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Guide

Letting a property in Dubai

Pricing, permits, the contract and the rules on rent and renewal, so the tenancy runs without surprises.

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Before you list

  • A permit for every advert

    Each listing needs a Trakheesi permit from the Land Department, obtained by the brokerage against your title deed.

  • Price against the index

    The RERA rental index sets what similar units let for and what increase, if any, is allowed at renewal.

  • Screen before you sign

    Passport, visa, Emirates ID and employment checked before the contract, not after the first cheque.

    Find out more

  • Managed or self-managed

    If you are not in Dubai, decide who the tenant calls when the air conditioning fails in August.

    Find out more

What the law expects of you

  • Maintenance. The landlord is responsible for repairs affecting the tenant’s use of the property unless the contract says otherwise. Most contracts make the tenant responsible for minor repairs up to a stated amount.
  • Rent increases. Only at renewal, only within the RERA index, and only with 90 days written notice: no increase if the rent is within 10% of the market average; 5% if it is 11 to 20% below; 10% if 21 to 30% below; 15% if 31 to 40% below; 20% if more than 40% below.
  • Changing terms. Any change at renewal needs 90 days notice before expiry. Miss it and the contract renews on the same terms.
  • Recovering the property. To sell or to occupy it yourself, the tenant must be given 12 months notice through a notary public or by registered post.
  • The deposit. Refundable at the end of the tenancy less the documented cost of damage beyond normal wear, which is why a photographed inventory matters.

What letting costs

Cost Amount
Agency fee Customarily paid by the tenant (5% of annual rent). Some landlords pay a fee to secure faster letting.
Service charges Payable by the owner, set per square foot and approved by RERA
Ejari AED 177.75, usually paid by the tenant
Management A percentage of the annual rent if you appoint a managing agent; see the property management page
Income tax None for an individual owner in the UAE

Cheques, deposits and arrears

Rent is paid by post-dated cheque, one to four per year. A deposit of 5% (unfurnished) or 10% (furnished) is customary. A bounced cheque has been a civil matter since 2022 and can be enforced directly through the courts; the practical route is a written notice the same week and a case at the Rental Dispute Centre if the arrears are not cleared.

Short-term instead

A furnished unit can be let as a holiday home instead of on an annual contract. It needs a permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism, and the economics are different. The short term leasing page sets them out.

The process, in order

  1. Valuation

    A rent supported by recent lets in the same building and checked against the RERA index.

  2. Permit and marketing

    Listing agreement signed, Trakheesi permit obtained, professional photography and portal listings.

  3. Viewings and screening

    Accompanied viewings; applicants checked on identity, visa and employment before an offer reaches you.

  4. Contract

    The RERA unified contract with the maintenance split, cheque schedule and any special terms in writing.

  5. Ejari and handover

    Ejari registered, deposit and cheques collected, and a photographed inventory at move-in.

  6. Renewal

    Notice served inside the 90-day window; any increase checked against the index before it is proposed.

Frequently asked questions

The questions landlords ask most.

How much rent can I ask?

What comparable units in the same building or community have actually let for recently, checked against the RERA index. An overpriced unit sits empty; a month void costs more than pricing it right from the start.

Can I increase the rent every year?

Only within the RERA index and with 90 days notice. If the current rent is within 10% of the market average, no increase is permitted that year.

Who registers Ejari?

Either party can, and the tenant usually pays. Where we manage the property we register it as your agent. Without Ejari neither side can file at the Rental Dispute Centre.

What if I want the property back?

For sale or your own use, the tenant is entitled to 12 months notice through a notary public or by registered post. Notice given any other way is not valid.

Do I need to be in the UAE?

No. The listing agreement, contract and Ejari can all be handled remotely, and a power of attorney covers the rest. Most overseas owners appoint a managing agent so the tenant has someone local to call.

Is rental income taxed?

Not for an individual owner. There is no personal income tax in the UAE. Companies holding property should take advice on corporate tax.

Find out what it would let for

Community, building and unit type. We will come back with a rent figure and how quickly it could be let.

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