Loss of Construction Works Before Handover in the UAE

The new Civil Transactions Law distinguishes loss of construction works before and after handover. Responsibility cannot be determined from the fact of damage alone.

Identify the cause, who supplied the materials, who controlled the site, the completion stage and whether handover or delay in handover occurred. Preserve incident reports, site records, partial-handover documents and insurance terms.

A fire or other accident may raise different issues depending on fault, contractual risk allocation and the applicable legal rules. A partial handover or evidence of negligence can affect the assessment of loss and compensation.

Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 entered into force on 1 June 2026. Check the dates, applicable special legislation and temporal rules for the particular case.