Family Ordered to Vacate Hotel After Two-Year Stay Without Paying Bill

A civil court in Dubai has ordered an Arab family to vacate a hotel room they had occupied for nearly two years without settling the full cost of their stay.

The ruling requires the family to pay Dh155,000 in unpaid dues and fees calculated up to October 1, along with daily accommodation charges until they vacate, plus 5 per cent legal interest until the full amount is cleared.

The dispute began after a couple and their four children remained in a hotel room they had been living in since 2023. Although they made partial payments, the outstanding balance eventually exceeded Dh275,000, prompting the hotel to file a civil lawsuit seeking eviction and recovery of arrears.

Hotel management told the court that repeated requests for payment and vacating the premises were ignored, and the partial payments made covered only a small portion of the total costs.

During the hearings, the family argued that the case should be referred to the Rental Disputes Center, claiming the arrangement was akin to a tenancy contract. The court dismissed the argument, stating the relationship was clearly a hotel accommodation arrangement, not a residential lease. The absence of a tenancy agreement or utility bills further undermined the family’s claim.

A court-appointed expert confirmed that the family had been occupying the room since November 5, 2023, and that the hotel had provided all agreed services while the outstanding charges remained unpaid. The expert calculated unpaid amounts of Dh90,412 up to April 11, 2025, and Dh65,425 from April 12 to October 1, bringing total arrears to Dh155,837.

Electronic correspondence submitted to the court also showed the husband had pledged to settle the balance, reinforcing joint financial liability with his wife.

After reviewing the findings, the court ordered the family to vacate the room and return it in its original condition. The couple was also directed to jointly settle the outstanding dues and pay a daily room charge of Dh375 from October 2, 2025, until the date they vacate, along with 5 per cent legal interest from the date the claim was filed until the debt is fully repaid.

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