His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued Law No. (5) of 2024 on Property Leasing in the Emirate of Sharjah.
The provisions of this law apply to properties leased for residential, commercial, industrial, or professional purposes in the Emirate of Sharjah. The following are exempt from the application of this law:
1- Agricultural land.
2- Properties granted by the emirate’s government for residential purposes unless they are owned.
3- Properties provided by an employer for the housing of their employees without charging rent; this exemption does not apply to the leasing relationship that arises between the employer and the property lessor.
4- Properties belonging to hotel or tourism establishments leased solely to their guests.
5- Properties located within the free zones of the emirate, which have special committees or judicial bodies responsible for resolving rental disputes that arise within their boundaries.
6- Properties and contracts designated by a decision from Sharjah Executive Council.
7- According to the law, the parties to the rental relationship are required to conclude a lease agreement in writing or electronically, using the approved forms issued by the Executive Council of the Emirate of Sharjah. The executive regulations of this law will specify the data and conditions that must be included in this contract .
The law stipulates the certification of lease contracts as follows:
1- The landlord is required to certify the lease contract or any renewal of its duration and to pay the applicable fees to the municipality or the authorized entities within 15 days from the date of its drafting.
2- If the landlord refuses to certify the lease contract within the timeframe specified in paragraph 1 of this article, the tenant must request that the emergency judge at the center compel the landlord to certify it.
3- In the event that the lease contract is not certified by the municipality or the authorized entities, an administrative fine will be imposed on the landlord, as determined by the executive regulations of this law, in addition to the applicable certification fees.
4- The municipality may request that the emergency judge at the center compel the landlord to certify the lease contract and pay the fees and fines due at any time.
5- Except for the center, government entities in the emirate shall refuse to accept any unverified lease contract in accordance with the provisions of this law and its executive regulations in any transaction or service they provide.
According to the law, either party in the rental relationship, in the absence of a certified lease contract, may file a claim with the Rental Disputes Center in the Emirate of Sharjah to establish the rental relationship and its resulting effects using all forms of evidence provided for in the applicable legislation. The landlord will be required to pay the certification fees for the lease contract after its establishment.
The law specifies the obligations of the landlord, which include:
1- Delivering the leased property and its appurtenances to the tenant in a condition suitable for the intended use, without any hindrance to its enjoyment throughout the lease term, as agreed upon.
2- Carrying out necessary maintenance on the leased property unless otherwise agreed by the parties to the lease contract.
3- Not making changes to the leased property that would prevent or diminish its enjoyment without written permission from the tenant.
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