Legal

EU crisis likely to hit UAE mortgage recovery in 2012

Mortgage market though down 60% since 2008, is currently showing slight signs of recovery

Kuwait's KFH seals first Canadian real estate investment

Kuwait Finance House signs up for apartment block in Ontario as part of JV agreement

Tameer says legal fight won’t speed up handover

Dubai developer is facing lawsuit from investors over delay of Abu Dhabi project

Palm tenants get reprieve in Nakheel beach spat

Shoreline owners told to pay service fees to Land Department, not Nakheel, as row drags on

Abu Dhabi sees service fee rows as handovers begin

Lack of property laws means developers hold the upper hand in disputes, say analysts

Tameer Towers set for legal battle despite new start date

Up to 65 investors in Al Reem Island still seek arbitration on stalled project

Qatar-linked luxury property falls foul of UK taxes

London's One Hyde Park in the spotlight after owners fail to pay council taxes

Nakheel plan to privatise Palm beach legal, says chairman

Nakheel ‘can't make everyone happy', says plan to charge for beach club access is legal

Palm spat raises fears over homeowners’ rights

Nakheel’s bid to privatise beach clubs raises questions over buyers’ rights to communal areas

Tameer Towers buyers mull legal action over delays

Up to 65 buyers in Al Reem Island project eye arbitration amid stalled construction

UK tax unit to target Middle East property owners

Move may affect Britons who have not declared earnings on their overseas property holdings

Aldar Properties to slash 24% of jobs, rein in operations

Abu Dhabi developer plans to shed 105 jobs to match scaled-back construction schedule

UAE seen silent on extended property visas

Industry sees no progress on move to offer three-year visas to owners of AED1m properties

Kuwait announces new rules for real estate sector

Gulf state puts 1% cap on profit allowed on deals brokered by real estate agents

UAE property earnings may sink despite Nakheel deal

Few fresh real estate sales and host of challenges may force a slump in third-quarter earnings

Abu Dhabi shares sink to two-year low on property

Developers Aldar and Sorouh both sink to record lows amid concerns of oversupply

UAE residents bounce $9.6bn of cheques to Aug

Gulf state sees drop in number and value of refused cheques, says central bank

Property seekers warned against 'scammers'

Experts say fraudsters are still rife in the market, targeting those in a hurry to find new homes

Oman's Onyx in bid to recover Blue City funds

Onyx Investments says it has filed statement of claim regarding investment in stalled project

New Dubai real estate rules to be in place by 2013

World's first governance charter for property developers set to improve transparency

MidEast real estate execs earn $10,335 per month

Average salary for property professionals dips slightly year-on-year, says new survey

Nakheel split may shut investors out of Dubai World tribunal

Tribunal warns jurisdiction issues may affect legal cases now developer is gov't-owned

Ajman to list scrapped real estate projects, says watchdog

Analysts say Dubai should follow move to name cancelled property developments

Emirati businessman Al Boom released on bail

Property tycoon was convicted in Feb on 3,689 counts of fraud and sentenced to 923 years in jail

Egypt vows to settle land disputes with foreign firms

Gov't official's pledge as Dubai's Damac seeks international arbitration case over arrest of owner

Dubai tenants risk eviction if subletting illegally

Tenants who rent a room in a property may be breaking the law, warn lawyers

Qatar inks deal for Tajikistan real estate project

Qatari Diar set to start construction of luxury mixed-use development; slated for 2014 completion

Nakheel settles $2.72bn of claims in stalled projects

Developer says will deliver nearly 8,000 homes by end-2012, reveals construction schedule

RERA says 228 owners associations get green light

Analyst says buyers may favour buildings with registered homeowner associations

Marina West buyers allege fraud against developer

Owners at stalled development push for refunds through National Dialogue players

Banks slash home loan rates for Dubai buyers

Lenders cut mortgage rates to lure expats as housing market shows signs of bottoming out

Kingdom eyes loans, cash to build world’s tallest tower

Saudi's Binladin Group will contribute SR1.5bn to the project, says Prince Alwaleed

New visa laws won’t boost property, says Kanoo

Property investors are ‘once bitten, twice shy', warns Kanoo Group deputy chairman

Emirates NBD mulls home loans for overseas buyers

Dubai's lender may launch mortgage for foreign investors to tap visa changes

Nakheel wins tribunal victory over World contractor

Penguin Marine argues World licensing fees are unfair now island construction has stalled

Atkins recovers $12.9m in debt from Middle East firms

British company plans recruitment drive to target Saudi Arabia, Qatar growth

Dubai mulls laws to oust ‘cowboy’ property surveyors

Emirate to clamp down on inflated property valuations, speed release of sales data

Trade creditors offer Nakheel bond at 20% cut

Need for cash outweighs hope of full repayment for some companies

Dubai’s Union Properties repays AED700m of debt

Developer used AED1.1bn proceeds from sale of Ritz Carlton Hotel Dubai to chip at debt

Nakheel wins tribunal victory over World contractor

Penguin Marine argues World licensing fees are unfair now island construction has stalled

‘No point in pursuing accusers’, says Mulchandani

Dubai sets up new committee to control urban planning

New initiative aimed at achieving sustainable development amid emirate's property oversupply

Tamweel plunges 10% on first trading day since 2008

Islamic home loans firm resumed trading after a more than two-year hiatus, sparked by global credit crunch

Banks urged play key role in UAE real estate recovery

Emirates NBD official says better mortgage rates needed to reinvigorate market

Dubai real estate watchdog plans new code for sector

Property regulator among organisations who sign deal to try to improve transparency

Five acquitted in Nakheel AED22m bribe case

Main suspect, Samir Chinoy, committed suicide in July; bribery case was dismissed on appeal

Court orders Damac to refund AED1.7m in property row

Dubai developer to appeal DIFC Courts ruling awarding investors refund on delayed apartment

New regulation seen boosting Abu Dhabi real estate sector

Legal firm DLA Piper says compulsory registration will bring transparency, stability to market

Prince Alwaleed seeks settlement on Egypt land

Saudi billionaire's Kingdom Holding says it has not given up contested land in southern Egypt

Saudi Arabia pushes ahead with mortgage law amid unrest

Shura Council agrees on final changes to law, passes it to King Abdullah for final nod

Dubai to introduce property index

The emirate plans to usher in tighter controls on rent ranges to combat cost of living increases.

Saudi mortgage law in final stages

Legislation will allow more residents to buy property in country where just one in five owns a home.

Laying down the law

As confusion surrounding the imposing Strata Law heightens, Becca Wilson gets the low down from the only two independent strata management companies based in the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi to relax foreign ownership laws

Current 49% will be raised 'considerably' in sectors most in need of investments - official.

Property Law - FAQ

Key property terms explained simply.

Property and the law in the UAE

Understand the law before buying.

Rent defaulters risk detention

Abu Dhabi debtors owing rental money to be stopped at UAE borders under new law, official says.

Tenancy law to take on rent disputes

New legal framework covering landlord-tenant relationship to replace Dubai's Rent Committee system.

Estate planning

Expatriates and non-Muslims acquiring assets in the UAE – property in particular – may not realize that their estate planning with regard to inheritance allocation may not hold up according to local laws.

Knowing your rights

Dubai homeowners are slowly making moves to consolidate with the new UAE owner's association law set to be passed.

Dubai publishes long-awaited property law

Condominium Law sets out rules on ownership and management of developments.