Property, contracts & wills

Real estate lawyers in Dubai and the UAE

Residential, commercial and off-plan property: careful checks before you sign, and clear options if a developer or counterparty lets you down.

In short

Property transactions in the UAE are registered with each emirate's land department, and the rules for ownership, off-plan sales and escrow accounts differ between emirates and between freehold and other areas.

We review sale and purchase agreements, carry out legal due diligence, advise on title and registration, and help buyers and investors resolve disputes with developers, sellers and co-owners, as well as advising landlords on their tenancies.

What we handle

How we can help

Sale and purchase agreements and due diligence

We check the agreement, the seller's title, any mortgage or restriction, service charges and the payment plan before you commit.

Developer and off-plan project disputes

Delayed handover, changes to the unit, cancelled projects and refunds: we review the agreement, the registration of the sale and the escrow position before advising on recovery.

III

Title, registration and ownership issues

Transfers, inheritance of property, co-ownership disputes and problems with registration.

Landlord and tenant advisory

Tenancy contracts, rent increases, renewals and notices, with disputes handled through our rental disputes practice.

How it works

From first call to resolution

Tell us about the property
Where it is, whether it is ready or off-plan, and what has been signed and paid.
Check the documents
Agreement, title, registration, payment receipts and correspondence with the developer or seller.
Advise
A written view of the risks or the dispute, with practical options.
Negotiate or pursue
Negotiation with the developer or seller, and claims before the competent authority or court where needed.

Buying off-plan

Off-plan property is popular with investors, including many buyers based in India. In Dubai, sales of off-plan units are registered with the Land Department and buyers' payments are meant to go into a project escrow account. Before buying, check that the project and the developer are registered, that the agreement states the handover date and what happens if it slips, and that payments go to the escrow account named in the agreement. If a project is delayed or cancelled, the registration and escrow records are central to recovering money.

Buying from abroad

Many transactions can be completed through a properly drafted and attested power of attorney, so you do not need to travel for every step. We make sure the power is specific enough for the land department to accept it.

FAQ

Real Estate: your questions

The seller's title, any mortgage or restriction, service charge arrears, the developer's and project's registration for off-plan units, and that payments go to the correct escrow account.

Often there is a route to recovery, depending on the agreement, the registration of the sale and the escrow position. We review these before advising.

Yes, many steps can be completed through a properly drafted and attested power of attorney.

Fees are quoted after the first consultation, once we know the transaction or dispute, and agreed in writing before work begins.

Your team