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Discuss this article (12 Comments)Dubai property dispute victims to get free legal advice
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 02 November 2009
Dubai Land Department on Monday announced a new initiative to introduce a free legal service to support home owners involved in real estate-related court cases.
The announcement follows a meeting between senior Land Department officials and representatives of law firms to finalise details of the move.
The Land Department said an agreement had been signed which would see the law firms become part of a new Legal Care Group.
The group will bring together senior lawyers, professional firms and consultants to offer free legal assistance to members of the public with "genuine real estate issues" who might otherwise be dissuaded from taking action because of the prohibitive cost of fees, the Land Department said in a statement.
Mohammed Sultan Thani, assistant director general of the Dubai Land Department, said: "The objective of this initiative is not merely to meet a need but to ensure fairness and justice is available to anyone who might have a concern which involves property, no matter their circumstances.
"This reflects the government's commitment to ensuring there is in place a comprehensive equitable system of legalizing ownership and property transactions."
He added: "Now, no one is prevented from pursuing their rights merely because of the possibility they might be priced out of the legal system."
Richard Green, head of research at CB Richard Ellis Middle East, said: "The offer of free legal advice is another step in the right direction. Overall confidence in the legal dispute system has been somewhat low due to a time lag in addressing the current case backlog.
"This announcement will go some way to renewing faith in the system as well as providing confidence to individual investors facing financial difficulties in their disputes against developers.
"Overall this is seen as another positive advancement for the Dubai market."
In August it was reported that property dispute cases that were originally submitted to the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) and Dubai Courts are now being dealt with by Dubai’s new Property Court.
The new court, which started operations in October, was set up under the First Instance Court to deal exclusively with property-related cases.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
Late Delivery
Posted by Simon, Dubai on Friday 13 November 2009 at 18:29 UAE time
I have been looking on the Dubai Land web site for information on whom to contact with regard to late delivery. I have purchased a property in 2007, and as per contract completion was supposed to be in 2008, the contract does allow for the developer to have an extension. But as of today they are nearly 18 months late, what are my rights and can the land department assist me with legal proceedings.
Posted by Simon, Dubai on Friday 13 November 2009 at 18:29 UAE time
I have been looking on the Dubai Land web site for information on whom to contact with regard to late delivery. I have purchased a property in 2007, and as per contract completion was supposed to be in 2008, the contract does allow for the developer to have an extension. But as of today they are nearly 18 months late, what are my rights and can the land department assist me with legal proceedings.
Dubai Property
Posted by Amina Souleiman, Sheffield, United Kingdom on Thursday 12 November 2009 at 15:49 UAE time
August 2005 I bought two apartments from Middle East Development and have had nothing but problems.
How can I approach this free legal assistance. Do you have their contacts.
Regards
Posted by Amina Souleiman, Sheffield, United Kingdom on Thursday 12 November 2009 at 15:49 UAE time
August 2005 I bought two apartments from Middle East Development and have had nothing but problems.
How can I approach this free legal assistance. Do you have their contacts.
Regards
Free Legal Advice
Posted by Sinead McMenamin, Dubai on Saturday 7 November 2009 at 21:33 UAE time
As a property lawyer myself who has purchased property in Dubai myself, I am only too aware of what my contract says and that I have the right to terminate my contract and obtain a refund of the money I have paid. Despite what my contract states however, the developer in question has simply refused to refund my money. Providing free legal advice as to what people's rights are is of no use if they have no financially viable, equitable means of enforcing these rights.
Posted by Sinead McMenamin, Dubai on Saturday 7 November 2009 at 21:33 UAE time
As a property lawyer myself who has purchased property in Dubai myself, I am only too aware of what my contract says and that I have the right to terminate my contract and obtain a refund of the money I have paid. Despite what my contract states however, the developer in question has simply refused to refund my money. Providing free legal advice as to what people's rights are is of no use if they have no financially viable, equitable means of enforcing these rights.
all i am saying
Posted by Dubya, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 5 November 2009 at 15:10 UAE time
all i was saying in is that most people havent actually lost anything due to the fall in prices - they would be in a worse position is the developer built as they would have to pay more than the property is worth by a huge margin.
Posted by Dubya, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 5 November 2009 at 15:10 UAE time
all i was saying in is that most people havent actually lost anything due to the fall in prices - they would be in a worse position is the developer built as they would have to pay more than the property is worth by a huge margin.
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