Can My Landlord Increase My Rent in Dubai? Rules, Notice Periods & What Tenants Can Do

The two checks every tenant should make

1 Was the increase proposed on time

Article 14 of Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, provides that a party wishing to change tenancy terms must notify the other party at least 90 days before expiry, unless the parties agreed otherwise. DLD guidance applies this rule to rent increases. Count back from the expiry date shown on the tenancy contract and check the contract for any different agreed notice term.

A WhatsApp message, email or renewal proposal may help prove when a proposal was made, but disputes can turn on the contract wording, the content of the notice and proof of receipt. Keep the original message and its date. A rent-increase notice is different from a statutory eviction notice.

2 Does the official Rental Index permit the amount

Dubai Land Department’s Rental Index service calculates the permitted increase using the contract end date, property details and current annual rent. Dubai introduced the Smart Rental Index for 2025, adding building-level assessment and classification to improve how rental values are evaluated. Use the result available for the relevant renewal, because index data and eligibility can change.

DLD’s published implementation guidance says both conditions matter: a landlord who gave at least 90 days’ notice may apply an increase only if the Smart Rental Index confirms eligibility; an index-supported increase is not applied if the required 90-day notice was not given.

How much can the rent increase

Decree No. 43 of 2013 sets maximum renewal increases by comparing the current contractual rent with the applicable average market rent. The percentage is applied to the current rent, not to the market average.

Example. If the applicable indexed average is AED 80,000 and the current rent is AED 60,000, the current rent is 25% below the average. That falls in the 21% to 30% band, so the maximum increase is 10% of AED 60,000: AED 6,000. The renewed rent would be AED 66,000, subject to timely notice and the official result for that tenancy.

Legal rule versus current tool. The percentage bands come from Decree No. 43 of 2013. The current permitted result for a particular unit should be checked through DLD’s live Rental Index. The Index result may depend on building classification and current data; this article cannot calculate an individual entitlement.

What a landlord cannot do simply by asking

• Apply a higher rent during a fixed tenancy term merely because market rents have risen. A valid contract generally binds both parties during its term unless they agree or the law provides otherwise.
• Treat an advertised asking rent or private valuation as an automatic replacement for the official renewal framework.
• Use a rent-increase message as if it were an eviction notice. Post-expiry eviction for sale, personal use, demolition or qualifying major renovation has separate grounds and notice formalities under Article 25.
• Guarantee that a demand will be accepted by the tenant or upheld by the RDC. Outcomes depend on the documents, dates, contract terms, applicable Index result and evidence.

If you receive a rent increase notice

1. Save the notice. Keep the email, letter, WhatsApp export or portal message, including the full date, sender and attachments.
2. Check the expiry date and notice clause. Count whether at least 90 days remained when notice was received, unless your contract validly provides another period.
3. Run the official Rental Index. Use the DLD service with the correct contract and property information. Save the result, date and inputs as a PDF or screenshot.
4. Compare the calculation. Apply the permitted percentage to your current annual rent, not to a listing price or the indexed average.
5. Reply in writing. If you accept, confirm the full annual rent, payment schedule and other renewal terms. If you disagree, state the timing or Index issue calmly and attach the official result.
6. Keep performing your obligations. Do not withhold rent or remain silent simply because the increase is disputed. Preserve evidence of every attempt to agree and pay.
7. Escalate proportionately. If agreement is not possible, consider official RDC information, an Offer and Deposit process where appropriate, or a renewal claim. Obtain legal advice where the facts or consequences are significant.

A practical written response

You can adapt the following wording without admitting liability:

“I refer to your proposed renewal rent of AED [amount] sent on [date]. The tenancy expires on [date]. I have checked the notice timing, our contract and the Dubai Land Department Rental Index result dated [date]. Based on that information, my understanding is that the permitted renewal rent is AED [amount] / that no increase is currently permitted. I remain willing to renew and pay the rent due under the applicable terms. Please confirm the renewal documents and payment method.”

Use this only as general correspondence. A disputed case may require different wording or a formal process.

What if the landlord refuses to renew

A disagreement about rent does not by itself allow either party to rewrite the contract. Article 13 allows the RDC to determine the rent when renewal is necessary and the parties cannot agree, using the statutory criteria. Article 6 also addresses automatic renewal where a tenant remains after expiry without objection: the tenancy may renew for the same term or one year, whichever is shorter, on the previous terms. Do not deliberately rely on silence or continued occupation as a strategy; obtain case-specific guidance before expiry.

A landlord’s statutory request for eviction after expiry is different from an ordinary rent negotiation. Under Article 25(2), the recognized grounds include sale, demolition, qualifying major renovation and use by the landlord or a first-degree relative, subject to the relevant conditions. The landlord must give at least 12 months’ notice through a notary public or registered mail. A phone call or an ordinary rent-increase message is not the same process. Whether a particular notice is valid is a matter for the RDC.

Renewal disputes and Offer and Deposit

If a tenant is ready to renew and pay but the landlord refuses payment or renewal, the tenant should keep evidence of the renewal request and payment attempts. The RDC provides procedures for rental disputes and petitions. Offer and Deposit may be relevant in some cases to document an offer of rent, but filing does not guarantee renewal, acceptance or a favourable decision. The correct route depends on the requested relief and the evidence.

The RDC’s published fee information says an ordinary rental claim such as lease renewal is generally charged at 3.5% of the annual rent or lease value, subject to stated minimum and maximum amounts, with additional service and knowledge fees potentially applying. Check the live RDC schedule before filing.

Documents to gather

• Current tenancy contract and Ejari certificate
• Proposed increase and proof of the date received
• Official Rental Index result and the inputs used
• Renewal emails, messages and draft contracts
• Proof of previous rent payments and any attempted renewal payment
• Emirates ID and other documents required by the selected official service
• Any eviction notice, registered-mail receipt or notarial notice

Common mistakes

• Confusing the 90-day rent-change notice with the 12-month statutory eviction notice
• Assuming every below-market tenancy qualifies for the maximum 20% increase
• Using property-portal listings instead of the official DLD Rental Index
• Calculating the percentage on the market average instead of current rent
• Ignoring a different notice provision in the signed contract
• Waiting until after expiry to organise evidence or seek assistance
• Stopping payment or handing over keys without understanding the consequences

Official sources

1. Dubai Land Department Rental Index
2. DLD Smart Rental Index implementation guidance
3. Dubai Tenancy Guide, including Laws No. 26 of 2007 and No. 33 of 2008
4. Decree No. 43 of 2013 on rent increases
5. DLD demonstration of the rent-increase calculation
6. DLD Ejari services campaign and notice guidance
7. Rental Disputes Center frequently asked questions
8. DLD register or renew an Ejari contract
9. DLD rental valuation service

Source note. Official pages can change. Check the live service, legislation and RDC requirements at the time of renewal or filing. This article was reviewed against the linked official sources on 9 October 2026.