Practical guide · Dubai
When can my landlord increase the rent in Dubai?
Usually, when your tenancy contract renews. The landlord normally needs to give at least 90 days' notice before your contract expires, unless you agreed otherwise. The increase must also follow Dubai's rent rules. Check the timing and the amount before accepting. Dubai tenancy law.
Can my landlord increase rent before my contract ends?
Normally, no. If your contract fixes the rent for its full term, the landlord cannot simply charge more halfway through because nearby rents have gone up. Check any rent changes already written into your contract. The usual rent review happens at renewal. Articles 4, 9 and 13.
Can my landlord increase rent every year?
An increase can be proposed at each renewal. For a one-year contract, that could mean once a year, including the first renewal. But it is not an automatic yearly increase: the notice requirements and permitted amount still apply. Dubai Land Department guidance.
How much notice should the landlord give?
At least 90 days before the contract expiry date, unless you and the landlord agreed to a different arrangement. Read the notice clause in your contract.
Count the actual days, rather than treating every three-month period as 90 days. Keep the written notice and proof of when it reached you. Article 14.
What if the landlord sends the increase late?
If the usual 90-day rule applies and the landlord misses it, Dubai Land Department says the increase does not apply for that renewal, even if the rental index allows an increase.
Reply in writing with your contract expiry date and the date you received the notice. Check any different arrangement you agreed before challenging it. Official notice guidance.
How do I check if the increase is allowed?
Use the Dubai Land Department rental calculator or Dubai REST app.
Have your Ejari (registered tenancy record) ready. Enter the correct contract expiry date, property details and current annual rent. Save the result with the date you checked it. Asking rents in online adverts are not the official calculation.
How much can the landlord increase the rent?
The maximum increase depends on how your current rent compares with the official rental index. The permitted bands are 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%. A landlord cannot automatically choose 20%. Dubai rent increase decree.
Example only: assume your annual rent is AED 80,000, the calculator permits 5%, and the notice requirements are met. The maximum increase is AED 80,000 × 5% = AED 4,000. The new annual rent would be AED 84,000.
What if the calculator shows no increase?
Send the result to your landlord and ask them to explain their calculation. Giving notice on time does not, by itself, make an increase valid. Dubai Land Department guidance.
If the landlord provides a different official result or valuation, ask Dubai Land Department or the Rental Disputes Center (RDC) to clarify before agreeing.
What if we still cannot agree?
Contact the Rental Disputes Center about the appropriate renewal dispute procedure. Keep your contract, Ejari, notice, calculator result and correspondence ready.
Do not simply stop paying rent. If the landlord refuses payment, ask RDC about its Offer and Deposit procedure and follow the judge's directions. This payment procedure does not itself settle the disputed rent.
What can I message my landlord?
You can adapt this ordinary request:
"My tenancy contract expires on [date]. Please confirm the proposed annual rent, when it would start and when the increase notice was sent. Please also share the official rental calculation supporting the amount. I would like to renew on terms that follow our contract and Dubai's rent rules."
Official sources checked on 5 November 2026. General information for ordinary Dubai residential tenancies. The Smart Rent Index excludes DIFC; different procedures may apply there. For a disputed contract, seek advice on your own circumstances.