Question: I live in Al Reef Downtown in Abu Dhabi. My landlord wants to raise my rent from Dh63,000 ($17,154) to Dh78,000, claiming this is “fair market value” now. But when I check listings, I see everything from Dh60,000 to Dh75,000, nothing consistent. There’s also no rental index like Dubai’s to refer to. How do I know if this increase is reasonable, and what can I realistically negotiate? SP, Abu Dhabi
Answer: For several years, Abu Dhabi had a rent cap. This was abolished in November 2013, but as a result of resolution No 14, the annual 5 per cent cap was reintroduced with effect from December 2016. This means that a landlord in Abu Dhabi cannot raise the rent by more than 5 per cent at the time of renewal.
This cap applies regardless of where the broader market sits. So even if the market rate in Al Reef has risen sharply, your landlord cannot legally increase your rent from Dh63,000 to Dh78,000 in one renewal. That would equate to a 24 per cent jump, which is far outside what the law now permits.
All advertised listings will have a degree of variation, and remember that vacant rental listings will always be worth more than a property with an existing tenant. Online asking prices can fluctuate depending on how urgently a landlord wants to lease or how optimistic they might be, but when it comes to renewals, the only number that matters is the lawful maximum, not the highest figure a landlord can find online.
You are well within your rights to remind your landlord that your renewal rent can only be adjusted by 5 per cent. In your case, that means the new rent should be about Dh66,150, not Dh78,000.
I would suggest communicating this politely in writing and referencing the rent cap issued by the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport. Once the rule is pointed out, most landlords fall in line.
If the landlord insists on the higher figure or attempts to use the market argument to justify it, you can take the matter to the Abu Dhabi Rental Dispute Settlement Committee, which has been applying the 5 per cent cap consistently since the regulation took effect.
Q: I bought a two-bedroom apartment in Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah. Over the last two years, my service charges have gone up by nearly 20 per cent. I’m happy with the community, but these charges are starting to impact my rental yield. Is this trend happening across RAK, and do owners have any recourse when charges keep climbing? PG, RAK
A: Service charge increases aren’t unique to Mina Al Arab; they’ve been rising gradually across much of Ras Al Khaimah as communities mature and maintenance costs increase.
RAK’s market is still developing compared to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which means that service providers sometimes adjust their cost structure as they better understand community requirements. The key is transparency.
You are entitled to request a detailed breakdown of how service charge budgets are allocated such as maintenance, landscaping, security, reserve fund contributions and so on. Most owners’ associations in RAK are open to sharing this information once asked.
If you feel the increase is unjustified, you can raise the issue with the RAK Municipality, which oversees owners’ associations and can review whether charges are aligned with the community’s actual needs. They typically intervene only when there is a clear imbalance.
While rising service charges can affect yields, they also often reflect improved upkeep, which supports long-term capital appreciation. It’s worth weighing both sides before making any decision.
Q: I’ve lived in a Jumeirah Village Circle apartment for five years and always had a good relationship with my landlord. Last week, his new property manager emailed me saying the landlord wants to sell and that I “must vacate within 60 days so viewings can begin”. No formal written notice has been served. I’m not against leaving if the property is eventually being sold, but don’t want to be pushed out unfairly or rushed into moving. What are my rights in this situation, and how should I handle it without damaging the relationship? MK, Dubai
A: This type of situation is becoming more common as prices rise, but the law remains clear. Your landlord cannot ask you to vacate within 60 days. Under UAE law, a landlord who wishes to sell must serve a 12-month notice to vacate, delivered either by notary public or registered mail, and the notice only becomes valid at the end of the current tenancy period. An email from a property manager carries no legal weight.
You are fully within your rights to remain in the property until such formal notice is served, and the 12-month period has elapsed. You can, however, agree to co-operate with viewings at mutually convenient times as a gesture of goodwill – provided you receive 24-hour notice. Check your tenancy contract for clauses about viewings.
Maintaining a good relationship is always beneficial, so I suggest replying politely to the property manager and reminding them of the correct procedure. Assure them you’re open to reasonable co-operation, but that you will follow the law in terms of vacating. Most landlords, once reminded of the legal requirements, adjust their expectations accordingly.
The opinions expressed do not constitute legal advice and are provided for information only. Please send any questions to mario@allegiance.ae
Fixtures
Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am
Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am
Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am
Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYodawy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarim%20Khashaba%2C%20Sherief%20El-Feky%20and%20Yasser%20AbdelGawad%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2424.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlgebra%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20MEVP%20and%20Delivery%20Hero%20Ventures%2C%20among%20others%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
