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Illegal Eviction in Downtown Dubai

The premium nature of Downtown Dubai makes it a common target for landlord-driven evictions — whether to sell at record prices or to re-let at higher post-pandemic rents. Regardless of the landlord's motivation, the legal requirements are identical: a valid Article 25 reason, 12 months' notarial notice, and actual compliance with the stated purpose.

Typical rent range in Downtown Dubai

AED 90,000–220,000/year (studio to 2BR)

What You Need to Know in Downtown Dubai

Downtown is a popular destination for short-term holiday lets, and some landlords evict long-term tenants specifically to convert units to Airbnb. This is not a valid Article 25 eviction ground. The tenant can challenge the eviction at the RDSC, and if the unit is subsequently found on a holiday let platform, this is strong evidence of pretextual eviction.

RERA Rental Index — Downtown Dubai

Downtown Dubai commands some of the highest RERA Index reference values in the emirate. The area is segmented into multiple sub-communities (Burj Khalifa, Burj Residences, The Address residences, etc.) and the RERA Index applies differently to each sub-community. Tenants should verify the exact sub-community name when checking the index.

Common Issues in Downtown Dubai

  • Evictions to convert unit to short-term holiday let — not a valid Article 25 ground
  • Sale-motivated evictions with insufficient notice
  • Pressure through building management or agents rather than formal legal process

What to Do

  • Verify notice was served by notary or registered mail with 12 months' lead time
  • Check the validity of the Article 25 ground cited
  • File at RDSC immediately if any element is defective

Frequently Asked Questions

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