Buying & Selling

Several laws have been developed to address property-related matters in Dubai and many of these have been revised and added to as the relatively young market matures.  Problems have arisen because laws had to be developed whilst selling and construction was already ongoing.  The boom caught many by surprise, including the authorities, and when the global financial crisis hit and th...

Several laws have been developed to address property-related matters in Dubai and many of these have been revised and added to as the relatively young market matures.  We take a look at the key pieces of legislation and what they mean for buyers and sellers.

Law No (13) of 2008 ‘Regulating the Interim Real Estate Register in the Emirate of Dubai’
The most salient...

Several laws have been developed to address property-related matters in Dubai and many of these have been revised and amended as the relatively young market has matured.  The Dubai Executive Council via the Legal Affairs Department of Dubai Government issues all laws taking into account the recommendations of the Land Department (LD) in Dubai and the emirate’s Real Estate Regulatory Age...

Grave legal mistakes have been caused by a badly drafted contract, also known as the sales & purchase agreement (SPA). To avoid repeating mistakes made by investors in the past, try not to put pen to paper on so-called ‘reservation forms’, as you may never see the SPA with all the details, despite it being a legal requirement. Dubai real estate contracts traditionally favoured the devel...

The number one mistake made by UAE property investors during the boom times of a few years ago was to believe that nothing could go wrong.  This belief was shared by property developers who built (or planned to build) as if the golden years would stretch on and on.  Hindsight is a great thing and we all know now what happened. During the boom, many investors failed to understand...

Disputes with a property developer may arise for a number of reasons; it could be as simple as not agreeing on the proposed service fees or a more complex case concerning a property on handover not conforming to the specification or being delivered faulty, late or not at all. Following up on a dispute with a developer is a daunting, but not impossible task. The chance of ‘winning’ a dispute ...

What do you need to do if you want to sell a property in the UAE? Using an agency
While you can sell privately, for example by advertising your property in the media, the best option is to use a RERA-approved real-estate broker.   This will not only help you reach more potential buyers but it’s also the safest way to conduct real estate sales in Dubai;  agents have to ...

Whether you’re a cash buyer or seeking a mortgage, using an agency or buying directly from a developer, here are some things you need to consider when buying a property in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Do your research
As with anywhere in the world, it’s important you understand the local market that you’re buying into.  If you’ve been living in the UAE for some time, this may not be too ...