Dubai Rental Disputes Centre Affirms Lease Annulment Before Move-In for Contract Misrepresentation

The Dubai Rental Disputes Centre (RDC), the judicial authority under the Dubai Land Department that resolves tenancy conflicts, announced a new judicial principle on October 29, 2026, allowing rental contracts to be annulled prior to property handover if deception is proven, Emirates 24|7 reported.

The ruling followed a case that was initially dismissed at first instance but overturned on appeal by the RDC's General Authority. The Authority determined that the circumstances met the criteria for deception under Articles 170, 171, and 173 of the UAE Civil Transactions Law, ruling that the agreement must be annulled and both parties restored to their pre-signing legal positions before tenancy implementation begins.

Awatif Al Khouri, senior Emirati advocate and founder of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal Consultancy, stated that the principle reinforces the legal requirement that valid contracts depend strictly on truthful and mutual consent. She noted that either the landlord or tenant is entitled to seek annulment if it is proven that the other party deliberately concealed or misrepresented critical information to induce signing.

To prevent disputes, the legal expert highlighted that parties can proactively verify counterparties before signing agreements, including utilizing the Rental Good Conduct Certificate issued by the RDC to review tenancy backgrounds.