The Abu Dhabi Family and Civil and Administrative Claims Court ruled to reject a lawsuit to transfer ownership of a farm to a woman who bought it with an informal contract that was not registered. The court emphasized that completing the sale or purchase of any property in Abu Dhabi before the competent authority is a formal condition that the court adheres to.

Details reveal that the woman filed a lawsuit against two men demanding that they transfer ownership of the farm to her name, with immediate enforceability. She stated that the second defendant concluded a contract to sell the agricultural land to her for 850,000 dirhams, but the contract was not registered with the administration, and the land remains under the name of the first defendant (who previously sold it to the second defendant). She supported her claim with a copy of the sale contract.

The court stated in its ruling that according to the Real Estate Ownership Law, ownership of the property and related rights do not transfer except by registration, which is binding and conclusive evidence of ownership and related rights or long-term lease rights.

The court noted that the documents submitted lacked any evidence that the transaction took place before the competent authorities, as specified by the decree issued by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs No. 3/4/2907 dated 5/5/2010, which invalidates any ownership transfer transaction unless it occurs before the competent authority. This is a formal condition the court adheres to, considered a binding law that must be respected as it serves the public interest. Since the lawsuit papers lacked proof of obtaining the required approval, the lawsuit lacked a valid legal basis. The court ruled to reject the lawsuit and obligate the plaintiff to pay fees and expenses.