DIFC Law No. 1 of 2020 — Leasing Law

At a glance

How DIFC Law No. 1 of 2020 is organised

The 6 Parts below are the instrument's own divisions, in the order the official text sets them out.

What DIFC Law No. 1 of 2020 covers, article by article

The 58 article headings below are the instrument's own, reproduced in its order. They are a map of the law, not a summary of it — for the wording of any article, read the official text.

1. Title
2. Legislative authority
3. Application of this Law
4. Purpose of this Law
5. Date of enactment
6. Date of commencement
7. Schedules
8. Administration of the Law
9. The power of the DIFCA to make Regulations
10. Leases must be in writing
11. Invalid terms
12. Use of Leased Premises
13. Lessee must not cause nuisance or interference
14. Quiet Enjoyment
15. Rent payments
16. Fees, charges and taxes
17. Prohibition on disconnecting utility services
18. Transfer of Leased Premises by Lessor
19. Registration of Leases
20. Application of this Part 3
21. Residential Lease preparation costs
22. Security Deposits
23. Condition reports
24. Security Deposit scheme
25. Proceedings in respect of non-payment of Security Deposits
26. Obligations on expiry or termination of Residential Leases
27. Refunds of Security Deposits
28. Application to Court by Lessee
29. Application to Court by Lessor
30. Transfers
31. Rent increases
34. Avoiding damage and cleanliness of Residential Premises
35. Repair notices
36. Lessee must not install fixtures without consent
39. Urgent Repairs
40. Application to Court for Urgent Repairs
41. Application to Court for non-Urgent Repairs
42. Entry of Residential Premises
43. Conditions of Entry
44. Manner of entry
45. Notice of entry
47. Damage caused during entry
48. Application of this Part 4
49. Key-money and goodwill payments prohibited
50. Application of this Part 5
51. Termination of Lease
52. Termination by agreement
53. Termination without a Court order
54. Termination by Court order
55. Termination in other circumstances
56. Registration of termination
57. Surrendering a Lease
59. Exercise of Statutory Lien
61. Words and expressions in Instruments under Law
63. Service of notices
64. Deemed receipt in certain cases
66. Contraventions of this Law
67. Orders by Registrar in relation to breaches of this Law

Decisions applying this instrument

DIFC Courts decisions on this estate that cite it, most recent first. Each link goes to our record of that decision, not to commentary on it.

• SCT 593/2025 — Orry v Ofelja [2025] DIFC SCT 593 11 Mar 2026
• CFI 015/2025 — CFI 015/2025 Ward Holdings Limited (Trading as Waldorf Astoria Dubai Int 10 Jul 2025
• SCT 391/2024 — Numair v Naufil [2024] DIFC SCT 391 20 Nov 2024
• SCT 377/2024 — Nazeem v Niamat [2024] DIFC SCT 377 18 Oct 2024
• SCT 307/2024 — Nashwa v Nashtar [2024] DIFC SCT 307 11 Sep 2024
• SCT 278/2024 — Natale v Noraiz [2024] DIFC SCT 278 21 Aug 2024
• SCT 480/2023 — Nysa v Norwood [2023] DIFC SCT 480 25 Mar 2024
• SCT 426/2023 — Nurjah v Nabyt [2023] DIFC SCT 426 16 Jan 2024
• SCT 380/2023 — Mikhru v Mimba [2023] DIFC SCT 380 12 Dec 2023
• SCT 351/2023 — Mirbal v Misur [2023] DIFC SCT 351 20 Nov 2023
• SCT 296/2023 — Mithof v Mahaad [2023] DIFC SCT 296 25 Oct 2023
• SCT 246/2023 — Mirubin v (1) Mr. Miskat (2) Ms. Maisin [2023] DIFC SCT 246 18 Aug 2023

29 decisions on this estate cite this instrument. Browse all DIFC case records.

Primary sources

Everything on this page comes from these two. Links go to the issuing legislator.

• DIFC Law No. 1 of 2020 — official text (PDF) DIFC
• DIFC Legal Database — the register this instrument is listed in DIFC

Acting on DIFC Law No. 1 of 2020

This page is a record, not advice. If leasing law bears on a matter you are dealing with, speak to us about the facts.

Speak to us