Articles from the author

When a property is rented in Dubai, it is common practice for the landlord to ask for an annual payment of one cheque in advance. If a commercial space is involved, it may be negotiated such that several cheques are accepted.

The comment has been made on many occasions that land prices in Dubai will never drop. It is not clear why this is sometimes believed, as basic experience with supply and demand should refute this.

There has been a preponderance of landlords lately who expect their property to lease with the same ease and rates as in the past.

The summer is once again approaching and many people will be leaving for holidays.

As property markets change, we see landlords becoming more attuned to customer requirements, and developers showing an increasing interest in what to build, rather than in just building.

The importance of having a few key numbers on hand is often overlooked. If you need to know about the road that is being dug up in front of your villa or the absence of rubbish bins on a new site, or say a swarm of bees that have made a neat little home on your balcony, it is easy to feel helpless when trying to contact the appropriate people responsible.

For many years, the subject of who pays for utilities was of little interest to most Dubai residents.