have already paid AED 6,000, leaving an outstanding balance of AED 26,500.
However, including penalties and fines, the total amount now stands at approximately AED 43,000.
I have a hearing scheduled with the Land Department on the 13th of May.
My questions are:
How can I negotiate with my landlord?
Is there a possibility of a travel ban at this stage?





+1
Apr 24, 2025
70
I received a legal notice to pay rent and cleared the amount. Can the landlord ask me to pat late fees penalty?




0
Q: I received a legal notice to pay rent.
I have already cleared the amount specified in the legal notice, but my landlord is now saying that I also need to clear further late fees as per our contract within the legal notice time period.
Is that valid if it is not stated in the notice?





Apr 14, 2025
69
The landlord got a municipality order against me to pay pending rent and vacate. What to do?



0
Q: The rent is 3300 and he said the cheque return is 1050, and the open case file is 1000 while the closed case file is 2100.
I told him to allow me to split the payment; first I would pay the rent and pay the legal fees with one cheque, but he said no that I needed to pay the full amount at once.
So I told him I don’t have that amount now that is my fate.
He told me to wait for the next hearing and that I would receive another notification from the municipality office after a month that after then they would tell me what to do.
I believed him and I was waiting for the second hearing until I received another letter yesterday from the municipality giving me seven days to pay up and vacate the flat.
Please, what can I do?




Feb 21, 2025
171
Legal blog
5 available 5 • 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
4029
Bounced Cheques in the UAE: What You Need to Know in 2024 292
In the UAE, cheque bounce is a very frequent problem faced by people during their span in the country. It is covered under the purview of Commercial Transactions Law, and legal implications/penalties can be financially severe and daunting for more “serious” offenses. Bounced cheque issues may arise in a variety of commercial transactions, including but not limited to, companies’ exchanges, bank loans, property rents or purchases, and individual transactions.
Oct 15, 2024
224482
Procedures of the Rental Dispute Settlement Center in Dubai 21
The relationship between tenants and landlords is regulated in Dubai by Law No. 33 of 2008 Concerning the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. The arising rental disputes are referred to Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (“RDSC”) created by Decree No. 26 of 2013 to reconcile between the parties and reach an amicable settlement or seek a final judgment issued and enforced by the RDSC.
Oct 20, 2018
21524
Legal Notices in Dubai Rental Law 1
Legal notices are a key requirement under Dubai’s Tenancy Law to regulate landlord-tenant relationships and ensure fair warning before termination or legal action. These notices, whether judicial or ordinary, serve to inform the other party of breaches, non-renewal, or eviction. Dubai’s tenancy regulations clearly outline when notice is required, the proper form and method, and the consequences of failing to comply, all supported by legal provisions and judicial precedents.
May 8, 2025
163
The Consequences of Job Loss and Defaulting on Financial Liabilities 26
The management of individual financial affairs is crucial and all the actions must be weighed down while committing to any financial liability. Whether it's job loss that may have lead to financial failure or the opposite, one must be aware of the personal liability which will not diminish by paying fines for cheque bounce cases. There are two major types of liabilities, criminal liability and civil liability. Each has its own significance, hence, must be dealt with accordingly.
Feb 12, 2019
19012
Laws & Regulations
2 available 2 • View allLaw 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
25256
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
7355

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My tenant was not paying rent, so I filed a case and won it. The court has given a bailiff eviction date of 7th July. The tenant also has outstanding rent plus court fees to pay.
The tenant called me and proposed an out-of-court settlement. She is offering to hand over the keys today, along with her furniture, to compensate for the outstanding rent.
I don't trust the tenant as she has lied many times. She's asking me to come visit the apartment to look at the furniture and take the keys.
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How long does it take for a bounced cheque case to be closed after a settlement? 0
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The lessor is asking me to vacate the house for the reason of not renewing the lease. What can I do? 0
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Can we file a case against a customer who launched a campaign online against our business reputation? 0
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If I have no loan, credit card, or any other liability against a bank, where is my EOSB sent by my company? 0
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I am writing to seek your legal advice regarding a complex immigration issue involving a person currently overstaying in Abu Dhabi.
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Can I go without the bailiff to receive the keys of my house from the tenant based on a court judgment? 0
Hi,
My tenant was not paying rent, so I filed a case and won it. The court has given a bailiff eviction date of 7th July. The tenant also has outstanding rent plus court fees to pay.
The tenant called me and proposed an out-of-court settlement. She is offering to hand over the keys today, along with her furniture, to compensate for the outstanding rent.
I don't trust the tenant as she has lied many times. She's asking me to come visit the apartment to look at the furniture and take the keys.
1. Please advise if it's ok to visit the apartment and take the keys and furniture without involving the bailiff. Do I need to report the furniture adjustment against the rent due to the court?
2. Can she create any other problem on my physical visit, although I have WhatsApp messages of her request?
3. Can she request payment installments from the court if I don't agree to take her furniture?
4. Can I write down the settlement with her on a plain piece of paper with her signature?
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75
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Hello,
A customer based in Dubai booked a public experience online on the website of a reputable business based in Dubai.
The customer came to the business location, the team was ready to provide the experience as per her booking.
The customer started to shout loudly, claiming that she was expecting a private experience. She refused to do the experience and left. Then she started calling the Management claiming a refund.
The Management explained that as per the T&Cs, experiences booked online are public. The Management offered as a goodwill gesture to refund the customer after deducting the cost of preparations that were paid by the business to set up the experience. The customer refused.
The customer used her Instagram account and as an influencer + Google review to launch a campaign against the business reputation, inciting her audience/people not to use the business services. She used signs of alert/warnings.
Is there a law that punishes such public incitement in the UAE?
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