Commercial lease negotiation & drafting
Leases for shops, offices and warehouses, negotiated and drafted to reflect the commercial terms actually agreed.
Rental & Tenancy Law · Commercial · Dubai & Sharjah
Commercial Tenancy Lawyer Dubai
Shop, office or warehouse lease dispute - or about to sign one? Commercial terms carry commercial consequences.
MBM represents commercial landlords and business tenants in Dubai - leasing, negotiating and disputing shop, office and warehouse tenancies, including rent disputes, lease termination and commercial eviction. We work from the lease you actually have, including fit-out, permitted-use and renewal terms that a standard residential contract does not carry.
The framework
The same law, a different kind of contract
Commercial tenancies in Dubai sit within the same broad framework as residential tenancies, Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, and the Rental Disputes Center remains the tribunal for unresolved matters. What differs in practice is the contract itself - commercial leases are typically individually negotiated, addressing fit-out and reinstatement, permitted trade or use, service charges, and sometimes turnover-rent arrangements that residential contracts do not carry.
That means a commercial dispute is decided as much by the specific lease as by the general statutory framework. This page describes the general framework; it is not advice on your lease.
Primary sources
Rental Disputes Center — rdc.gov.ae · Dubai Land Department — dubailand.gov.ae · UAE Legislation — uaelegislation.gov.ae
Matters we handle
Commercial tenancy matters MBM is instructed on
These are the situations that most often reach us. If yours is not listed, it is still worth a call.
Commercial rent disputes
Disagreements over rent calculation, service charges, or renewal terms specific to a commercial lease.
Commercial eviction
Recovering possession of shop, office or warehouse premises where the tenant has breached the lease or the tenancy has ended.
Commercial lease termination disputes
Disputes over whether early termination is available under the lease, and the consequences of terminating without a proper basis.
Retail & shop lease disputes
Disputes specific to retail premises, including turnover rent, fit-out standards and exclusivity or trading-hours terms.
Office & warehouse lease disputes
Disputes specific to office and industrial premises, including service charges, permitted use and reinstatement obligations.
Our approach
What MBM actually does on a commercial tenancy matter
Concrete steps, grounded in the specific lease, not a generic template.
Read the lease as a commercial document
We assess use, fit-out, service charge and renewal terms together, since commercial disputes usually turn on how these interact.
Negotiate on your behalf
Whether drafting a new lease or renewing an existing one, we negotiate the commercial terms directly with the other party.
Address a dispute early
Rent, service charge and use disputes are often resolved through a clear, lease-based position stated early.
Recover possession or defend it
Where eviction is necessary, or being challenged, we prepare and present the case at the Rental Disputes Center.
Advise on the business impact
Commercial tenancy decisions carry business consequences beyond the lease itself, and we advise with that in view.
Before you call
What to have to hand
You do not need any of this to call us - but having it ready makes the first conversation more useful.
- The commercial leaseAll pages, including any side letters or amendments
- The Ejari certificateOr details of the registered tenancy
- Service charge or rent statementsWhere the dispute concerns charges or rent
- Correspondence connected to the matterEmails, letters or messages between the parties
- A timeline of eventsAs you understand them, with dates where you can
Why MBM
Commercial tenancy, read as a business document
Commercial leases are business documents first. MBM reads them that way, with the commercial consequences in view, not just the legal ones.
- We act on both sides. Advising landlords and business tenants gives us a practical understanding of how commercial leases are actually negotiated and enforced.
- Litigation experience in-house. If a matter has to be argued at the RDC, the people advising you are the people who will argue it.
- Straight answers on merits. If a claim is weak on the lease terms, we will tell you that early.
- Two offices. Dubai and Sharjah.
17Years in practice as MBM Businessmen Services L.L.C.
90+Years of shared experience across the team
10Lawyers, litigation and arbitration capable
95%Win rate in high-stakes disputes, as published by the firm
Common questions
Commercial tenancy, answered directly
General information, not advice on your lease. Positions and procedures can change and depend on your specific facts.
Does the same tenancy law apply to commercial and residential leases in Dubai?
Commercial tenancies in Dubai generally sit within the same overall framework, Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended, but commercial leases are typically more heavily negotiated, with terms addressing fit-out, permitted trade, service charges and renewal that go well beyond a standard residential contract.
Can a commercial landlord evict a business tenant in Dubai?
Eviction of a commercial tenant follows the same general notice and grounds framework as residential eviction, with the specific commercial lease terms also relevant.
What is a common cause of commercial rent disputes in Dubai?
Disagreements over service charges, renewal terms, permitted use, and the calculation of a rent increase are common in commercial tenancies, often complicated by fit-out or turnover-rent arrangements not present in residential leases.
Can a business terminate a commercial lease early?
This depends heavily on the specific lease terms, which for commercial premises are often individually negotiated. Early termination without a proper contractual basis can expose the terminating party to a claim.
What should a business check before signing a shop, office or warehouse lease?
Permitted use, fit-out and reinstatement obligations, service charge calculation, renewal terms and any turnover-rent or exclusivity clauses are worth particular attention before signing a commercial lease.
Can a landlord dispute a commercial tenant's use of the property?
Yes, where the use falls outside what the lease permits. Commercial leases typically specify permitted trade or use closely, and a departure from that can be a basis for dispute.
How are commercial lease renewal disputes handled?
Renewal disputes are assessed against the lease's own renewal mechanism first, and where a rent increase is the specific issue, against the applicable rental index framework. Unresolved disputes can be raised at the Rental Disputes Center.
Does MBM act for both commercial landlords and business tenants?
Yes, though not in the same matter. MBM advises commercial landlords on leasing, renewal and eviction, and business tenants on negotiating, defending and disputing commercial tenancy terms.
What happens if a commercial tenant stops paying rent?
A commercial landlord can pursue rent arrears and, depending on the lease and the circumstances, eviction, following a broadly similar process to residential non-payment cases but often with more detailed lease-specific provisions to work through.
How much does commercial tenancy advice cost in Dubai?
The initial consultation with MBM is free. Cost thereafter depends on whether the matter is a lease review, negotiation, or a dispute, and its complexity. MBM provides a scope and fee position before you instruct.
Free consultation
Tell us about your premises
Tell us briefly about your matter. Our team will review your enquiry and advise you on the appropriate next step. Everything you send is treated as confidential.
- +971 4 570 0204Dubai office · Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00
- WhatsApp +971 54 596 1111Send the lease as a photo if it is easier
- info@mbm-co.comAttach the lease and any relevant correspondence
Practice area: Rental & Tenancy Law — Commercial
Jurisdiction: Dubai & Sharjah, UAE
Last reviewed: September 2026
Thank you — your enquiry is with our team.
A member of the MBM team will review what you have sent and come back to you with the appropriate next step.
A commercial lease carries commercial risk. Have it reviewed properly.
Whether you are negotiating a new lease or already in dispute, the earlier the lease is reviewed, the more options remain open. The first consultation is free.