Registration of Leases in Dubai

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Analysis

On 2 April 2014 the Dubai Land Department (“DLD”) issued Administrative Resolution No. 134 of 2013 (“Resolution”) relating to the registration of leases in Dubai and resolving as follows:

  1. Any lease for a term of more than 10 years and up to 99 years shall be deemed a long term lease and registrable in accordance with Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 Concerning Real Property Registration in The Emirate of Dubai (“Law No. 7”);

  2. Any lease for a term of 10 years or less shall be registrable in accordance with Dubai Law No. 33 of 2008 (amending the provisions of Law No. 26 of 2007) Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai.

What does this mean in practice?

What this effectively means is that leases referred to in category i) above are registrable as dispositions on the Real Property Register maintained by the DLD and leases falling within category ii)  are registrable on the Ejari Register which is maintained by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (“RERA”).