Introduction
Ajman has introduced a significant structural change to how tenancy disputes are handled within the Emirate, through the issuance of a new law establishing a specialised Rental Disputes Centre for the Emirate.
Law No. (1) of 2026, was issued by His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, on 8 January 2026, and came into force on 1 February 2026, replacing the committee-based framework that had been in place under Amiri Decree No. (2) of 2017.
From both a legal and commercial perspective, this development is more than an administrative restructuring exercise. It reflects a clear and growing trend across the UAE, where specialised sectors are getting their own dedicated dispute-resolution forums designed to deliver faster, more commercially focused, and procedurally efficient outcomes.
Tenancy disputes have long been among the most common cases landing before UAE courts. Other Emirates have already moved to address this through specialised rental committees and dispute centres, with the shared goal of reducing procedural delay, improving enforcement, and putting decision-making in the hands of those who are more familiar with the operational realities of the real estate market.
Ajman has now formally moved in the same direction.
A Dedicated Forum for Rental Disputes
Under Article (6) of the law, the Centre is granted jurisdiction over disputes arising from tenancy relationships within the Emirate, whether such disputes arise during the lease term itself or after the contractual relationship has ended.
The jurisdiction extends to a wide range of tenancy-related matters, including:
- lease disputes;
- eviction applications;
- recovery of possession claims;
- rental payment disputes;
- claims arising from termination of tenancy relationships;
- execution-related tenancy matters; and
- urgent and interim applications connected to lease relationships.
This is significant because the law effectively creates a specialised judicial eco-system dedicated specifically to real estate leasing disputes, rather than leaving such matters within the broader ordinary court structure.
A Self-Contained Judicial Architecture
The Centre is established as an independent legal entity with its own legal personality and full legal capacity to exercise its statutory functions and achieve its objectives, pursuant to Article (2) of the law. Its organisational framework, as set out under Article (9), consists of four integrated components:
- the Primary Rental Committee;
- the Appellate Rental Committee;
- the Execution Department; and
- a dedicated Rental Claims Management Office.
In practice, this structure is intended to create procedural continuity from the moment a claim is filed through to final enforcement.
From a commercial perspective, a judgment that cannot be enforced efficiently is often a judgment of limited practical value. Delays at the enforcement stage can frequently become more commercially damaging than the underlying dispute itself.
Article (21) establishes a dedicated Execution Department with express authority to enforce final judgments, orders, and settlement agreements issued or concluded before the Centre. This reflects a deliberate legislative attempt to reduce procedural fragmentation and create a more streamlined dispute-resolution process where adjudication and enforcement operate as part of one coordinated system rather than two disconnected stages.
Procedural Speed as a Legislative Objective
One of the most commercially significant provisions in the law is Article (19), which requires the relevant committee to determine any rental dispute within a maximum of sixty days from the date the file is referred to it. Adjournments are tightly controlled as a single hearing may not be postponed by more than one week, and the same ground may not be cited more than once as the basis for postponement.
Whether this timeline proves consistently achievable in practice will depend on case volumes, the Centre’s operational readiness, and the efficiency of its case management infrastructure.
Digitalisation and Procedural Flexibility
The law expressly accommodates remote hearings and electronic filing. Under Article (3), committees may conduct sessions either in person or through modern communication technology. Article (15) governs electronic claim registration, and digital notifications and document submissions are expressly recognised throughout. This is consistent with the UAE judiciary’s broader infrastructure transition and ensures that the Centre is operationally compatible with the way modern commercial parties actually conduct their affairs.
The Claims Management Office
A feature of the law that deserves particular attention is the role assigned to the Rental Claims Management Office under Article (13). This office is not merely a filing window. It is empowered to supervise the registration of claims, notify parties within five days of a hearing date, facilitate document exchange, appoint experts, and, importantly, attempt settlement before the file reaches a committee.
Settlement agreements reached through this office, once signed by the parties and adopted by the claims management judge, carry the force of an enforceable instrument. This pre-committee settlement function has the potential to resolve a meaningful proportion of disputes without the need for a full hearing, reducing both cost and delay for all involved.
Appeal Structure and Finality of Decisions
The law also establishes an appellate framework through the creation of an Appellate Rental Committee under Article (17). This is an important aspect of the new regime because procedural speed should still be balanced with proper judicial oversight and consistency in decision-making.
The Appellate Rental Committee reviews challenges to primary committee decisions, urgent orders, performance orders, and decisions of the claims management judge on appealable matters. Appellate decisions are final and not subject to further appeal.
Importantly, appellate decisions issued by the Committee are final and not subject to further appeal. This reflects the legislator’s clear intention to create a streamlined and expedited dispute-resolution process while limiting prolonged litigation cycles.
The law also introduces monetary thresholds affecting appeal rights. Pursuant to Article (16-d), decisions issued by the Primary Rental Committee in disputes not exceeding AED 20,000 are deemed final and non-appealable. From a practical perspective, parties involved in lower-value tenancy disputes should therefore approach proceedings before the Primary Committee with the understanding that the first-instance stage may effectively represent the final stage of litigation.
Additionally, Article (17-c) requires an appeal bond of AED 1,000 per appellant. While the amount itself is relatively modest, the bond is forfeited if the appeal is dismissed. The law further provides a practical procedural benefit by confirming that where multiple appellants file a joint appeal, a single appeal bond will suffice.
Taken together, these provisions demonstrate a deliberate legislative effort to balance accessibility to appellate review with the broader objective of procedural efficiency and finality.
From a practical standpoint, the appellate framework reinforces that the Centre is not intended to function merely as an administrative shortcut, but rather as a specialised judicial mechanism designed to combine speed with legal certainty, procedural structure, and institutional credibility.
Wider Commercial Significance
From a broader market perspective, the establishment of the Centre appears aimed at several parallel objectives, including:
- improving the speed and efficiency of tenancy dispute resolution;
- reducing pressure on ordinary court dockets;
- enhancing investor confidence;
- strengthening predictability in enforcement; and
- supporting the continued growth of Ajman’s real estate sector.
That said, the way the law is designed clearly reflects the vision of specialised sectors increasingly requiring specialised dispute-resolution mechanisms that are familiar with the commercial realities and operational needs of those sectors.
In many respects, this approach confirms the UAE’s continued move toward a more commercially responsive and specialised judicial environment designed to support both market stability and investor confidence.
Final Thoughts
Landlords, tenants, developers, investors, and property managers operating within Ajman should pay close attention to this new framework. Tenancy disputes within the Emirate are clearly moving toward a more specialised, streamlined, and procedurally accelerated system.
As with any newly introduced regime, the practical success of the framework will ultimately depend on implementation, operational efficiency, consistency in decision-making, and the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms in practice.
Nevertheless, from both a legislative and commercial perspective, the new law represents a significant development and appears closely aligned with the UAE’s broader objectives of procedural efficiency and strengthening investor confidence within the real estate sector.
Seek Legal Counsel
Should you have any questions or require assistance with any matters relating to Ajman’s new Rental Dispute Centre, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Senior Associate and Head of Notary and Rental Disputes, Eman Asad and Senior Associate, Hossam El Safoury.
Disclaimer
The content provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this information, the article does not offer a guarantee or warranty regarding its content. The matters discussed in this article are subject to interpretation, and legal outcomes may vary based on specific facts and circumstances. We recommend that readers seek individual legal counsel before making any decisions based on the information provided. If you require specific legal advice, please contact us directly.