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Ask Us, and We Answer With Our Experience: How can I evict a tenant…

Q: “How can I evict a tenant who stopped paying rent after just one month?”

A property owner recently reached out with a frustrating and all-too-common issue:

“I inherited an apartment from my father in one of the luxurious buildings in the Emirate of Dubai. Since I live in a spacious and comfortable villa, I didn’t need to live there, so I thought about investing in it and renting it furnished to benefit from its returns. I advertised it on a real estate website and successfully signed a one-year lease with a tenant. However, after handing over the apartment, the tenant paid only the first month’s rent and then completely stopped paying. Every time I asked him to pay the remaining rent, he came up with excuses and false reasons. What can I do to get him out and recover my property as quickly as possible?” 

Here’s our answer, based on experience:

This issue is regulated by Dubai Rental Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, which governs the relationship between landlords and tenants in the Emirate. These laws are in place to protect both parties and ensure stability in the real estate market.

In this situation, Article 25 of the law is key. It clearly outlines the legal grounds on which a landlord can request eviction. One of these grounds is non-payment of rent.

Steps to take:

  1. Serve a Legal Notice

You must first serve the tenant with a 30-day written notice, demanding payment of the outstanding rent. This notice is a legal requirement and must clearly warn that eviction will be pursued if the tenant fails to pay.

  1. File an Eviction Case

If the tenant does not comply within the 30-day period, you can file an eviction lawsuit before the Dubai Rental Disputes Center.

  1. Claim Outstanding Rent

In addition to eviction, you can request that the court orders the tenant to pay all unpaid rent up until the date the unit is handed back.

  1. Execute the Judgment

Once the court issues a ruling in your favor, execution procedures can begin to physically recover the property, and you’ll be able to reclaim your apartment without further delay.

Our Advice

Don’t delay action. The longer the tenant occupies the property without paying, the more losses you may face. Dubai’s rental law is fair but firm—if you follow the right legal steps, you’ll be able to evict the non-paying tenant and recover both your property and your rights.

Need help navigating rental disputes in Dubai?

We have extensive experience helping landlords recover their properties and enforce their rights under UAE law. Reach out to our team for professional legal services in Dubai tailored to your real estate concerns.

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