Buying or leasing commercial property in Dubai involves more than agreeing a price or a rent. Offices, shops, warehouses and restaurant units each come with their own approvals, usage limits, fit-out issues and exit risks. Many of these only become visible once the documents are reviewed closely.
Whether you are a tenant, a buyer or an investor, the right questions help you understand what you are signing and where the risks sit. The questions below are the ones to raise with your legal adviser before you commit. They also work as a checklist for your own review.
1. Have You Handled Transactions Similar to Mine?
A retail lease, an office purchase and a warehouse acquisition carry different risks. Ask for examples of similar matters: the property type, whether it was a lease or a purchase, and the issues that came up. Experience with comparable deals usually means the important questions are raised early.
2. What Risks Do You Usually Look For in Deals Like This?
A good answer should be specific. For a purchase, it may cover title, ownership and any existing mortgage or restrictions. For a lease, it may cover permitted use, rent increases, service charges, maintenance responsibilities and early termination. Checks on the other party matter too; see our guide to counterparty due diligence.
3. Will You Only Review the Contract, or Advise on the Deal Structure Too?
Some deals need more than a contract review. Buying through a company, splitting ownership between partners or combining a purchase with a lease-back can change your risk and your options later. Ask whether the advice will cover structure as well as wording.
4. Are There Approvals, Licences or Authority Requirements I Should Confirm Before Signing?
The property must be able to support your intended use. Before signing, confirm that the use is permitted for that unit, that your trade licence activity fits the premises, and that any landlord, building or authority approvals for fit-out are available. For leases in Dubai, also confirm the tenancy contract will be registered through Ejari, the system used to register rental contracts.
5. How Do You Handle Negotiations?
Not every clause is worth a fight. Negotiation should focus on the terms that could cause real harm later, such as rent reviews, handover dates, rent-free periods for fit-out, liability for defects, renewal rights and termination. Ask how your adviser prioritises issues and how changes will be documented. Clear drafting matters as much as the negotiation; our contract drafting services cover lease and purchase documents.
6. What Documents Will You Review Apart From the Main Agreement?
The main agreement is only part of the picture. Depending on the deal, the review may need to cover:
- title or ownership records for the property;
- building or community rules, including service charge arrangements;
- existing leases, if you are buying a tenanted property;
- approvals and permits relevant to your intended use;
- the landlord’s or seller’s authority to sign.
7. Will You Give Me a Clear Risk Summary Before I Make a Final Decision?
Long comments on a draft are hard to act on. Ask for a short summary in plain language: the main risks, what has been negotiated, what remains open and what you are agreeing to if you sign. That makes it easier to make a commercial decision quickly.
8. If the Deal Becomes Disputed, What Position Would the Contract Leave Me In?
It is better to ask this before signing than after. Check what happens if the landlord or seller is late, if the property is not as described, or if you need to leave early, and which forum would decide a dispute. For an overview of how these cases are resolved, see our guide to property disputes in Dubai.
9. Who Will Actually Work on My Matter?
Ask who will handle the file day to day, who will review the final documents and how quickly they can respond. Commercial property deals often move fast when deposits, bank approvals or landlord deadlines are involved, so availability matters.
10. How Do You Charge, and What Is Included?
Agree the fee arrangement at the start. Ask whether the fee is fixed, hourly, milestone-based or a retainer, what it covers, and what would count as extra work, such as additional negotiation rounds or registration steps. Clear terms avoid surprises later. The lowest quote does not always cover the same scope.
11. What Would You Be Worried About If You Were in My Position?
This question often produces the most useful answer. It invites your adviser to step back from the documents and highlight the commercial points that matter most for your business, such as flexibility to expand, the cost of leaving early or the risk of delays to opening.
Before You Sign, Ask Better Questions
A commercial property deal ties up significant money and often shapes how your business operates for years. Asking these questions before you sign helps you understand the risks, negotiate the terms that matter and avoid surprises once you have moved in. If you are buying, leasing or investing in commercial property, our commercial real estate lawyers in Dubai can review the documents with you.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Speak to a qualified legal consultant about your transaction. 
