Real Estate & Property

Advice across the full property lifecycle, from acquisition and development to leasing and dispute.

Real estate disputes are often shaped long before a claim is filed. A delayed handover, unpaid installment or leasing disagreement may ultimately turn on an earlier issue, such as unverified title, incomplete due diligence, unclear specifications or contractual terms that allocate risk unevenly. Careful advice at the transaction stage can prevent those issues from developing into more costly disputes.

We advise developers, investors, financial institutions and private owners across the UAE throughout the property lifecycle. Our work includes acquisitions, project financing, sale and purchase agreements, leasing arrangements, title and escrow matters, brokerage terms and commission structures. Having advised parties on different sides of property transactions, we understand the competing priorities that influence negotiations and the terms that are likely to be commercially and legally acceptable.

Where a dispute has already arisen, we examine the transaction from the beginning: what was represented, what the contract required, what was delivered and where the parties’ positions diverged. We pursue payment, recovery, compensation, termination or other appropriate relief through negotiation, the relevant courts, specialist tribunals or arbitration, depending on the contract and the nature of the property.

UAE real estate transactions are governed by a detailed combination of federal law, emirate-level regulation and project-specific requirements. Title registration, escrow compliance, development obligations, leasing procedures and brokerage arrangements can each determine the outcome of a matter. We advise on those requirements at every stage, from the first review of the transaction through completion, enforcement and dispute resolution.

What we do

• Sale and purchase agreements — Drafting and negotiating agreements for ready and off-plan property, with particular attention to handover dates, specification, payment milestones and the remedies actually available if the developer fails to deliver.
• Agreement review — Review and negotiation of commercial agreements relating to a property, including sale and purchase agreements, before a client signs.
• Transfer of title — Managing a transaction through to registered transfer, including liaison with the Dubai Land Department, NOC applications, and powers of attorney where a party cannot attend in person.
• Title and regulatory due diligence — Verification of title at the Dubai Land Department, confirmation of project registration and escrow arrangements, checks on permits and encumbrances, and assessment of a developer’s track record before funds are committed.
• Off-plan delay and non-delivery claims — Claims for delayed handover, altered specification, reduced area and cancelled projects, including recovery of payments and compensation. These claims carry limitations and procedural traps, so early assessment matters.
• Claims against a defaulting seller — Pursuing completion, refund of amounts paid, or compensation where a seller does not perform as agreed under the contract.
• Compensation and interest claims — Claims for compensation and applicable interest where a payment due under a contract has been delayed or withheld.
• Broker commission recovery — Advising brokers on recovering commission properly owed under a signed agreement, and defending such claims where a fee is disputed.
• Jointly owned property — Service charge disputes, owners’ association and management company issues, common-area and use restrictions, and disputes between owners and developers over building management.
• Mortgages and security — Mortgage documentation, registration of security over property, and enforcement or defence of enforcement following default.
• Structuring and succession for foreign owners — Holding structures, gifting and will registration so that UAE property passes as intended. Property is the asset most often overlooked in expatriate estate planning, and the consequences of overlooking it are severe.
• Escrow and transaction handling — Escrow arrangements for the purchase price with release conditioned on registration, together with anti-money-laundering and source-of-funds compliance.

Who we act for

Developers and master developers, investors and funds, landlords and tenants, family offices, and individual buyers.

Common questions

My handover is more than a year late. What can I do?

Depending on the contract and the project’s registration status, the options range from compensation for delay to termination and recovery of everything paid. Those two facts determine which is available.

Can a foreign national own property anywhere in Dubai?

Freehold ownership by foreign nationals is permitted in designated areas. Outside them, other rights such as long leasehold may be available instead.

My landlord wants a large rent increase. Is that permitted?

Increases are constrained by the applicable rental index and require proper notice. Where either has not been observed, the increase can be challenged.

Do I need a lawyer if the developer provides the contract?

A developer’s standard form is drafted for the developer. How much of it is negotiable varies, but you should at least understand what you are agreeing to.