Can your Pet dog be a reason to evict tenants in Dubai?

The owner of your apartment may serve you notice for one year to evict the apartment.

Owning a pet can have its pros and cons but it definitely can’t become a reason for you to get evicted from your apartment. We are going to help you with some laws regulating the relationship between landlords and tenants in Dubai, which might handy if you ever get into this kind of situation.

Let’s take a situation where you are residing in the emirate of Dubai and your tenant has slapped you with a notice to evict your house immediately.

There are a few things you can follow to fight back on this:

1. You can clearly state that the contract made between you two does not state that you can’t keep a pet in the apartment and also that there’s no restriction by the building owner’s association to keep pets in the apartment.
2. You can make sure that the dog you own etc. doesn’t become a nuisance to other residents of the building or affects the cleanliness and hygiene of the surroundings. Although you need to be sure about the breed of the dog you own, as the Federal Law No. 22 of 2016 related to possession of dangerous animals does not allow the residents in the UAE to own pet dogs like Pitbull, Boxer, Dobermann in the house.
3. You can inform the owner of your apartment to serve you notice at least 12 months prior to evicting the apartment. As article 25(2) of law no. 33 of 2008 amending law no. 26 of 2007 regulating the relationship between landlords and tenants in Dubai clearly states “For the purposes of paragraph (2) of this article, the landlord must notify the tenant of the eviction reasons twelve (12) months prior to the date set for eviction, provided that this notice is given through a notary public or registered post.”
4. You can also take this matter to the Dubai Municipality and Rental Dispute Center in Dubai to take their views and suggestions.

Well, there you go. Hope this helps you and your dog from getting unlawfully evicted.