Renting in the UAE is governed by clear tenancy laws designed to protect both landlords and tenants — but Dubai and Abu Dhabi use different registration systems and rent-increase rules. Dubai runs on Ejari and the RERA Rental Index; Abu Dhabi runs on Tawtheeq and the Department of Municipalities and Transport's own rental index. Use the Dubai / Abu Dhabi switch below to see what applies to you.
Step-by-Step: What You Need to Know
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Sign your tenancy contract
Agree the term, rent and any clauses with your landlord or agent and sign the tenancy contract — always in writing, even for renewals.
Register it on Ejari
Every Dubai tenancy must be registered on Ejari, the official rental registration system — required for utility connections, visa applications and as legal proof of your tenancy. Registering it yourself online commonly costs roughly AED 170–220 all-in; by law this is the landlord's responsibility, though in practice it's often handled or paid by the tenant.
Know the security deposit norms
A refundable security deposit is standard — commonly around 5% of the annual rent for an unfurnished unit and around 10% for a furnished one — refundable at the end of the lease, less any deductions for damage.
RERA rent-increase limits
Landlords can only raise your rent if it’s below the RERA Rental Index for comparable units, on a sliding scale: no increase if your rent is within 10% of the index; up to 5% if 11–20% below; up to 10% if 21–30% below; up to 15% if 31–40% below; and up to 20% if more than 40% below. Check your own contract on the RERA Rental Calculator.
90-day increase notice
A landlord must give you written notice of any rent increase at least 90 days before your renewal date — if they don't, you're not obligated to accept the increase for that renewal.
Your renewal rights
As long as you pay rent and honour your contract, a landlord generally cannot evict you or refuse renewal without a legally valid reason (e.g. the landlord’s own use, sale, or major renovation) and the notice periods set out in Dubai’s tenancy law (Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended).
Sign your tenancy contract
Agree terms with your landlord and sign a written tenancy contract — the basis for your Tawtheeq registration.
Registered via Tawtheeq
Abu Dhabi tenancies are registered through Tawtheeq, the Department of Municipalities and Transport's contract registration system. Registration is the landlord's/property manager's legal responsibility, with modest annual registration fees — required for utility connections and as legal proof of tenancy.
Security deposit & municipality fee
A refundable security deposit (commonly around 5% of annual rent) is standard practice. Separately, expatriate tenants pay a municipality housing fee — commonly cited at 5% of the annual rent — collected in instalments via the utility bill; UAE nationals are typically exempt for their own residence.
Rent increases follow the Abu Dhabi Rental Index
Rent increases in Abu Dhabi are benchmarked against the Department of Municipalities and Transport's own rental index for the area and property type, rather than Dubai's RERA calculator — check the current index for your community before agreeing to any increase.
Advance notice required
As in Dubai, landlords must give advance written notice before a rent increase or before declining to renew — always get any proposed change in writing well before your renewal date.
Dispute resolution
Rental disputes in Abu Dhabi are handled through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's Rent Disputes Committee, separate from Dubai's Rental Dispute Settlement Centre — keep your Tawtheeq certificate and payment records on hand if a dispute arises.