Dubai Tenancy Contract
Work out the deposit, cheque split, housing fee and agency commission before you sign — and check you have every document the other side will ask for.
Security deposit convention is 5% of annual rent unfurnished and 10% furnished. The Dubai Municipality housing fee is 5% of annual rent, billed monthly through DEWA. Agency commission is typically 5% of annual rent. These are market conventions, not statutory rates — confirm what is actually written into your contract.
What you need as the tenant
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Generate the contract itself
Once the terms above are agreed, the tenancy contract needs drafting in the format Ejari accepts. TenancyContract.comproduces a Dubai tenancy contract from your details — parties, premises, term, rent and cheque schedule — ready to sign and register.
Create a tenancy contractThen register it with Ejari — see our Ejari cost calculator for the registration and housing fee figures.
How a Dubai tenancy contract works
A Dubai tenancy contract sets out the parties, the premises, the term, the rent and the payment schedule. It has to be registered with Ejari — without that registration you cannot open a DEWA account, sponsor a residence visa against the tenancy, or bring a case to the Rental Dispute Centre.
The two numbers that get negotiated hardest are the cheque count and the security deposit. Fewer cheques generally buys a lower rent, because the landlord receives the money sooner; six or twelve cheques usually carries a premium. Deposits run at 5% of annual rent unfurnished and 10% furnished by convention.
Beyond the rent itself, budget for the Dubai Municipality housing fee at 5% of annual rent — charged monthly through DEWA rather than up front — plus agency commission at around 5%, and the Ejari registration fee.
Drafting the contract
The contract has to be in a form Ejari will accept. TenancyContract.com generates a Dubai tenancy contract from your details, ready to sign and register.
Create a tenancy contractCommon questions
How much is the security deposit?
5% of annual rent unfurnished, 10% furnished, by market convention. It is not a statutory rate — check what the contract actually says.
Do I have to register with Ejari?
Yes. Ejari registration is required, and you will need it for DEWA, visa applications and any Rental Dispute Centre case.
How many cheques should I offer?
One to four is most common. Fewer cheques usually secures a lower rent; six or twelve typically costs more.
What is the housing fee?
Dubai Municipality charges 5% of annual rent, billed monthly through your DEWA account rather than as a lump sum.
Can my landlord raise the rent?
Only within the RERA rental index bands, and with 90 days' written notice before renewal. Our rent dispute calculator covers the thresholds.
Letting or renting in Dubai?
We handle tenant sourcing, Ejari registration, renewals and property management across Dubai. Ask us anything about a contract before you sign it.