If you own a villa in Dubai and wish to move into the property that you have rented out, there are specific procedures you need to follow. In Dubai, a landlord may evict a tenant before or upon the expiry of a tenancy contract. If you intend to reside in your villa, the conditions prescribed for eviction fall under the provision of the tenant’s eviction upon the contract’s expiry. A landlord may evict a tenant from a rented premises by serving 12 months’ notice through a notary public in certain situations.
The situations in which a landlord can evict a tenant include if the landlord wishes to demolish and reconstruct the rented property with permission from competent local authorities, if the restoration or repair of the rented property cannot be carried out while the tenant is occupying the same, if the landlord or their first-degree family members wish to reside in the property and do not have any alternative residence in Dubai, and if the landlord wishes to sell the property. These conditions are covered under Article 25 (2)(c) of Law No. 33 of 2008 Amending Law No. 26 of 2007 in Dubai.
According to Article 26 of the Amended Rent Law, if the Tribunal rules in favor of the landlord retaking possession of the property for their own use or for use by their first-degree relatives, the landlord may not rent the property to a third party for at least 2 years in the case of residential property, or 3 years in the case of non-residential property, from the date of retaking possession. Therefore, if you intend to live in your villa in Dubai, you must serve a 12 months’ notice to the tenant through a notary public and cannot rent the property to a third party for at least 2 years from the date of taking possession of the villa.
Ashish Mehta, the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates, who is qualified to practice law in Dubai, the United Kingdom, and India, provides legal advice and guidance on matters related to landlord-tenant relationships in Dubai. For any further questions or legal assistance in this matter, readers can contact Ashish Mehta via email or through the Legal View section of Khaleej Times. It is important to follow the legal procedures and guidelines when evicting a tenant to ensure compliance with the law and protect your rights as a property owner in Dubai.
