Legal observers maintain that a recently-released property law covering the management of units in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) may end up favoring either property owners or property developers.
The Strata Law 2006, which is intended to clarify responsibilities for the day-to-day management of DIFC buildings, will reportedly bear little resemblance to a wider Dubai law, according to experts quoted in Gulf News.
Though a similar "condominium law" addressing the rights and responsibilities of owners and developers on common land in Dubai's freehold developments is expected soon, the new system could differ greatly from the DIFC model.
"Unfortunately, the strata laws may be in direct contrast to the DIFC laws," said Kent O'Brien, director of a strata law management company, K&G Strata Consultants on Australia's Gold Coast and a partner in Dubai-based AUAE Strata Global. The strata law originates in Australia.
"In the wider emirate community, bureaucrats often seek to appease all owners when drafting strata laws and the accompanying regulations. There are several self interested sectors pushing for the implementation of their own agenda and all seeking control," O'Briend added.
"In this instance the strata law creates regulations skewed towards a particular sector of the community, whether it is the original owner or the end user."
