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Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013 • 7 Authority Guides

Dubai RERA Rent Increase Rules, 90-Day Notice & Rental Dispute Center (RDC) Guides

Comprehensive legal guides on Dubai tenancy regulations, the DLD Smart Rental Index star-rating system, statutory 90-day renewal notices (Article 14), 12-month notarized eviction notices (Article 25), and Rental Dispute Center (RDC) procedures.

Regulatory Body: Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) & Dubai Rental Dispute Center (RDC) • Primary Statute: Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013 & Law No. 26 of 2007 (Amended by Law No. 33 of 2008)
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Complete RERA & Tenancy Law Article Series (7 Deep-Dive Guides)

Guide #1 • Decree No. 43 of 2013 7 min read • Updated November 1, 2026

Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013 Explained: Official 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% & 20% RERA Rent Increase Brackets

In the Emirate of Dubai, a landlord cannot arbitrarily raise your annual rent upon contract renewal just because neighboring listings on property portals are higher. Under Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013 (Determining the Increase in Real Estate Rent in the Emirate of Dubai), any rental increase is strictly capped at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or an absolute ceiling of 20%, based purely on how far your current contract rent sits below the official DLD Rental Index benchmark.

Jump to section: 1. The 5 Statutory Rent Increase Tiers Under Article 1 of Decree 43 2. How the Percentage Difference Is Calculated 3. Worked Examples Across All 5 RERA Brackets 4. Why Property Finder / Bayut Listings Cannot Override the RERA Index
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Guide #2 • Article 14 Statutory Notice 6 min read • Updated November 1, 2026

The Mandatory 90-Day Rent Increase Notice Rule in Dubai (Article 14 of Law No. 26 of 2007): Tenant Rights

Under Article 14 of Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008), if either the landlord or the tenant wishes to amend any term of the tenancy contract upon renewal—including increasing the rent or changing the number of cheques—they MUST notify the other party in writing at least 90 calendar days prior to the contract expiration date, unless both parties mutually agreed otherwise in the contract.

Jump to section: 1. What Article 14 of Law No. 26 of 2007 Actually Says 2. How to Count the Exact 90-Day Cutoff Date 3. Is an Email or WhatsApp Message Valid 90-Day Notice? 4. What to Do If Your Landlord Misses the 90-Day Deadline
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Guide #3 • RDC Dispute Resolution 7 min read • Updated November 1, 2026

How to File a Case at the Dubai Rental Dispute Center (RDC) & Use "Offer and Deposit" When Landlord Refuses Renewal

What should you do when the official DLD Rental Index (or a missed 90-day notice) says your rent increase should be 0% or 5%, but your landlord refuses to sign the renewal contract or accept your post-dated cheques? Under Dubai tenancy law, you must NOT simply hold onto your cheques and stop paying—doing so allows the landlord to claim non-payment of rent! Instead, you must file an official "Offer and Deposit" (Ardh wa Eidaa) motion at the Dubai Rental Dispute Center (RDC).

Jump to section: 1. Why "Offer and Deposit" Is Your #1 Legal Shield 2. Step-by-Step: Filing "Offer and Deposit" at RDC 3. Escalating to a First Instance RDC Lawsuit (3.5% Fee) 4. Itemized RDC Filing, Translation & Trustee Fees
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Guide #4 • Article 25 Eviction Law 8 min read • Updated November 1, 2026

Dubai 12-Month Eviction Notice Rules (Article 25): Notary Public Service, Selling vs Personal Use & Unfair Eviction Compensation

Under Article 25(2) of Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008), a landlord CANNOT evict a tenant upon lease expiry simply because they want to find a new tenant who will pay higher rent. Eviction upon contract expiry is only permitted for four strict statutory reasons (such as selling the property or moving in personally) AND requires a formal 12-month (365-day) notice served exclusively via a UAE Notary Public or Registered Post.

Jump to section: 1. The Only 4 Legal Reasons for a 12-Month Eviction Notice 2. Why Email & WhatsApp Eviction Notices Are Legally Void 3. The 2-Year Re-Letting Ban & Winning Compensation at RDC 4. What Happens When Your Landlord Sells the Apartment?
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Guide #5 • DLD Smart Rental Index 6 min read • Updated November 1, 2026

How the Dubai Land Department (DLD) Smart Rental Index Works: Building Star Ratings & Valuation Benchmarks

To make the RERA Rental Index fairer across luxury, mid-tier, and older towers situated in the same neighborhood, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) upgraded its rental valuation engine to the AI-powered Smart Rental Index incorporating a 1-to-5 Star Building Classification system. Rather than applying a single flat price band to an entire zone like Dubai Marina or JVC, the Smart Index evaluates individual building quality, maintenance, amenities, and actual registered Ejari transactions.

Jump to section: 1. How the DLD Smart Rental Index Evolved 2. The 1-to-5 Star Building Classification Criteria 3. Step-by-Step: How to Look Up Your Official DLD Benchmark 4. Applying Decree No. 43 of 2013 to Your Smart Index Result
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Guide #6 • Articles 20 & 21 Deposit Law 6 min read • Updated November 1, 2026

Dubai Rental Security Deposit Refunds: Fair Wear and Tear vs Tenant Damage & How to Recover Your Deposit

Under Articles 20 and 21 of Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007, every tenant is legally entitled to a full refund of their 5% (unfurnished) or 10% (furnished) security deposit upon vacating the property, minus only actual, documented repairs caused by tenant misuse. Crucially, the statute explicitly exempts the tenant from paying for "ordinary wear and tear" (such as sun-faded paint, aging AC parts, or normal appliance depreciation).

Jump to section: 1. Articles 20 & 21 of Law No. 26 of 2007: Your Statutory Rights 2. Fair Wear and Tear vs. Deductible Tenant Damage 3. The Repainting & Deep-Cleaning Clause Debate 4. 5-Step Move-Out Handover Checklist to Guarantee Full Refund
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Guide #7 • Official DLD Ejari Guide 6 min read • Updated November 1, 2026

Complete Ejari Guide Dubai: Online Registration via Dubai REST App, Fees, Documents & Contract Cancellation

Under Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007, a residential or commercial tenancy contract in Dubai has no official legal standing with government utilities, visa authorities, or courts unless it is registered in the Dubai Land Department's Ejari ("My Rent") system. Registering your Ejari online via the Dubai REST App takes 10 minutes, costs ~AED 175, and automatically triggers your DEWA electricity and water activation.

Jump to section: 1. Why Ejari Registration Is Mandatory for Every Dubai Tenant 2. Registering Online via Dubai REST App (AED 175) vs. Trustee Center (AED 220) 3. Exact Documents Required for Residential & Commercial Ejari 4. Registering Family Members & Co-Occupants on Dubai REST
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