Dubai: A law pertaining to leasing in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) was issued by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The new legislation was promulgated in a bid to boost the property market. The law will also reflect DIFC's commitment to maintaining a legal and regulatory framework aligned with international best practices.
It introduces areas of protection and assurance to lessors and lessees entering into leases at properties based in the dynamic financial ecosystem of the DIFC, according to WAM.
The law will address specific factors relating to real property within the DIFC, including the requirement to provide an appropriate regulatory environment aligned with common law jurisdictions and onshore Dubai practices due to the DIFC’s status as an offshore jurisdiction within the UAE by:
1. Introducing general requirements for leases and general obligations for lessees and lessors;
2. Introducing a tenancy deposit scheme for residential leases to be administered by the Registrar of Real Property;
3. Requiring the production of condition reports in the format required by the Leasing Law by residential lessors;
4. Imposing a maximum limit on security deposits collected by residential lessors and further specific provisions for residential leases;
5. Introducing clearer provisions relating to the termination of leases and the disposal of goods and chattels at the property following the termination or liquidation of the lessee.