What is the RERA Rental Increase Calculator?

The RERA Rental Increase Calculator is the official Dubai Land Department (DLD) tool that determines the maximum permissible rent increase at renewal. It is based on the RERA Rental Index, which tracks market rates by area and property type. The calculator is legally binding — if your landlord proposes an increase above the RERA permissible maximum, you have the right to refuse and challenge it at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre. Access it at dubailand.gov.ae.

What is the 90-day notice rule in Dubai?

Under Federal Law No. 33 of 2008 (the UAE Tenancy Law), a landlord must give a minimum of 90 days' written notice before any change to the lease terms, including a rent increase or non-renewal of the tenancy. If you received less than 90 days' notice, the proposed change may not be legally enforceable. Document the date you received the notice and the lease renewal date carefully. You can raise the notice period violation at the RDC.

Can my landlord evict me mid-contract?

No. Under UAE law, a landlord cannot evict a tenant during the active lease period except in very limited circumstances (serious breach of contract, property needed for demolition with government approval, or sale of the property to a purchaser who requires it for personal use — with 12 months' notice). Eviction during a valid contract requires a court order. The RDC will not approve summary evictions for rent disputes.

How does the RERA banding system work for rent increases?

The official RERA system uses a band-based approach: if your current rent is within 0–10% below the RERA market index for your area and property, the increase allowed is 0%. If 11–20% below, up to 5% increase allowed. If 21–30% below, up to 10%. If 31–40% below, up to 15%. If 40%+ below, up to 20%. This is based on your rent relative to market — NOT as a blanket increase. Always use the official RERA tool at dubailand.gov.ae for the legally-binding figure.

What if my landlord is asking for a 30% rent increase?

A 30% increase in a single year is almost certainly above the RERA permissible maximum for most properties. First, use the official RERA Rental Increase Calculator to determine the exact permissible maximum. If the proposed increase exceeds it, write to your landlord formally citing the RERA index figure. If they refuse to comply, file at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC). The RDC regularly rules against landlords who exceed RERA limits.

What does the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC) do?

The RDC (Rental Dispute Settlement Centre) is Dubai's specialist tribunal for landlord-tenant disputes. It handles cases including excessive rent increases, illegal eviction attempts, deposit disputes, and tenancy contract disagreements. Filing fee is AED 3,500 for disputes up to AED 50,000, or 3.5% for larger claims. Cases are decided by specialist judges within 3–8 weeks for initial hearings. The RDC's decisions are legally binding and enforceable by Dubai courts.

How much does it cost to file a case at the RDC?

Filing a case at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre costs AED 3,500 for disputes with a rental value up to AED 1,000,000, or 3.5% of the rental value for higher-value properties (capped). You can file online at rdc.dubai.gov.ae. If you win, the court may order the landlord to pay your filing fees. You will also need to pay for legal translation of documents if they are not in Arabic.

What is the 6-month eviction notice for personal use?

If a landlord wishes to evict a tenant so they or their first-degree relatives can use the property personally, UAE law requires a minimum 12 months' written notice (not 6 months — this is a common misquote). The notice must be via notary public or registered mail. The landlord must genuinely occupy the property — if they re-rent it within 2 years, the evicted tenant can claim compensation at the RDC.

Can I negotiate rent payment terms (number of cheques)?

Yes, and this is often more valuable than fighting a small increase. Reducing from 2 cheques to 4 cheques (quarterly) improves your cash flow. Some landlords accept 12 post-dated cheques (monthly) for a premium. You can also negotiate the split at renewal — many landlords prefer a reliable long-term tenant to the friction of finding a new one, giving you leverage.

Is the Ejari contract renewal mandatory?

Yes. Upon signing a new tenancy contract or renewing an existing one, you must update the Ejari registration at ejari.ae or at a typing centre (AED 220). An outdated Ejari causes problems with Emirates ID renewals, visa renewals, school enrollment, and bank account updates. Ensure the Ejari reflects the current landlord name and property details.

Can a landlord raise rent more than 20% in one year?

Under RERA regulations, the maximum permissible increase is capped at 20% per year even if the property is significantly below market rate. However, this 20% ceiling applies only when your rent is more than 40% below the RERA market index. For properties closer to market, the permissible increase is lower (0–15%). There is no legal basis for a landlord to exceed these bands — challenge any proposed increase that does at the RDC.

What happens if I don't pay the rent increase and just pay the old rent?

Do not unilaterally pay only the old rent without a written legal basis. This could be treated as a payment shortfall and give the landlord grounds to file a breach of contract case. Instead, send a formal letter to the landlord disputing the increase, referencing the RERA index, and state you are paying the current rent while the dispute is resolved. File at the RDC simultaneously to put the increase in formal dispute.

What documents do I need to file at the RDC?

To file a rental dispute at the RDC, you typically need: your Tenancy Contract (Ejari registered copy), Emirates ID, passport copy, the landlord's rent increase notice (written), screenshots of comparable rents in the area, and the official RERA calculator result showing the permissible maximum. All documents in a language other than Arabic must be officially translated by a UAE-approved Legal Translation Centre.

Can my landlord refuse to renew my lease at all?

Yes, a landlord can refuse to renew a lease — but must give 12 months' written notice (not 90 days — different rule from rent increases). The grounds must be documented and legitimate (personal use, sale, major renovation). Simply refusing renewal because they want a new tenant is not a valid ground. If a landlord refuses renewal without proper notice, file at the RDC immediately.

Should I use a property lawyer for a rent dispute?

For disputes under AED 100,000, most tenants handle RDC cases themselves — the process is designed to be accessible without legal representation. For larger claims or complex cases (multi-unit buildings, commercial components, ownership disputes), a UAE-licensed property lawyer may be worthwhile. Many Dubai law firms offer free 30-minute consultations. The Dubai Legal Affairs Department (DLAD) also provides free legal advice at select locations.

Dubai Rent Renewal Checker 2026 — Is Your Increase Too High?

Name: Dubai Rent Renewal Checker 2026
Author: Dubai Practical Editorial Team

Check if your Dubai rent increase is reasonable using RERA-aligned indicative banding. Enter current and proposed rent to get a directional assessment, notice period check, and a draft letter to your landlord.

Last updated: May 2026

Dubai Practical Editorial Team· Collaborative authorship

Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.

Important: This is NOT the official RERA calculator

This tool provides a directional, indicative assessment only. It is NOT the official RERA Rental Increase Calculator. For the legally-binding maximum permissible increase for your specific property, you must use the official DLD/RERA tool at dubailand.gov.ae. Our tool is a quick sanity-check to help you decide whether to investigate further.

Your renewal details

Current annual rent (AED)

Proposed new annual rent (AED)

Area / neighbourhood

Property type

Lease renewal date

Date you received notice from landlord

Original contract start date

Enter your current rent, proposed rent, and dates to see your assessment.

Dubai Rent Ranges by Area (2026)

Area	1BR Apartment	2BR Apartment	Villa	Typical Increase
Dubai Marina	AED 110,000–160,000	AED 140,000–220,000	n/a	0–10% annual increase typical
Downtown Dubai	AED 125,000–185,000	AED 160,000–260,000	n/a	0–10% annual increase typical
JBR	AED 110,000–165,000	AED 145,000–220,000	n/a	0–10% annual increase typical
JLT	AED 80,000–130,000	AED 110,000–180,000	n/a	0–8% annual increase typical
Business Bay	AED 90,000–160,000	AED 130,000–210,000	n/a	0–10% annual increase typical
Dubai Hills Estate	AED 100,000–160,000	AED 140,000–220,000	AED 200,000–400,000	0–8% annual increase typical
The Springs	AED 90,000–140,000	AED 130,000–200,000	AED 180,000–280,000	0–5% annual increase typical
Arabian Ranches	n/a	n/a	AED 250,000–450,000	0–5% annual increase typical
JVC	AED 60,000–110,000	AED 80,000–140,000	AED 120,000–200,000	0–5% annual increase typical
Mirdif	AED 50,000–90,000	AED 70,000–120,000	AED 100,000–180,000	0–5% annual increase typical
Discovery Gardens	AED 50,000–85,000	AED 70,000–110,000	n/a	0–5% annual increase typical
Other Dubai area	Varies widely	Varies widely	Varies widely	Check RERA index for your area

AreaDubai Marina

1BR ApartmentAED 110,000–160,000

2BR ApartmentAED 140,000–220,000

Villan/a

Typical Increase0–10% annual increase typical

AreaDowntown Dubai

1BR ApartmentAED 125,000–185,000

2BR ApartmentAED 160,000–260,000

Villan/a

Typical Increase0–10% annual increase typical

AreaJBR

1BR ApartmentAED 110,000–165,000

2BR ApartmentAED 145,000–220,000

Villan/a

Typical Increase0–10% annual increase typical

AreaJLT

1BR ApartmentAED 80,000–130,000

2BR ApartmentAED 110,000–180,000

Villan/a

Typical Increase0–8% annual increase typical

AreaBusiness Bay

1BR ApartmentAED 90,000–160,000

2BR ApartmentAED 130,000–210,000

Villan/a

Typical Increase0–10% annual increase typical

AreaDubai Hills Estate

1BR ApartmentAED 100,000–160,000

2BR ApartmentAED 140,000–220,000

VillaAED 200,000–400,000

Typical Increase0–8% annual increase typical

AreaThe Springs

1BR ApartmentAED 90,000–140,000

2BR ApartmentAED 130,000–200,000

VillaAED 180,000–280,000