Dubai Court Orders Investor to Pay Dh100,000 Burj Khalifa Brokerage Fee

The Dubai Real Estate Court has ordered an Asian investor to pay Dh100,000 to a real-estate brokerage firm after he failed to honour an agreed commission for securing a residential unit in the Burj Khalifa.

According to case records, the investor had instructed the brokerage to source a suitable apartment in the iconic tower. After a viewing was arranged, he expressed interest and signed a one-year lease worth Dh650,000. However, he later declined to settle the commission.

To support its claim, the brokerage submitted WhatsApp conversations, email correspondence, an invoice and a legal notice. The court initially appointed a technical expert, followed by a panel that included a real-estate specialist and an IT expert.

The IT expert verified the communications, confirming that the investor had requested a Burj Khalifa apartment and had been clearly informed of the rent, deposit and brokerage fee --originally Dh110,000 and later reduced to Dh100,000 -- which he accepted. The invoice was also formally emailed to him.

A real-estate expert further affirmed that the documented exchanges established a valid brokerage relationship and that the firm’s obligations were fulfilled once the lease was finalised between the investor and the unit owner. Dubai Land Department records showed the lease was registered and renewed the following year at the same value, demonstrating the brokerage’s effective completion of its role.

Relying on real-estate regulations and Court of Cassation principles that entitle brokers to their commission once their efforts result in a concluded contract, the court ruled that the investor had no grounds to withhold payment. He was ordered to pay the Dh100,000 commission, an additional Dh5,000 in compensation for the delay, as well as applicable legal interest, fees and costs.

For any enquiries or information, contact ask@tlr.ae or call us on +971 52 644 3004. Follow The Law Reporters on WhatsApp Channels.