Free Legal Service Launched by Dubai Land Department

Dubai Land Department has announced the introduction of a ‘pro bono’ free legal service to support the masses involved in the real-estate related litigations. The details of the proceedings were finalized by the senior officials and representatives of professional law firms in the meeting to be held in the Land Department Deira headquarters on Wednesday. The meeting brought out an agreement to become a part of a new Legal Care Group. The cause aims to serve the members of public with genuine real estate issues who might otherwise be deterred from having recourse of the law due to the exorbitant fees. A group of volunteers will bring together senior lawyers, professional firms and consultants to offer free legal services.

Mohammed Sultan Thani, Assistant Director General of the Dubai Land Department, said:"The objective of this initiative is not merely to meet a need but to ensure fairness and justice is available to anyone who might have a concern which involves property, no matter their circumstances. This reflects the Government's commitment to ensuring there is in place a comprehensive equitable system of legalizing ownership and property transactions."Mohammed Sultan Thani added, "Now, no one is prevented from pursuing their rights merely because of the possibility they might be priced out of the legal system. The professionals who attended the meeting were extremely positive about this initiative and are being very generous in committing themselves to it and in volunteering their time."
He also stated,"As professionals they recognize their responsibility to the wider interests of the community and to ensuring that it is not merely perceived as fair but that in actual fact it acts in a way which is fair to everyone,"

The meeting held last week was attended by representatives of leading national and international law firms, including Al Tamimi, Norton Rose, Trowers and Hamlins, Lawyerpoint, Clyde and Co, Afridi and Angell and Hadef Al Daheri and Associates. Consequently,an agreement on the structure of the group, the services to be provided and its relationship with the Land Department was finalized by the committee members. The move brings the local system in line with 'pro bono' services arrangements available in territories such as parts of Europe and North America.

Mr. Emad Eldin Farouq, the Land Department's Senior Legal Counsel, said, "Lawyers are by the nature of their profession committed to serving justice and to protecting rights irrespective of the interests ranged against them. This initiative by this group of lawyers reflects that commitment and their bigger responsibility to ensuring there is justice and stability in the community."

"Dubai has given all of us as lawyers a great deal, including the opportunity to practice our profession. We were all agreed it was essential to get this initiative up and running and that it offers each of the opportunity to return something back to the community which continues to offer us so much," he added.

Realty Laws by Early Next Year in Abu Dhabi

According to a legal expert, Realty laws in Abu Dhabi like those dealing with escrow accounts, brokers, strata title and mortgages is expected to be executed by near the beginning of next year.

David Nunn, Partner of Simmons and Simmons stated, “Currently, the Department of Municipal Affairs has confirmed the real estate laws are under consideration and so we can assume that they are in draft phase. I am not aware that the planning and the building regulations law have yet been drafted although I believe that the underlying regulations have been worked out,"

As per Emirates Business reports of December last year, five draft laws have been concluded to manage the realty sector in Abu Dhabi. The laws will set regulations for real estate developers, contractors and brokers. In addition to it the rules will also check the off-plan sales, licensing of high-rise residential towers and property registration.

"I anticipate all these new laws although there was scope under the existing law 19 of 2005 to introduce regulations dealing with some of these matters," he said.

The new laws will be imposable once they are published in the Gazette, Nunn said. "I am confident the new laws will be more sophisticated than any real estate laws we have in the region.”