Stage 01
Acquire or plan
We review title, registration and approvals, negotiate the sale and purchase terms, and confirm the project, developer and escrow position before you commit funds.
Real Estate & Construction
Real Estate and Construction Lawyers in Dubai
Our real estate and construction lawyers in Dubai advise buyers, sellers, developers, investors, landlords, tenants and contractors on property transactions, off-plan purchases, leases, construction contracts and disputes.
We help clients buy, build, lease and protect property under UAE federal law and Dubai regulations. Our team works in Arabic and English and coordinates with our corporate, banking and litigation lawyers when a project involves company structures, financing or a dispute.
Across the life of a property
Where we step in across the life of a property or project.
Property matters follow a pattern. We can join you at any stage, but early advice on title, contract terms and risk allocation usually prevents the costliest problems later.
Stage 02
Build
We draft and negotiate development, construction and subcontract documents, and allocate risk for time, cost, variations, payment and defects.
Stage 03
Lease and operate
We prepare and review tenancy contracts, handle registration, rent and renewal questions, and advise on landlord and tenant rights. Where financing is involved, we work with our Banking & Finance team.
Stage 04
Resolve or exit
We act on sales, handovers, claims, evictions and enforcement. If a dispute arises, our Litigation & Arbitration team is already familiar with your documents.
Clients
Who we act for.
Buyers, developers, landlords and contractors want different outcomes. We advise each client with a clear view of how the other side, the regulator and, if needed, the court is likely to respond.
Property buyers and sellers
Residents and overseas investors acquiring or disposing of property in Dubai.
Developers and project owners
Parties selling off-plan, procuring construction or managing completion and handover.
Contractors, subcontractors and consultants
Parties who build, supply and supervise, and need protection on payment, variations and liability.
Landlords and tenants
Owners, investors, businesses and families dealing with leases, rent, renewals and eviction.
Property investors and family businesses
Owners holding property directly or through companies, who need clear ownership and exit terms.
We act for buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants, and developers and contractors, subject to conflict checks.
Services
Our real estate and construction services.
Practical advice across the matters our clients most often need, under UAE federal law and Dubai property regulation.
Request a consultation-
01
Property sale and purchase
We act for buyers and sellers of residential and commercial property in Dubai. We review title and registration, negotiate the sale and purchase agreement, check for charges, service charges and outstanding obligations, and guide the transaction through to registration with the Dubai Land Department. We tell you about any issue that affects price, timing or your rights before you sign.
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02
Off-plan purchases and developer documentation
Buying off-plan carries different risks from buying a completed unit. We review the sale and purchase agreement, payment plan, completion and delay terms, and confirm the project and developer are registered and that payments go to the project escrow account. For developers, we prepare sales documentation and advise on compliance with the escrow and registration rules that apply to off-plan sales.
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03
Leasing: landlords and tenants
We draft and review commercial and residential tenancy contracts, advise on Ejari registration, rent increases and renewals, and handle notices, evictions, and security deposit claims. Eviction in Dubai follows strict grounds and notice requirements, and a defective notice can undo a landlord's case, so we check the grounds and the service of notice before anything is sent.
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04
Construction contracts and subcontracts
We draft, review and negotiate the contracts a project runs on, including main contracts, subcontracts, consultancy appointments and supply agreements, on bespoke terms or standard forms such as FIDIC. We focus on the clauses that matter when a project is under pressure: scope, price and payment, variations, extensions of time, notices, retention, bonds, termination and dispute resolution.
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05
Real estate and construction disputes
We represent owners, developers, contractors, landlords, tenants and buyers before the Rental Disputes Centre, the Dubai Courts and arbitration. Typical matters include delay and defect claims, unpaid certificates and final accounts, termination, handover disputes, rental claims and eviction. UAE law also imposes a ten-year liability on contractors and designers for structural defects, and we advise on when a claim may arise and the time limits for bringing it.
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06
Property investment and holding structures
We advise investors and family businesses on how to hold and transfer property, whether in personal names or through a company, and on joint venture arrangements for acquisitions and developments.
Our approach
How we run a real estate or construction mandate.
Our approach is the same on every mandate: understand your objective, identify the key risks and agree a strategy that is realistic and commercially sensible.
Scoping
We confirm your objectives, the parties, the documents, the property or project and the timeline.
Review and strategy
We set out the options, the legal and regulatory implications and the likely cost and timing.
Documentation and negotiation
We prepare or review the documents, negotiate with the other side and keep you updated at each step.
Completion and follow-up
We handle registration and filings, and, where needed, move the matter into proceedings without losing time.
Why us
Why Alsuwaidi Advocates.
Drafting built to be enforced
The lawyers who draft your contracts also act in UAE courts and arbitration, so documents are written with enforcement in mind.
Senior public-sector and regulatory background
Our Managing Director has more than 33 years in UAE legal affairs, including legislative review, regulatory governance and senior roles at Dubai Police General Command and Dubai Customs.
Arabic and English
Contracts, notices, filings and hearings are handled in the language they need to be in.
One point of contact across practices
Real estate, corporate, finance and disputes work together under a single lead where your matter crosses areas.
People
Your real estate and construction team.
Our legal team supports owners, buyers, developers, landlords and contractors on property and construction matters. We identify the appropriate lead for each mandate based on the nature of the matter, relevant experience and the legal support required, ensuring clear communication throughout.
Shuaib Al Suwaidi
Managing Director | Senior Legal Attorney.
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Basim
Corporate legal assistant; commercial matters and legal documentation.
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Mostafa
Civil legal researcher; civil and commercial procedure research.
View team ↗Need legal assistance with a property or construction matter?
Contact our team to discuss your requirements and the next steps.
33+ years in UAE legal affairs
Leadership
Senior legal experience applied to your property or project.
Our Managing Director, Mr Shuaib Al Suwaidi, brings more than 33 years of experience across UAE legal affairs, public-sector advisory work, legislative review and regulatory governance.
His time as Director of Legal Affairs at Dubai Customs and in senior legal roles at Dubai Police General Command shapes how we approach compliance, contracts and dealings with authorities.
Career highlights
- Dubai Police General Command, 1989–2015Legal and advisory roles, reviewing federal and local legislation and advising senior departments.
- Dubai Customs, 2016–2022Director of Legal Affairs: legal compliance, regulatory development and organisational reform.
FAQs
Real estate and construction FAQs.
Answers to the questions clients raise most often when buying, building, leasing or disputing property in the UAE.
Can a foreigner buy property in Dubai?
Yes, in areas designated for foreign ownership. The rights you receive depend on the area and the type of title, so we confirm what applies to the specific property before you sign.
What should I check before buying off-plan in Dubai?
At minimum: that the developer and the project are registered with the Dubai Land Department and RERA, that the project has an escrow account, and that every payment is made into that account and not to the developer directly. We also review the payment plan, the completion date and the remedies if the developer is late.
How much notice must a landlord give to evict a tenant in Dubai?
Where a landlord seeks eviction at the end of the lease for reasons such as sale, personal use or major works, the law generally requires at least 12 months' notice served through a notary public or by registered mail. Other grounds, such as non-payment, carry different notice rules, and a defective notice can be rejected, so the ground and the notice should be checked before it is sent.
How are rent increases controlled in Dubai?
Rent increases on renewal are assessed against the official rental index, and the contract and Ejari registration will usually decide the outcome. We review the lease, the index and the notice before you accept or challenge an increase.
Do I need to register my tenancy contract?
Yes. Tenancy contracts in Dubai must be registered through Ejari, and the registration is needed for many practical steps, including utilities and, in practice, rental claims.
Where are rental disputes heard in Dubai?
Rental disputes are generally heard by the Rental Disputes Centre. Disputes over sales, off-plan purchases and construction contracts are heard by the Dubai Courts or in arbitration, depending on the contract.
Who is liable for structural defects in a building?
Under UAE law, contractors and designers are liable for a period of ten years from handover for collapse or defects that threaten the stability or safety of a building, and the parties cannot contract out of it. Claims are also subject to a short limitation period from discovery of the defect, so early advice matters.
How does the new UAE Civil Transactions Law affect property and construction contracts?
Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 promulgating the UAE Civil Transactions Law came into force on 1 June 2026, replacing the previous 1985 law. Its impact on a property or construction contract depends on the relevant contractual terms, when the facts or events occurred, applicable transitional provisions and any special legislation. Legal advice can help identify the provisions relevant to an existing agreement or a new transaction.
How do you structure fees for real estate and construction work?
We are open to fixed fees for defined scopes, such as a sale and purchase review or a tenancy notice, and to hourly or blended approaches for larger transactions and disputes. Fee options are discussed openly at the start of each mandate.
Can you also handle a dispute that arises from our contract?
Yes. Our Litigation & Arbitration team acts before the Rental Disputes Centre, the UAE courts and in DIAC and other arbitrations, and is already familiar with how your documents were drafted.
Insights
Related insights.
Guides and checklists from our real estate and disputes work.
Start the conversation
Buying, building, leasing or in a dispute?
Speak with our real estate and construction legal team about your property, your project and your next steps under UAE law. We can help you identify the appropriate legal support for your situation.
Submitting an enquiry does not create a lawyer–client relationship. We will confirm any potential conflicts before receiving detailed information.
Dubai Office
Dubai Healthcare City
Oud Metha Offices, 403Dubai Healthcare City
United Arab Emirates Office details & directions ↗