By Mohamed Ghanem
Lawyer I LLM I Lecturer I Speaker I DIAC Arbitrator
July 19, 2025
In a recent decision by the Dubai Rental Dispute Committee, justice was served in favor of a women’s salon,after a protracted legal battle against their landlord.
The story:
The tenant had leased a commercial unit in Dubai Marina for AED 80,000 per year. Midway through the lease, the landlord unlawfully disrupted the tenant’s possession by changing the locks and re-leasing the unit to a third party—without notice or legal termination of the lease.
Claiming losses and disruption of business, the salon filed a case seeking AED 345,000 in compensation for material and moral damages. The first-instance court denied the compensation but ordered a refund of the AED 4,000 security deposit.
On appeal:
The appellate committee reversed the decision. It found that the landlord had committed a serious breach by interfering with the tenant’s peaceful possession and leasing the property to a new tenant before the expiry of the original lease. The committee emphasized Articles 770 and 771 of the UAE Civil Code, which protect the tenant’s right to undisturbed use throughout the lease term.
Based on expert reports and financial evaluations, the tribunal awarded:
✔️ AED 145,818 for increased rent due to forced relocation
✔️ AED 199,819 for moral damages caused by the sudden eviction
✔️ Total damages: AED 345,000 The landlord was ordered to compensate the tenant in full and bear all litigation costs for both trial and appeal.