Dubai Tenancy Law · Dubai Law 26 of 2007
Article 20
English translation
When entering into a Lease Contract, the Landlord may obtain from the Tenant a security deposit to ensure maintenance of the Real Property upon the expiry of the Lease Contract, provided that the Landlord undertakes to refund such deposit or remainder thereof to the Tenant upon the expiry of the Lease Contract.
Official translation, as published by the portal.
Official Arabic text
للمؤجر عند إبرام عقد الإيجار أن يستوفي من المستأجر تأميناً لضمان صيانة العقار عند انتهاء مدة العقد، على أن يلتزم المؤجر برد هذا التأمين أو ما تبقى منه للمستأجر عند انتهاء العقد.
What it means when you sign
This article allows a landlord to take a security deposit from the tenant when the lease is signed. The purpose of the deposit is to ensure the property is maintained when the lease ends. In return, the landlord must give the deposit back to the tenant, or whatever remains of it, when the lease expires.
When you are about to sign, this article means a deposit is permitted, and that it is tied to a stated purpose: keeping the property in good order until the lease ends. A deposit clause that is silent on refund, or that lets the landlord keep the deposit for reasons other than maintenance, may run into this article, since the landlord has to return the deposit or the balance at the end of the lease.
It is worth looking at what the contract says about the deposit amount, what it may be deducted for, and when it is returned. The article says that the deposit, or what is left of it, must come back to the tenant when the lease expires.
In Fahm reports this article usually sits under: Ambiguity and gaps
Related articles
- Article 6Cited in Fahm reportsThis article covers what happens when a lease term ends but the tenant stays in the property and the landlord does not object.
- Article 7This article says that once a lease contract is valid, neither the landlord nor the tenant may end it on their own during its term.
- Article 12This article says when the tenant pays the rent.
- Article 13Cited in Fahm reportsThis article covers changes at renewal time.
- Article 14This article sets a notice period for changing lease terms at renewal.
- Article 16Cited in Fahm reportsThis article says who is responsible for maintenance during the lease.