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Ejari is the official tenancy contract registration system in Dubai, operated by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). All residential and commercial tenancy contracts in Dubai must be registered on Ejari. Without registration, tenants cannot connect utilities, renew visas, or access RERA's Rental Dispute Centre.
Why Ejari Exists
RERA introduced Ejari in 2010 to create a transparent, government-managed record of all Dubai tenancy relationships. The system gives tenants legal standing, enables rent dispute resolution, and provides the government with accurate rental market data.
What Ejari Does
Registration on Ejari:
- Creates a legally recognised tenancy record with a unique Ejari number
- Enables DEWA (electricity and water) connection at the property
- Allows the tenant to renew UAE residence visa using the rental address
- Gives the tenant access to RERA's Rental Dispute Centre if disputes arise
- Allows rent increases to be benchmarked against the RERA Rental Index
Who Registers?
Responsibility: The landlord is legally required to register the tenancy on Ejari. In practice, most agents handle registration on behalf of landlords. Some landlords pass the task (and cost) to tenants — this is common but technically the landlord's obligation.
Cost: AED 220 for new registrations. AED 100 for renewals. Payable to RERA.
Timing: Registration must occur at the start of the tenancy, before DEWA connection.
How to Register
- Landlord or agent logs into the Ejari portal (ejari.gov.ae) or uses the Dubai REST app
- Upload: signed tenancy contract, landlord title deed, tenant Emirates ID/passport, DEWA premise number
- Pay the registration fee
- Receive the Ejari certificate with unique registration number — typically within 1–2 working days
Rent Increase Rules
Ejari registration connects the tenancy to the RERA Rental Index — the official benchmark for permissible rent increases in Dubai. Landlords can only increase rent according to the RERA calculator based on how far the current rent sits below market. A landlord cannot increase rent by more than 20% in any one year, regardless of market movement.
DRE Advisory Note
Always insist on Ejari registration before paying the first cheque. Unregistered tenancies leave tenants without legal standing in disputes. District Real Estate registers all tenancies on Ejari as standard practice.
Property in the UAE is governed by the official authorities below. Requirements and thresholds can change — always confirm current rules with the relevant authority before transacting.
- Dubai Land Department (DLD)The government authority that registers property ownership and transactions in Dubai.
- Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA)The regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department, overseeing brokers, developers and escrow accounts.
- Dubai RESTThe Dubai Land Department’s official app for title deeds, transactions and property services.
- DARIThe Dubai Land Department’s official platform for real estate data, registration and services.
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