Khaleej Times, Sunday, Mar 26, 2023 | Ramadan 4, 1444
Dubai: Can I legally contest landlord’s eviction notice?
Emirates:
Question: I have been staying in an apartment in Dubai for the last 10
years. I am hearing that we will be served an eviction notice for some reason.
Can I legally contest this? If so, how?
Answer: Pursuant to your queries, as you are residing in a rented
apartment in Dubai, the provisions of Law No. 33 of 2008 Amending Law No. 26 of
2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlord and Tenants in the Emirate of
Dubai are applicable.
In Dubai, if a tenant is fulfilling all the obligations mentioned in the tenancy
contract signed with a landlord, then a landlord may not evict a tenant.
However, a landlord may call upon the tenant to evict the rented property under
the following conditions – demolition of the property for reconstruction; to
carry out comprehensive maintenance that cannot be carried out in the presence
of the tenant; the landlord intends to use a rented property for its own or its
immediate family use and they do not have any other property in Dubai to reside;
and if a landlord wishes to sell the rented property.
However, the landlord needs to serve a one-year notice through a notary public
and/or registered post and should mention a reason for the eviction.
It is further assumed that you are fulfilling all the obligations mentioned in
your tenancy contract and you are not in breach of any such conditions.
Therefore, if your landlord does not abide by the provisions of the Amended Rent
Law of Dubai and wants to evict you as a tenant, then you may approach the
Rental Dispute Centre in Dubai and file a complaint against your landlord.