Dubai Rent Calculator — RERA Index Maximum Increase
Find out the maximum legal rent increase your landlord can apply on renewal. Built around the official Dubai Land Department RERA Rental Index methodology.
What this calculator does
Estimates the maximum rent increase your Dubai landlord can legally apply at renewal, based on the Dubai Land Department's RERA Rental Index methodology. Formula: comparing your current rent to the market average for your unit type and area, the law caps the maximum % increase. This is an estimate — the official RERA Calculator at dubailand.gov.ae is the definitive source for any real dispute.
Your rental
Enter the total annual rent (12-month total). For rent paid in monthly cheques, multiply monthly × 12.
Market average for 1-bedroom apartment in JLT (Jumeirah Lakes Towers): AED 65,000
Indicative based on April 2026 portal data; the official RERA index is published quarterly on dubailand.gov.ae.
RERA increase rules
Decree 43 of 2013 sets the maximum rent-increase percentages based on how far your current rent is below market:
- Within 10% of market → 0% increase
- 11–20% below market → max 5%
- 21–30% below market → max 10%
- 31–40% below market → max 15%
- Over 40% below market → max 20% (cap)
Plus: landlord must give 90 days' written notice before renewal date for ANY increase. Miss the deadline → automatic renewal at same terms.
Maximum legal rent increase
0%
Within 10% of market — no increase allowed
Current annual rent
AED 60,000
Market average
AED 65,000
Your rent vs market
-8% below
Max new rent
AED 60,000
No increase allowed
Your rent is within 10% of market — under RERA, no increase is permitted. Landlord must accept the same rent at renewal or you can challenge at RDSC.
Your renewal rights
Landlord must give 90 days written notice before renewal date for any rent increase.
If 90-day notice is missed, lease auto-renews at same terms for another year.
You can challenge an unlawful increase at the Rental Disputes Centre (RDSC) — fast 30–60 day process.
Landlord can't evict mid-lease except for non-payment (with 30 days' cure notice) or other contract violations.
For non-renewal eviction (sale of property, owner-occupation, refurbishment), 12 months' notarised notice required.
Major maintenance (AC compressors, plumbing) is the landlord's legal responsibility under RERA.
How the RERA Rental Index works
The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), part of the Dubai Land Department, publishes a rental index that shows the average rent for each property type in each Dubai neighborhood. The index is updated quarterly based on actual transactions registered via the Ejari system. Decree 43 of 2013 then sets the maximum percentage by which a landlord can increase rent at renewal, based on how far the current rent sits below the market average:
0%
Within 10% of market
5%
11–20% below market
10%
21–30% below market
15%
31–40% below market
20%
Over 40% below market
When the landlord can't raise your rent at all
- Your current rent is within 10% of the market index for your unit type and area.
- Your contract has a fixed-term agreement with no escalator clause.
- Landlord misses the 90-day notice deadline before renewal date.
- Increase exceeds the maximum allowed under Decree 43.
- Increase is in the form of restructured lease terms (deposit, cheque count) without an actual rent rise.
Disputing an unlawful increase — RDSC
The Rental Disputes Centre (RDSC) is the fast-track tribunal for Dubai rental disputes. Filing an objection costs 3.5% of annual rent (capped at AED 20,000). Tenants challenging excessive rent-increase demands typically win when the landlord's demand exceeds the Decree 43 limit — RDSC enforces the legal cap. Average resolution: 30–60 days.
Required documents for filing: tenancy contract, Ejari certificate, proof of current rent payments, written notice of proposed increase, the official RERA index for your unit (printable from dubailand.gov.ae), and copies of the landlord's contact details. The hearing is conducted in Arabic with English interpretation available.
Rent calculator — frequently asked questions
Disclaimer
This calculator is indicative and educational. The official Dubai Land Department RERA Calculator at dubailand.gov.ae is the legally binding source for any actual dispute. Market rent estimates here are based on April 2026 portal data; the official index is updated quarterly.