What is the sole purpose of an Owner’s Association in the UAE?

The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) consistently seeks to enhance laws and legislation to ensure customer satisfaction and increasing investor confidence by setting legislation to regulate relations between all contracting parties and organising the exchange process of properties. Dubai Land Department (DLD) provides many services to customers in Dubai, expanding its roles to planning, coordinating, and evaluating operations related to real estate licenses, and the organisation and development of real estate activities, as well as a commitment to monitor projects financially and technically to protect investors.

Law (6) of 2019 concerning Jointly Owned Properties in Dubai was recently published and article (49) decree that managing companies shall replace the Owners Associations in the rights and obligations stated before in the application of the provision of this law. Owners Committee Article (22) regards the process in place for the committee and get the form and what the requirement is to become a member of the owner’s committee, while functions of the Owners Committee Article (24) is about the responsibility of the owners' committee.

Do you believe that Facility Management (FM) and OA’s should work together? And Why?

There is a common misunderstanding in the market regarding the role of FM. Most people consider the facilities manager and the facility service provider to be the same. However, under the JOP law, FM in the context of the facilities manager must work within and be part of the Association Management company. The FM person employed by AM Management is responsible for overseeing and supervising the maintenance work performed by a service provider by establishing the scope of work and identifying SLA/KPIs. The service providers also monitored, such as, among others, cleaning and maintenance companies, to ensure standards are achieved.

A facilities manager, therefore, is responsible for making sure that buildings and their services meet the needs of the people that work in them. They are also accountable for services, such as cleaning, security, and parking, to make sure the surrounding environment is in a suitable condition to work.

What are some of the new initiatives of RERA towards streamlining the Owners Association?

In line with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision, RERA has focused on implementing smart solution initiatives and increasing quality and standards by implementing efficient processes and procedures to benefit the Owners Association. We also recently launched MOLLAK, which is a fully integrated system designed specifically to regulate and provide support services for all parties involved in jointly owned properties in Dubai Management Companies and Owners Association. RERA continuously brings awareness to management companies to reduce service charges without sacrificing quality. Going Green is also another initiative taken to help the environment and reduce costs at the same time.

What is your vision for the OA’s out here?

DLD outstanding and integrated services to all its customers while developing the necessary legislation to propel the real estate sector in Dubai through the regulation of the sector, organising and promoting real estate investments, and spreading industry knowledge in search of regional and worldwide real estate innovation.

In that regard, we rely on all stakeholders to achieve happy communities and believe that managing companies must help maintain property values, financial stability, community bonding among neighbours, increased community pride, well-maintained common areas and amenities, increased community engagement, and transparency as part of RERA’s vision for jointly owned properties.