Dubai court orders auction of 2,402 sqm plot worth Dh16.8 million

Dubai: A Dubai real estate court has ordered the public auction of a 2,402-square-meter plot valued at Dh16.8 million, ending a protracted inheritance dispute among seven siblings.

The ruling specifies that initial bidding will be restricted to the co-owners, with proceeds divided according to their respective shares.

The case began when a Gulf woman filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the shared ownership of the property, which she inherited alongside her six brothers. She stated that efforts to reach an amicable settlement, including exchanging her share for other real estate assets, had failed, leaving court intervention as the only option.

Earlier legal attempts

Court documents indicate that the dispute dates back to 2024, when the woman filed an earlier case seeking to partition the land. At the time, a court-appointed expert determined that physical division of the plot was impossible under Dubai Municipality rules, which require minimum plot sizes. The court dismissed the initial suit on procedural grounds, citing the need to first seek resolution through the Land Disputes Settlement Center.

Renewed request for judicial sale

After following proper procedures, the plaintiff renewed her request for a judicial sale. During hearings, her brothers opposed a full auction, offering to buy out her stake at the appraised value or requesting that any sale be limited to the existing co-owners.

Court decision and valuation

The court sided with the plaintiff, citing municipality restrictions and an expert report warning against dividing the undeveloped property. A formal valuation from Dubai’s Land Department set the price at Dh6,996.54 per square meter, totaling Dh16,806,377.

“The property cannot be divided without causing significant loss in value,” said Dr. Alaa Nasr, the plaintiff’s legal representative, welcoming the court’s decision to dissolve the joint ownership.