Discovery Gardens resident Ahmed Jelani has been fighting his landlord over the constant pressure to vacate and now says he must send his family home to Pakistan as he is being forced to move out. Pawan Singh / The National
Discovery Gardens resident Ahmed Jelani has been fighting his landlord over the constant pressure to vacate and now says he must send his family home to Pakistan as he is being forced to move out. Pawan Singh / The National
Discovery Gardens resident Ahmed Jelani has been fighting his landlord over the constant pressure to vacate and now says he must send his family home to Pakistan as he is being forced to move out. Pawan Singh / The National
Discovery Gardens resident Ahmed Jelani has been fighting his landlord over the constant pressure to vacate and now says he must send his family home to Pakistan as he is being forced to move out. Paw


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

DUBAI // A finance manager who refused to sign vacate letters and challenged rent increases will next year move out of his apartment and send his family back home to Pakistan.

Since he refused to sign the vacate letter last year, Ahmed Jelani has been repeatedly told he must leave.

He even took a bank loan last year to make the one-cheque rent payment.

His problems began last year when he was told the rent for his Discovery Gardens apartment would rise from Dh36,000 to Dh70,000 or he should sign a letter agreeing to leave in a year.

After checking with Rera that a 5 per cent increase was permitted, he argued, but finally agreed to pay 10 per cent. Earlier this year, he was told to vacate in July on expiry of the lease.

“I said I know about the one-year notice and again they sent a vacate letter saying I have to sign and vacate,” said Mr Jelani, 35, a finance manager who works in Abu Dhabi but cannot afford rents in the capital.

“People have been coming to see the flat from January every second or third day. It is exhausting.”

In March he was informed the apartment was sold and that he should move in July.

On speaking to Dubai Land Department, he again insisted on a year’s notice.

Finally, he received an eviction letter and has agreed to move.

He was then told to pay more than Dh50,000 for renewal until next year.

“But the Land Department said I must be informed at least 90 days before and I got 20 to 30 days notice. Because of advice from Rera and the Land Department, I can argue. I’m always quoting Rera and taking advice from them.”

Mr Jelani commutes to work by bus and said living in Discovery is convenient because one of his children goes to school nearby.

“For new rentals, you pay Dh75,000 even for a small flat. It has become very difficult for people like us. I have made a plan with my family to send them back. I’m only planning how to survive this because salary increases are just 2 or 3 per cent, but rent is increasing more than 10 per cent,” said the father of two who has lived in the UAE since 2006.

“I knew the rules and fought, but not everyone knows the rules. And when you have a family who wants to argue?”

A property manager at Discovery Gardens said vacate letters protected a landlord’s property.

“We don’t use force,” he said. “But it’s a pre-agreed contract so it depends on terms and conditions as agreed by the tenant and landlord; everybody has to honour the contract. You cannot interpret the law to suit you, you cannot be a judge.”

However, a lawyer confirmed that vacate letters signed by tenants are not enforceable.

“It’s not binding on tenants because the rules and regulations prevailing in Dubai give no weight to a letter signed by a tenant confirming they will vacate on expiry of the tenancy contract,” said Ashish Mehta, managing partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates Solicitors & Legal Consultants.

“This letter is only of theoretical comfort.”

Increasing rent based on a vacate letter was also not permitted and tenants can contest any attempt by landlords to do so, he said.

“It has only cosmetic value, where the landlord presumes the tenant is not aware of the procedures and law and uses it as a flimsy excuse to hike the rent.

“Increasing the rent by the landlord based on the tenant signing an undertaking to vacate is not permitted.”

rtalwar@thenational.ae

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The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm

Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Price: from Dh498,542

On sale: now

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR

Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Essentials

The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.

Match info

Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335

Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai