When you own or live in an apartment, villa, or any property that’s part of a jointly owned development in Dubai, you deal with common areas (like gardens, corridors, shared pool, etc.), service charges, and maintenance. But who ensures these charges are fair? And who makes sure developers or management companies are accountable?
Enter Mollak — an online system by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) through Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) meant to bring clarity, fairness, and digital governance to jointly owned properties. blog.dubaicityguide.com+4Emirates24|7+4Construction Business News ME+4
What Exactly is Mollak?
- Name & Meaning: “Mollak” means “owners” in Arabic. NUFCA+1
- Legal Basis: It was established under Dubai’s laws covering jointly‐owned property (e.g. Law No. 6 of 2019, and Law No. 27 of 2007 concerning Jointly Owned Property Declarations) to regulate owners associations, service charge collection, and property management in developments where multiple owners share common property. NUFCA+2Emirates24|7+2
- Purpose: To ensure transparency, proper auditing, fair invoicing, and better governance in how maintenance/service costs are managed in co-owned properties. Construction Business News ME+2The National+2
Key Features & How It Works
- Registration of Owners Associations & Management Companies
Developers and management companies must register their projects under Mollak, set up owners’ associations, and get licensed/approved through RERA. NUFCA+3Gulf News+3Emirates24|7+3 - Escrow Accounts for Service Charges
Separate bank (escrow) accounts are created for collecting service fees. This ensures that developers cannot interfere with or misuse service fee funds. Emirates24|7+1 - Bills & Invoices via Mollak
Service fee invoices are generated and approved through the system. Owners receive unified bills via Mollak. The system requires that management companies submit service charge invoices for RERA approval before charging owners. The National+2Emirates24|7+2 - Auditing & Financial Transparency
Management companies submit financial statements, contracts, and expense reports. Auditors (recognized by RERA) verify them. Mollak tracks and publishes approved service charges, preventing over-or under-charging. Emirates24|7+2Construction Business News ME+2 - Tendering Process (“Munaqasat”)
Recently, Mollak introduced Munaqasat, a digital service to regulate tenders for maintenance and service tasks in jointly owned properties. Owners’ associations and management companies can issue tenders through this system. It helps ensure competitive pricing, quality, and transparency in selecting service providers. Dubai Land Department+1 - Owner Access and Rights
Property owners can see service charge budgets, invoices, and how money is used. Mollak also enables owners to see and evaluate performance of maintenance/service providers under certain modules. Dubai Land Department+1
Why Mollak Matters
Here are the main reasons why Mollak is a big deal for owners, residents, and the real estate sector:
- Transparency & Trust: Owners know how their money is spent; invoices are approved; financial actions audited. Emirates24|7+1
- Fair Service Charges: Developers cannot arbitrarily set or collect service fees. Everything must go through the proper channels—and via Mollak-approved invoicing. Khaleej Times+2The National+2
- Regulatory Oversight: RERA monitors management companies; ensures the law is followed; maintains a registry of approved associations and management firms. Emirates24|7+1
- Simplification & Efficiency: Digital systems reduce paperwork, help avoid disputes, allow online payment, faster approvals. Emirates24|7+2blog.dubaicityguide.com+2
- Value Protection: For property investors, knowing that service charges and common area management are properly handled helps maintain property value.
What Owners & Management Companies Should Know / Do
If you own a property in Dubai, or manage a community, here’s how you make sure you’re aligned with Mollak:
- Ensure your building / development is registered with Mollak. If not, request your management company or developer to initiate registration. Gulf News+1
- Check that your owners’ association (OA) is properly formed and your rights to budgets, invoices, maintenance contracts are being respected.
- Always get invoices / service charges via Mollak; verify if they are approved by RERA.
- For management companies: ensure you keep up with documentation, financial reporting, audits, and follow the tendering rules (especially under Munaqasat).
- Use the e-NOC (electronic No Objection Certificate) service via the REST / DLD system if your property is registered in Mollak. This is important for property transfers, etc. Dubai Land Department
Recent Updates & Enhancements
- The Munaqasat service launched in October 2023 to further regulate tenders in JOP (Jointly Owned Properties) sector via Mollak. Dubai Land Department+1
- Mollak continues to expand oversight through more auditors, more financial institutions acting as escrow trustee banks. Construction Business News ME+1
Challenges & Things to Watch Out For
- Some owners may not fully understand their rights under Mollak, so lack of awareness can limit its effectiveness.
- Delays in management companies submitting budgets/invoices can affect timely approval and payments.
- Disputes sometimes happen over service levels or perceived quality of maintenance. Transparent tendering (via Munaqasat) helps, but enforcement and feedback are key.
Final Thoughts
Mollak is a powerful tool changing how jointly owned properties are managed in Dubai. It puts owners’ rights and transparency front and center, holding management companies and developers accountable, and helping ensure fairness in service charges and maintenance.
If you own property in Dubai, or plan to buy or manage one, understanding Mollak is essential—it’s not just about paying fees, but knowing how they are set, how they are approved, and how you can voice concerns, all under regulated, transparent systems.