This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in the real estate sector in Dubai, where the Real Estate Regulatory Authority has signed an agreement with the Dubai Economic Development Department. Under the agreement, a mechanism for monitoring and inspecting Real Estate Regulatory Authority licenced entities will be established. Under the agreement, the two sides will work together to issue and impose fines on violators of the relevant regulations. The Land Department will provide all of the data and information for proper inspections, supervision and follow-up of licenced real estate facilities to be carried out. It will also provide the Economic Development Department’s Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Department team with all of the directives, decisions and memorandums issued to real estate companies in Dubai which clarify the relevant regulatory clauses and how they are applied. For its part the Economic Development Department’s Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Department will organise awareness campaigns about the relevant regulatory requirements.

Elsewhere Dubai’s Municipality Buildings Department has announced it has launched a new industrial building projects system. The aim is to ensure contractors are registered and simplify procedures for owners and customers in this sector. The new system will allow a contractor to design industrial buildings and supervise their implementation without needing to appoint a consultancy office. An awareness campaign about the new system will launch on 26 March.