Dubai shared-housing tenants can now terminate leases early and claim rent refunds

Residents living in designated shared housing in Dubai can terminate their tenancy before the contract expires and seek a refund of rent paid in advance under Law No. 4 of 2026. An occupant may terminate a lease at any time, provided they give the required notice to the lessor. The minimum notice period is 30 days, though contracts may stipulate a longer period that must be observed. Residents who terminate in accordance with notice provisions have the right to request return of rent paid in advance. The lessor may deduct the value of one month's rent from the advance payment before returning the balance. If the occupant does not recover the refund within 30 days of notifying the lessor, they may submit a petition to the Execution Judge. Notice of termination must be served through a notary public, sent to the email address in the contract, delivered by hand, or served through another legally approved method. If a shared-housing property is transferred to a new owner, the existing tenancy agreement remains unaffected and the occupant has the right to continue living there under the original contract.