Dubai tenants, landlords can cancel signed rental contracts if deception is proven

Tenants and landlords in Dubai can cancel signed rental contracts before the tenancy starts if they can prove the agreement was based on deception, according to a new judicial principle established by Dubai's Rental Disputes Center. The ruling allows either party to seek cancellation if deception is proven, provided legal conditions are met.

This means signing a rental contract does not automatically make it final, and there are legal safeguards in place to protect both parties. The decision comes after a landlord challenged a signed rental agreement after discovering the tenant company had a history of unpaid rent and court cases, including arrest and bring-in orders.

The case was resolved in favor of the landlord, with the rental contract annulled and both parties returned to their positions before signing the agreement. To avoid similar situations, Dubai's Rental Disputes Center encourages both landlords and tenants to check the other party's rental history before signing an agreement. The center's free Rental Good Conduct Certificate service allows parties to verify if the other party has a history of rental-related court cases or judgments.