New Dubai RERA Law Issued

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, earlier this week issued the Dubai law No. of 2019 pertaining to the Real Estate Regulatory Agency initially established by law No. of 2007 as predominantly the regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department.

The New Law provides for a reorganisation of RERA’s legal capabilities and capacities and defines a set of important objectives for RERA, including the contribution to the advancement of the real estate sector through an integrated system of regulatory and control measures which shall enhance its role in the overall economic development of Dubai, provide an assuring and supportive environment for the real estate development projects to safeguard the rights of both real estate developers and investors, keep pace with the steady growth of the real estate sector and all related activities, enhance the role of United Arab Emirates nationals in this sector and implement programs that will enable them to participate in real estate activities, as well as to develop the codes of principles and ethics required for practicing real estate activities.

The New Law confirms that RERA will continue to exercise certain powers established under the previous law, including the organisation and supervision of real estate development escrow accounts, approving qualified banking and financial institutions to manage these accounts, and the adoption of rules governing practitioners of the real estate development activity, the sale and rental of real estate, real estate brokers, real estate assessment and joint ownership of real estate property.

The New Law came with a number of key modifications and additions to RERA’s functions and specialties broadening thereby its scope of authority over real estate activities in the Emirate. The newly introduced powers include that RERA shall now be responsible for organising and licensing real estate activities and supervising the practitioners of these activities in order to ensure their compliance with the laws and regulation governing the real estate sector.

RERA will also be responsible for the supervision and inspection of the management, operation and maintenance of joint real estate properties, proposing the necessary legislations to regulate the work of real estate practitioners, and issuing the necessary regulations for the training and qualification of employees in the organisations licensed to practice real estate activities through the Dubai Real Estate Institute, in addition to the registration and issuance of identification cards to practitioners of real estate industry.