Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law Services in Dubai

Dubai property is heavily regulated, and most of the regulation exists to protect buyers. The difficulty is that the protections only operate where the transaction was structured correctly in the first place.

Dubai Legal Expert advises buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants and investors across the UAE on property transactions and disputes, from pre purchase review through transfer and into litigation where it becomes necessary.

20+Years of Experience
5000+Cases Handled
FreeCase Assessment
What We Do

How Dubai Property Regulation Protects Buyers

The framework operated by the Dubai Land Department and RERA includes registration of projects, escrow accounts into which off plan payments must be deposited, registration of off plan sales on the interim register, and defined procedures where either party defaults.

These protections are real, but they depend on the transaction being registered and structured properly. Payments made outside an escrow account, sales not registered, and agreements signed without checking the developer project status are where problems begin.

Contact Us
  • Pre Purchase Review

    Title, developer, project registration, escrow and contract terms checked before any payment is made.

  • Off Plan Purchases

    Advice on off plan contracts, payment plans, registration, handover obligations and delay remedies.

  • Property Disputes

    Claims and defences on ownership, defects, service charges, delay and breach of sale agreements.

  • Landlord and Tenant Matters

    Tenancy disputes, eviction, rent increases and Ejari matters through the correct forum.

  • Conveyancing and Transfer

    Management of the sale and transfer process through to registration at the Land Department.

Our Approach

How We Handle Property Matters

Check Before Paying

Title, developer status, project registration and escrow verified before any funds are committed.

Contract Terms

Sale agreements reviewed for handover dates, penalties, specification changes and cancellation rights.

Correct Forum

Rental matters, off plan disputes and construction claims each go to a different forum, and we identify which applies.

Defects and Delay

Handover delay, snagging and structural defect claims pursued with proper technical evidence.

Service Charges

Disputes over service charges, budgets and arrears handled through the appropriate channel.

End to End

From pre purchase review through transfer and, where needed, into dispute resolution.

Why Us

Why Pre Purchase Review Is the Highest Value Step

Almost every property dispute we handle traces to something visible before completion. A project that was not registered. A developer with a history of delay. Service charge arrears attaching to the unit. A payment plan that funded construction outside escrow.

Each of those is identifiable in a short pre purchase review. The cost of that review is a small fraction of one month of a property dispute, and it is the difference between a protected transaction and an unprotected one.

Process

Our Real Estate Process

Verify before committing, document properly, then act quickly if something goes wrong.

  1. 01

    Transaction Review

    We establish what is being bought or sold, from whom, and what verification the transaction requires.

  2. 02

    Due Diligence

    Title, developer, project registration, escrow, service charges and encumbrances are checked.

  3. 03

    Contract Review

    The sale agreement or tenancy contract is reviewed and amendments negotiated where needed.

  4. 04

    Execution and Payment

    Payments are structured through the correct channels and the agreement is executed properly.

  5. 05

    Transfer and Registration

    The transfer is completed and registered at the Land Department with all clearances obtained.

  6. 06

    Dispute Action

    Where a dispute arises, it is pursued through the correct forum without delay.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★
The project registration and escrow position were not what the agent had told us. That review stopped the purchase.
P. GroverBuyer
★★★★★
They handled four transfers for us and each one closed without a single issue at the trustee office.
N. AlmasiInvestor
FAQ

Real Estate Law FAQs

What should I check before buying property in Dubai?

Title and ownership, the developer and project registration status, escrow arrangements for off plan, service charge arrears, encumbrances and the sale agreement terms.

What is an escrow account?

Developers are required to deposit off plan buyer payments into a project escrow account, so funds are applied to construction rather than used elsewhere.

Can foreigners own property in Dubai?

Foreign ownership is permitted in designated freehold areas, and the position for a specific property should be confirmed before purchase.

Which forum hears property disputes?

It depends on the dispute. Rental matters go to the Rental Dispute Centre, while sale, off plan and construction disputes follow different routes.

What is the transfer fee?

A Land Department transfer fee applies on registration, calculated as a percentage of the property value, alongside trustee and agency fees.

Do I need a lawyer for a property purchase?

Not legally, but a pre purchase review costs a fraction of a dispute and identifies most of the issues that later become one.

Speak to a Property Lawyer

Whether you are buying, selling or in dispute, the first consultation is free.

Office No. 9C, 9th Floor, Dubai Creek Tower, Next to Land Department, Deira, Dubai, UAE