ABU DHABI // Residents should not be put off making housing complaints through official channels, lawyers said.
While many may feel intimidated by the prospect of dealing with the courts and choose alternative methods of seeking help, there are legal options open to them.
Cases in Dubai are handled by the Rent Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC).
Lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, managing partner at HPL Yamalova & Plewka, says the process has become easier to access.
The RDSC promises “simplified procedures with most rental disputes judged within 75 days”.
Initially, an arbitration department will try to settle disputes within 15 days. If unsuccessful, a legal case must be lodged with the Department of First Instance, which aims to sort out cases within 30 days.
Rulings are final unless appealed, and only claims worth more than Dh100,000 are heard at this level.
Ms Yamalova says proceedings are conducted in Arabic but translators can be provided.
“It’s a lot easier for people to file court cases these days,” she said.
After the case has been decided, the loser pays the winner’s filing fee plus court expenses, such as notary fees, excluding translation, she says.
Most cases are related to disputed maintenance payments, illegal sublets, evictions and rent increases by landlords, of whom she said, “[they] used to be a lot more bullish”.
In a recent wave of cases, she said, landlords attempted to evict tenants under a pretence that the properties would be put up for sale, only to be rented out again at higher rates.
Tenants occupying properties in free zones must lodge their cases in the courts of the Dubai International Finance Centre, which is based on English common law. Court proceedings in the DIFC are conducted in English.
While Ms Yamalova applauds the ability of the court to resolve disputes, the lawyer says she often hears negative sentiments from the public, some of whom show little faith in the courts.
“It’s actually quite efficient and effective,” she says. “Processes are always changing, so it’s a bit of a moving target.”
The RDSC is located on Baniyas Road in Deira, Dubai, and is open from 7.30am to 2.30pm on weekdays.
Once cases are registered, plaintiffs can opt for an evening session from 4.30pm onwards. For more information, call 800 4488.
Residents in Abu Dhabi will find that the capital does not have a dedicated department dealing with real estate. Instead, complaints are handled by the Rent Dispute Settlement Committee.
When it comes to renting in the capital, Ben Crompton – a former lawyer and an estate agent and managing director of Crompton Partners – says tenants must be aware of their legal rights, as outlined in 2006’s tenancy laws.
According to the capital’s eGovernment portal, anyone wishing to have a case heard can submit an application along with required documents, which include a completed application, three copies of the complaint form, a copy of the rent contract and a passport copy.
Filing a case in the Abu Dhabi dispute settlement system will require the complainant to pay 4 per cent of the rent contract value or the demanded value, up to a maximum of Dh20,000 for the first instance and Dh10,000 for an appeal.
Following any formal appeal, a final level of appeal called cassation is available for a fee of Dh2,000.
Mr Crompton says a lawyer is not required and all proceedings are in Arabic.
“It’s a complicated process, particularly for a non-Arabic speaker,” he says.
The most common disputes he has seen are landlords trying to raise rents and people being evicted from illegally divided villas.
“Always read your lease,” he advises. “Leases are generally non-negotiable, but they are fair.”
For further information, the Abu Dhabi Rent Dispute Settlement Committee is located on Defence Street, opposite the Algfah Hotel, or call 800 2353.
esamoglou@thenational.ae
How to launch a case ...
In Dubai
1. Gather all supporting documents, including emails between you and your landlord. Take copies of your passport, Emirates ID, Ejari (registration) certificate, original blue tenancy contract, copy of landlord’s passport, Dewa bill, title deeds and copies of cheques that have been issued.
2. Get the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre form typed and ensure that your non-Arabic documents are legally translated into Arabic.
3. Go to RDSC on Baniyas Street, Deira, and file a case.
4. Pay the fee, which is 3.5 per cent of your annual rent (minimum Dh350 and maximum Dh20,000).
In Abu Dhabi
1. Submit the application, along with the required documents, at the customer service desk at the Rent Dispute Settlement Committee, which is on Defence Street.
2. Fill in the complaint form at the customer service desk.
3. Pay the fees at the finance counter and receive a receipt.
4. Receive a date for the first case session.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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A%20Little%20to%20the%20Left
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
SPECS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI