Ejari in Dubai: How to Register Your Tenancy Contract

01What Ejari is and why you need it

Ejari is the Dubai Land Department system for registering a tenancy contract. Once a contract is registered you receive an e-Contract Registration Certificate. The UAE government portal says that registering lease contracts is compulsory to connect utility services such as water, electricity, gas and telecommunications.

In Dubai the landlord, or the property manager, normally registers the contract. A tenant can also register it through a real estate trustee centre, as long as the tenant is the applicant or holds a power of attorney.

02Documents you need

To rent a home, the government portal lists a copy of your passport, a valid residence visa and your Emirates ID, plus post-dated cheques covering the agreed lease period. Rent can be paid in one payment or several, as agreed with the landlord or broker.

To register the contract through a trustee centre, the Land Department lists:

• the original Unified Tenancy Contract,
• the applicant’s Emirates ID, and
• an official power of attorney if the applicant is a representative. If it was issued in another emirate, it must be attached.

If you apply through a mobile app, a copy of the Unified Tenancy Contract is what the Land Department asks for.

03Official Ejari fees

The Dubai Land Department lists these fees in AED:

• Online (Dubai REST app or the Land Department website): 100 registration, 10 knowledge fee, 10 innovation fee and a 55 service partner fee plus 2.75 VAT on that fee. The total is AED 177.75.
• Trustee centre: 100 registration, 10 knowledge fee, 10 innovation fee and a 95 service partner fee, plus VAT. The page lists a total of AED 220, and notes that VAT applies to the partner fee, so confirm the final amount at the centre.

Fees can change, so check the Land Department page before you pay. A registration can be paid by credit card, cash or the Noqodi wallet.

04How registration works

1. Sign the Unified Tenancy Contract with the landlord.
2. Choose a channel: the Ejari system or the Dubai REST app (for landlords and licensed property managers), or a real estate trustee centre.
3. Submit the contract details and documents and pay the fees.
4. An employee reviews and approves the request in the system.
5. Receive the e-Contract Registration Certificate, by email if you applied online. At a trustee centre, the Land Department lists about 25 minutes of processing time, not counting the queue.

Once you have the certificate, you can use it with your tenancy contract to set up your utilities. Our utilities guide covers the next step.

05Housing fee, rent increases and disputes

• Housing fee: the government portal says tenants in Dubai pay a Dubai Municipality housing fee of 5% of the yearly rental charges, added to the monthly electricity and water bills.
• Broker commission: some brokers charge a commission of up to 5% of the total rent, according to the portal.
• Rent increases: in Dubai, increases are compared with the average rent in the area, under Law No. 43 of 2013. The Land Department’s rental index and the RERA increase calculator are the official reference tools.
• Disputes: rental disputes in Dubai go to the Rental Dispute Centre, which is run by the Land Department.

This page does not cover deposit amounts or notice periods. Check your signed contract and the Land Department for those. For the bigger picture, see our renting and housing guide.

FAQFrequently Asked Questions