Ejari is the mandatory rental-contract registration system run by RERA. Without it your tenancy is technically unenforceable, you can't get DEWA connected as a tenant, and you can't sponsor a family visa or get a UAE driving licence. The process is fast — 10 minutes online if you have the documents ready.
Who Needs to Register
Every residential and commercial tenancy in Dubai must be registered, regardless of contract length. The landlord is legally responsible for registering, but in practice it's usually the tenant who initiates it because the tenant needs the certificate for DEWA, visa, and other services.
Required Documents
Have these ready before you start:
- Signed tenancy contract (original or scanned copy, all pages)
- Title deed of the property (provided by landlord)
- Landlord's Emirates ID
- Tenant's Emirates ID (or passport with valid visa for non-residents)
- Landlord's contact details
- DEWA premise number (from any previous DEWA bill or available from DEWA)
If you don't have the title deed, the landlord must provide it — it's their obligation. Push back firmly; no title deed, no registration.
How to Register
Three routes:
Option 1: Dubai REST app (recommended) — Download Dubai REST, log in with UAE Pass, select "Ejari Registration." Upload documents, pay, done in 10 minutes. Fee: AED 220 (AED 100 to RERA + AED 100 service + AED 20 innovation fee + tax).
Option 2: Approved typing centres — Walk in to any RERA-approved typing centre with documents. Fee usually AED 300–400 (typing centre adds a service fee). Slower than self-service.
Option 3: Real estate brokerages — Many agencies will handle Ejari for you, often free if they brokered the rental. Convenient but you wait for them.
Common Rejections
- Tenancy contract not on the unified Dubai tenancy form
- Title deed page count doesn't match RERA records (the title was updated after a sub-division and the landlord hasn't refreshed their copy)
- Tenant's visa expired (use a passport with a valid visa, or wait for renewal)
- DEWA premise number mismatch — happens when units were renumbered after handover
Renewing Ejari
Ejari must be renewed every year when the tenancy is renewed. Same documents, same fee. If you let it lapse, your DEWA can be cut off and your visa renewal can be blocked. Mark it in your calendar.
Tenant Rights Under Ejari
Registration triggers RERA's tenant protections:
- Rent increases capped per the RERA Rent Index (often 0–20% depending on how far below market your rent is)
- 12-month notice required for non-renewal
- 90-day notice required for permitted rent increases
- Tenancy disputes go to the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC), which is far cheaper and faster than the courts
Without Ejari, none of these protections apply. The registration is genuinely valuable, not just paperwork.
For Landlords
You can also register the contract yourself — and many landlords prefer to, because you control the title-deed disclosure. If you're renting out multiple units, the Dubai REST app's bulk mode handles this efficiently.
Don't register a contract with terms that violate RERA rules (e.g., excessive deposits, prohibited eviction clauses) — the registration creates a legal record of the breach.