How to rent a home in Dubai
To rent in Dubai, sign the unified tenancy contract and have it registered in Ejari, which costs AED 177.75 online or AED 220 at a trustee centre. Budget for rent cheques, a refundable deposit, a DEWA deposit, a housing fee of 5% of the yearly rent and, if you use an agent, a commission the u.ae portal says is commonly up to 5% of the rent. Renewal increases are capped by Decree No. 43 of 2013.
Steps
Search through licensed brokers or the owner
Who: You
Documents:
- Passport
- Residence visa
- Emirates ID
Check that the broker's e-card and the advert's permit are valid on the DLD's validation services before you view or pay anything.
Check the landlord's right to rent
Who: You, with your broker
Documents:
- Title deed copy
- Landlord's ID, or the power of attorney of whoever signs for them
Ask who owns the home and, if someone else is signing, see the power of attorney.
Agree the terms in writing
Who: You and the landlord
Documents:
- Unified tenancy contract
- Post-dated cheques
Agree the rent, the number of cheques, who pays for maintenance, and how and when the security deposit will be returned. The law allows the landlord to take a security deposit but does not set the amount.
Register the contract in Ejari
Who: The landlord or the broker
Documents:
- Signed tenancy contract
- Title deed
- IDs of both parties
Registration is mandatory, and the government portal says landlords in Dubai must register leases with the DLD. A valid Ejari is needed to connect DEWA.
Connect DEWA and move in
Who: You
Documents:
- Ejari certificate
- DEWA deposit
DEWA asks for a refundable deposit and a supply activation fee, and the housing fee is then added to your DEWA bills. Photograph the home's condition and meter readings on the day you move in.
Plan the renewal
Who: You and the landlord
Documents:
- Current contract
- RERA rental index result
Either party who wants to change the terms, including the rent, must notify the other at least 90 days before the contract ends unless agreed otherwise. Check the permitted increase with the DLD's rental index before you agree.
Costs and fees
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ejari registration online, total | AED 177.75 |
| Ejari registration at a trustee centre, total | AED 220 |
| Agent commission: commonly up to this share of the rent (u.ae); not a legal cap, so agree it in writing | 5% |
| Municipality housing fee, share of yearly rent, added to DEWA bills | 5% |
| Security deposit, unfurnished: market practice reported by Bayut (the law sets no amount) | 5% |
| Security deposit, furnished: market practice reported by Bayut (the law sets no amount) | 10% |
| DEWA refundable deposit, apartment | AED 2,000 |
| DEWA refundable deposit, villa | AED 4,000 |
| DEWA supply activation fee | AED 130 |
Source: dubailand.gov.ae, u.ae, www.bayut.com, www.dewa.gov.ae. Data as of .
Ejari fees by channel
| Item | Online (Dubai REST app or DLD website) | Trustee centre |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| Service partner fee | AED 55 plus VAT of AED 2.75 | AED 95 plus VAT |
| Total | AED 177.75 | AED 220 |
Source: DLD Ejari registration service page. Data as of .
Maximum rent increase at renewal
| How far your rent is below the RERA index average for similar units | Maximum increase |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% | 0% |
| 11% to 20% | 5% |
| 21% to 30% | 10% |
| 31% to 40% | 15% |
| More than 40% | 20% |
Source: Decree No. 43 of 2013, Dubai Legislation Portal. Data as of .
Median registered rents across Dubai, twelve months
| Home type | Median annual rent | Median on a new lease |
|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment | AED 40,000 | AED 44,000 |
| One-bedroom apartment | AED 58,000 | AED 65,000 |
| Two-bedroom apartment | AED 77,000 | AED 90,000 |
| Three-bedroom apartment | AED 120,000 | AED 150,000 |
| Three-bedroom villa or townhouse | AED 150,000 | AED 150,000 |
| Four-bedroom villa or townhouse | AED 206,000 | AED 220,000 |
Source: BrickDXB analysis of DLD Ejari contracts, all of Dubai. Medians, published rounded to the nearest thousand dirhams. BrickDXB does not publish the number of contracts behind its Dubai-wide medians.. Data as of .
Notice periods
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Notice to change terms or rent before the contract ends | 90 days |
| Landlord's eviction notice at the end of the lease for sale, demolition, major renovation or own use, by notary or registered post | 12 months |
| Period in which a landlord who took a home back for own use may not rent it to someone else (residential) | 2 years |
Figures as of ; sources: dlp.dubai.gov.ae.
Documents checklist
- Passport, residence visa and Emirates ID
- Title deed copy and landlord's ID, or the power of attorney
- Signed unified tenancy contract
- Post-dated cheques
- Ejari certificate
- DEWA account and deposit receipt
- Move-in photographs
Common mistakes
- Paying a deposit before checking the broker's e-card and the advert permit.
- Leaving the deposit refund terms out of the contract.
- Moving in without an Ejari registration, which DEWA needs.
- Agreeing a renewal increase without checking the RERA index.
- Missing the notice deadline before the contract ends.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Ejari cost in Dubai?
AED 177.75 online through the Dubai REST app or the DLD website, or AED 220 at a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. The difference is the service partner fee.
How much can my landlord increase the rent in Dubai?
It depends on how far your rent is below the RERA index average for similar units, under Decree No. 43 of 2013: no increase if it is up to 10% below, rising in steps to a maximum of 20% if it is more than 40% below.
How much notice does a landlord need to give in Dubai?
90 days before the contract ends to change its terms, and 12 months by notary or registered post to evict at the end of the lease for sale, demolition, major renovation or own use.
How much is the security deposit when renting in Dubai?
The law allows a deposit but does not fix an amount; Bayut reports 5% of the annual rent for unfurnished homes and 10% for furnished homes as common practice. Agree the amount and the refund terms in the contract.
What is the Dubai housing fee?
It is a municipality fee of 5% of the yearly rent, paid by the tenant and added to DEWA bills.
Which laws govern renting in Dubai?
Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, governs landlords and tenants, and Decree No. 43 of 2013 sets the rent increase caps. Shared housing is regulated separately by Law No. 4 of 2026, and the DLD launched its Smart Rental Index in January 2025.