Legislation in the field of real estate in Abu Dhabi regulates the real estate market, the rights of owners and tenants, and also establishes rules for development, registration of rights, joint ownership, and property management
The real estate legislation in Abu Dhabi addresses the following major topics.
Renting: the relationships and rights of landlords and tenants, along with mechanisms for resolving disputes, are governed by Abu Dhabi Law No. 20 of 2006 (as amended). Annual rent increases are capped at 5% under Abu Dhabi Executive Council Decision No. 32 of 2012. Lease agreements must be registered in the Register maintained by the Municipality.
Short-Term Leasing: short-term leasing, including holiday home services, is regulated by Administrative Decision No. 3 of 2020. Operators are required to obtain a licence to conduct this activity and adhere to specified standards and requirements.
Sale and Purchase: transactions must be in written form, and property ownership is transferred only upon registration in the relevant registry.
Development: developers are required to obta...