Developer Didn’t Provide SPA and Later Resold Unit
I would appreciate some genuine advice and insights from people familiar with UAE property disputes and Dubai Court procedures.
My situation is the following:
I booked a unit with a developer and made the required payments, but the SPA was never properly provided/signed. After around a year, I was informed that the same unit had allegedly been sold to another buyer at a much higher price. The developer is now offering me a refund of my money plus AED 20,000 as compensation.
I raised a complaint with Dubai Land Department, however the complaint was closed with the explanation that the matter is “contractual,” and that the dispute would need to be resolved through Dubai Court.
From what I understand, court proceedings in the UAE may take around 6–8 months or possibly longer depending on appeals, legal fees, and expert reports. Because of that, I am trying to evaluate the practical side carefully and make a reasonable decision in good faith and in compliance with UAE law.
I would genuinely appreciate opinions from anyone who has gone through something similar:
In practice, is it worth filing a court case in Dubai for such matters?
Would courts potentially award compensation beyond the AED 20k being offered?
Can a buyer realistically recover legal costs and damages for loss of opportunity/appreciation?
How do UAE courts generally view situations where no properly signed SPA was provided?
Did anyone here settle instead of going to court, and do you regret it or not?
I am not trying to accuse anyone publicly — only trying to understand the legal and practical realities before making a decision.