Renting a Property in Dubai

There are a few steps involved between finding and finalizing your apartment or property for rent. These include:

1. Deciding on a budget 
2. Identifying the location and type of home after research online and through conversations 
3. Setting up viewings with an agent 
4. Making an offer and beginning the admin and documentation procedures 
5. Registering your tenancy contract on the Ejari portal 
6. Setting up your utilities such as water, electricity and internet 
7. Scheduling a moving day after reviewing building move-in policies 

Check our tenant’s guide for a detailed description of each step, to make your rental process a whole lot easier.

The location you select will depend on your specific requirements. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:

1. How close is it to your workplace? Business Bay and Dubai Marina offer great options that are close to several leading enterprises. 
2. Are you looking for a self-contained community? Dubai Hills, Arabian Ranches and Damac Hills are great picks. 
3. Looking for an address that offers both prestige and lifestyle? Do take a look at Palm Jumeirah or Downtown 
4. Is an urban hub more your thing? Opt for Downtown Dubai or Business Bay
5. Looking for a great community at a great price? JVT and JVC are both ideal in this respect. 

As you can see from the above, different locales offer different benefits. Explore them more in our guide to living in Dubai.

To prepare your tenancy contract - you need:

• Passport copy 
• Residence Visa copy 
• Emirates ID copy 
• Security deposit payment receipt

Ejari is a Dubai Land Department (DLD) platform to register tenancy contracts. Ejari registration helps to regulate real estate rentals and ensures that all private contracts follow a legal format approved by the Government. Ejari registration is mandatory.

You can complete your Ejari registration offline or online.

Offline: To complete the process offline, you’ll need to go to an approved typing center between 8 am and 8 pm Sunday to Thursday and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday. Fill out the registration form. Carry the following documents with you: 

• Original, signed tenancy contract 
• Your passport copy (for non-GCC nationals)
• Your landlord’s passport copy (for individual landlords) 
• Your Emirates ID copy 
• Your Residence Visa copy 
• 9-digit DEWA Premises Number, or copy of a recent DEWA green bill. 
• Security deposit receipt 

The Ejari registration fee is AED 220.

Online: Register your Ejari on the DLD site or download the Dubai REST app. 

Please note, your landlord needs to have an account online or on the app to go ahead with this mode of registration. The registration process involves filling out a form, uploading the necessary documents and completing the payment. The registration fee on the app is AED 175.

To register Ejari online, an account has to be created on the Dubai Land Department website. This cannot be done by the tenants themselves, only landlords and their representatives, real estate brokers or property management firms are allowed to do so.

Ejari must be renewed when the term of the lease expires, usually every year. If you’re doing the process online, select the contract renewal option. Documents required include:

• Original tenancy contract 
• Your Emirates ID
• Copies of your passport and Residence visa 
• A copy of your landlord’s passport 
• A copy of the title deed from the landlord 
• A recent DEWA green bill 

Fees for Ejari registration renewal amount to AED 206 plus VAT.

Yes, expats can rent an apartment in Dubai as long as they are legal residents with a valid resident visa and Emirates ID.

Generally, you require a residence visa and an Emirates ID to rent an apartment in Dubai. In some rare cases, you may be able to apply with a copy of your Emirates ID application along with any other documents requested. If you are renting a hotel apartment or a holiday home for a short term stay, you will be able to do so without a residence visa as long as you submit a valid passport copy.

Owners are allowed to raise the rent in Dubai, as long as they follow these guidelines:

• Inform tenants 90 days before their contract is due for renewal about the rent increase
• This 90-day notice needs to be communicated in writing or electronically 
• The rent increase follows the approved rent increase amount 

The approved rent increase is based on your existing rent compared to the average market rental rate which can be calculated using Dubai Land Department’s rental index calculator. It works as follows:

• No rent increase if the existing rent is less than 10% below the average rental rate
• Up to 5% increase if the existing rent is 11-20% below the average rental rate
• Up to 10% increase if the existing rent is 21-30% below the average rental rate
• Up to 15% increase if the existing rent is 31-40% below the average rental rate
• Up to 20% increase if the existing rent is more than 40% below the average rental rate