Leasing real estate in Sharjah? New law drafted

Sharjah: A new law was drafted on leasing real estate in Sharjah, which included updating existing regulations on the rights of landlords and tenants, and how properties were bought and sold in the Emirate.

The Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC) approved a draft law for the year 2024 regarding real estate leasing in the Emirate of Sharjah, after introducing a number of amendments on the draft law in the sixth meeting of the first regular session of the eleventh legislative term. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of SCC.

The Council discussed the draft law on leasing real estate and reviewed the report received by the Council’s Legislative and Legal Affairs, Appeals, Suggestions and Complaints Committee, in the presence of Counselor Dr. Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Head of the Legal Department of the Government of Sharjah; Issa bin Hanzal, Director of the Legal Department of the Government of Sharjah; and from Sharjah Municipality, Khalid Falah Al Suwaidi, Director of Customer Service; Abdullah Ibrahim Shuhail, Director of the Rental Regulation Department; and Muhammad Ali Al Ridwan, Head of the Judgments Implementation Department.

Counselor Dr. Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Head of the Legal Department of the Government of Sharjah, gave a speech in which he praised the role of SCC in completing the legislative cycle of draft laws. He stressed the importance of the current draft law as it represents a work system that adds to the gains of the Emirate of Sharjah and its keenness to regulate the relationship between landlord and tenant, in accordance with the laws in force in the city of Sharjah. He pointed out that the Emirate of Sharjah constitutes an attractive environment for investors and families, so a strong law and legislation were created to regulate the trading of real estate, including buying and selling, and other real rights, all of which will be regulated by the draft law, especially since the previous law was issued in 2007, meaning it has been approximately 17 years old, and there is a need to amend it to keep pace with developments and meet the needs of the parties.

Khaled Falah Al Suwaidi, Director of Customer Service at Sharjah Municipality, stressed the importance of the draft law on real estate leasing, pointing out that the draft law contains regulating articles that embody the vision towards enhancing tourist, investment and residential attraction in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Al Suwaidi pointed out that the current wording of the draft law touches on the living situation of society and brings together all relevant parties in an organised law that keeps pace with developments and demand for the real estate sector in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Hamad Abdel Wahab Al Qawadi, Rapporteur of the Council’s Legislative and Legal Affairs, Suggestions, Appeals and Complaints Committee, read out a draft law for the year 2024 regarding real estate leasing in the Emirate of Sharjah, reviewing the definitions, objectives, competencies and other legal articles mentioned in the draft law.

Members discussed all the provisions and objectives of the law, which are aimed at regulating the relationship between the landlord and the tenant.

In their interventions, the members presented a number of opinions on the articles of the draft law, and the government representatives responded to the inquiries by explaining aspects of the legal interpretation of the articles of the draft law, as well as aspects of work in implementing the law.

The Council approved a draft law for the year 2024 regarding real estate leasing in the Emirate of Sharjah at its fifth plenary session, making the draft law the second that the Council will discuss at the beginning of its work for the eleventh legislative term.

At the end of the session, the Secretary-General of the Council, Ahmed Saeed Al-Jarwan, announced that the next meeting will discuss the Council’s recommendations regarding the policy of Sharjah Tourism and Commerce Development Authority.

- with inputs from WAM