Throughout the current year, thousands of tenants and landlords in Dubai have managed to settle their rental disputes by reaching an agreement within a few days, thus avoiding lengthy legal proceedings.
The Tenancy Disputes Center reported that from January to the end of September, 2,350 cases of amicable settlement were concluded, totaling 401 million dirhams. On average, each case took six days to resolve. These cases were handled by the Department of Conciliation and Settlement of the Tenancy Disputes Center (RDC), which assists parties in a tenancy dispute in finding a mutually acceptable solution.
The resolution process differs from a disputed case, which continues until a final decision is issued. It provides parties with a structured legal pathway to discuss disagreements and reach an agreement while ensuring their rights remain protected. If the tenant and landlord agree, the settlement is approved by a supervising judge, and this approval grants the agreement the force of an enforceable legal document.
Judge Abdulkader Musa Mohammed, Chairman of the Tenancy Disputes Center, noted that the results achieved demonstrate the possibility of quick and effective resolution of rental disputes. He stated: 'The work of the amicable settlement mechanism during the first nine months of this year highlights its ability to resolve rental disputes quickly and effectively.' He also emphasized that speed, quality of procedures, and protection of rights are important outcomes of a system based on specialized expertise and prompt response to the needs of the involved parties.
It is important to note that the average figure of six days does not mean that every rental dispute filed in Dubai is resolved within this time; it only reflects those cases where the parties reached an amicable agreement through the RDC over the nine-month period.
The RDC added that this process allows tenants and landlords to agree on flexible solutions without the need to go through a formal court process. The Center also indicated that such settlements can reduce the social and economic impact of disputes that drag on for a long time.
The Center noted that this approach is becoming increasingly significant against the backdrop of growing demand for more flexible legal solutions in the Dubai rental market. It also pledged to continue improving its procedures, ensuring fair access to justice, and promoting amicable settlement as a practical way to resolve disagreements in tenancy relations.