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UPDATED AS OF October 1, 2026
UAE Property Deal Delayed for 6 Months | Here’s How It Ended
She Got the Property……. and Compensation
Buying a property should end with a fairly simple outcome, you pay, the ownership transfers and you get the keys. But for one British buyer in the UAE, things became considerably more complicated.
After purchasing a property, the seller began delaying both the handover and transfer of ownership. The situation was further complicated by the property being under attachment at the time.
Nearly six months passed without the transaction being properly concluded, eventually leading the buyer to seek legal advice.
Going to Court Looked Like the Obvious Move
On paper, the first option seemed fairly straightforward, take the matter to court, seek an order for the transfer of ownership and claim compensation for the delay.
But before filing anything, the legal team looked at the bigger picture.
The question wasn’t simply whether the buyer had grounds to sue. It was whether months of litigation, additional costs and continued uncertainty were actually necessary to get her what she wanted.
The priority was clear, secure the property, receive fair compensation and close the matter properly.
Settlement Started to Make More Sense
Rather than immediately beginning court proceedings, the buyer’s legal team approached the seller directly.
The conversation wasn’t simply built around the threat of a lawsuit. Instead, the seller was shown the practical reality of allowing the dispute to escalate.
A court case could mean legal fees, additional expenses and potentially further financial obligations beyond the original requirement to transfer the property.
If both sides could agree on the transfer and reasonable compensation now, there was a chance to bring six months of uncertainty to an end without creating another lengthy dispute.
Then There Was the Cost of Going to Court
Court fees also played heavily into the decision. In the circumstances described by the legal team, fees linked to the value of a claim could reach 6% of the claim amount.
That made the calculation fairly simple, resolve the dispute now on clearly agreed terms, or potentially spend considerably more pursuing the same outcome through litigation.
Importantly, settlement didn’t mean the buyer was giving up her claim.
She still wanted the property transferred into her name. She still wanted compensation for the delay. The difference was simply how she got there.
And It Worked
Following further discussions, the buyer and seller eventually settled.
Ownership was transferred to the buyer, she received compensation for the delay and the dispute was closed without going through a full court case.
The case makes a useful point about property disputes in the UAE. Having a legal right and immediately going to court aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Good legal advice is also about understanding the most practical way to secure that right. Where negotiation can deliver the same result, or potentially a better one, in less time and at a lower cost, litigation may not need to be the first move.
For property buyers, particularly where handover delays, ownership transfers or property attachments are involved, understanding the available options early can make a considerable difference.
Sometimes, the best outcome isn’t winning in court.
