Rental Disputes Center · Filing Guide

How to file a rental dispute with Dubai’s RDC.

To file a tenant-side rental dispute in Dubai, first confirm that the Rental Disputes Center has jurisdiction, select the RDC service that matches the request, prepare the required records in Arabic or legally translated into Arabic, and submit them through the RDC website or a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre.

This guide is for tenants organising non-eviction rental matters such as a disputed rent increase or renewal, a withheld security deposit, maintenance or access records, or another landlord–tenant disagreement. It explains the official route and the records the RDC currently asks for; it does not tell you what claim to make or predict how a tribunal will decide it.

Is the RDC the correct forum?

The starting point is Article 6 of Dubai Decree No. 26 of 2013. It gives the Centre jurisdiction over landlord–tenant rental disputes concerning real property in Dubai, including disputes in free zones, together with related counterclaims, interim or urgent applications, appeals that may be brought under the Decree, and enforcement of RDC judgments.

That jurisdiction is not universal. The same Article excludes:

• rental disputes arising in a free zone that has its own tribunal or special court competent to hear them;
• disputes arising from a lease-finance contract; and
• disputes arising from long-term lease contracts governed by Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006.

The property location, contract type, parties and relief requested therefore need to be checked before filing. Do not assume that every tenancy with a Dubai address or every free-zone tenancy belongs at the RDC.

This table organises route questions; it does not determine jurisdiction for an individual case.

Which RDC service does what?

Do not select a procedure from its label alone. The facts, the order requested and the status of any earlier case matter.

Article 10 of Decree No. 26 of 2013 describes mediation and conciliation. Article 13 establishes the First Instance Division; Articles 14 and 17–18 address appeals. A licensed UAE lawyer or legal consultant should confirm the right procedure, requested relief and any deadline.

Documents the RDC currently asks for

The official first-instance service page lists these baseline records:

• a copy of the latest lease, identified by the service as Ejari;
• Emirates ID for an individual, or the current commercial licence and the manager’s or owner’s photo identification for a company;
• a bank letter or bank statement showing the claimant’s IBAN; and
• documents supporting the claim, which may include a power of attorney, management contract, correspondence, notices, utility bills, cheques and letters.

The service page separately lists notice evidence for an eviction claim. Landlord eviction and possession mechanics are outside this guide and must remain on Eviction.ae.

The RDC states that documents must be submitted in Arabic or legally translated into Arabic and uploaded in the relevant sections of its online system. It says hard copies are not accepted for this service. Check translation, legibility, file format and upload limits before submitting.

Build a tenant-side factual file

In addition to the official baseline, organise the records that explain your particular issue:

• the signed tenancy contract, addenda and latest Ejari certificate;
• the property address, unit number, plot or municipality details shown in the tenancy records;
• proof of rent and deposit payments, including receipts, transfers and cleared cheques where available;
• every relevant email, letter, portal message and complete message thread, kept with its date and sender visible;
• notices received or sent, together with transmission, delivery or acknowledgement records;
• move-in, inspection, maintenance, renewal, move-out and key-handover records relevant to the dispute;
• dated photographs or videos where property condition matters, kept in their original files where possible;
• quotations, invoices, inspection reports or utility records relied on by either party;
• a calculation sheet that separates annual rent, deposit, deductions and each monetary amount requested; and
• a list of missing or disputed records instead of filling gaps with assumptions.

Do not edit screenshots in a way that removes dates, participants or surrounding context. Keep originals and use working copies for labelling or translation.

Make a chronology before you upload

A short chronology makes the file easier to review and reduces contradictions between the narrative and attachments.

Record at least the contract date, start and expiry dates, the date of the event complained of, each notice or request, any response, any payment or handover, and the date the requested amount became disputed. A chronology is an administrative index, not a legal submission.

Filing process, step by step

The RDC currently lists two filing channels: its website and Real Estate Services Trustee Centres.

1. Confirm the forum and service. Check the Article 6 jurisdiction boundaries, the parties, the property and the exact outcome or amount being requested. Obtain licensed legal advice if the classification is uncertain.
2. Prepare the Arabic filing pack. Arrange the baseline documents and supporting records; obtain legal Arabic translations where required.
3. Create or access the RDC account. For online filing, sign in, choose the relevant service, enter the parties and claim data, and upload each document into the designated section. At a Trustee Centre, provide the records for the centre staff to enter.
4. Complete electronic verification. The RDC describes payment as taking place after electronic lawsuit verification. A request for clarification or a rejected upload may affect the registration sequence.
5. Pay the official charges shown for the accepted filing. Keep the receipt and the case or transaction reference.
6. Attend the listed remote session. The first-instance service page says hearings are attended through the tele-litigation system. The conciliation service instead refers to a conciliation session.
7. Monitor the RDC account and registered contact details. The official page says the judgment is received through the website. Preserve every notification and decision with its date.
8. Obtain prompt advice after a decision. Appeal and enforcement questions can be time-sensitive and depend on the decision and case type.

This sequence describes the current service workflow. It does not guarantee acceptance, settlement, a hearing date or an outcome.

Current RDC filing fees

The RDC first-instance service page states the following as at the source-check date:

The same page also lists AED 100 for process service, AED 25 to register a power of attorney if applicable, AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee. Where filing is through a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre, it lists a partner service fee of AED 130 plus VAT on that partner fee.

The RDC system determines the accepted classification and total payable amount. A filing that combines requests may not be safely priced from one line in isolation. Recheck the live service page before payment.

For the separate amicable-settlement service, the RDC states that half of the basic-claim court fee is refunded if conciliation is sought and a settlement is reached. Do not describe that refund as automatic or available where no settlement is concluded.

These are government/tribunal charges, not Dispute.ae service fees.

Timing: registration is not the case duration

The first-instance and conciliation service pages currently state a one-business-day duration to complete registration. That is a registration service time, not a promise that the dispute will be decided in one day.

Decree No. 26 of 2013 states that the Mediation and Conciliation Directorate seeks to settle a referred dispute within 15 days from the parties’ appearance, but allows that period to be extended for the same period or periods. It also states that First Instance tribunals must determine referred rent claims within 30 days from referral of the file, with an extension for the same period permitted under the applicable rules. Translation, verification, service, scheduling, attendance, expert steps, adjournment, appeal and enforcement can affect the overall path.

No universal completion date should be inferred from those provisions, and Dispute.ae does not promise one.

Appeal information needs immediate case-specific review

Articles 17 and 18 of Decree No. 26 of 2013 address appealability, exceptions, a 15-day appeal period and, for financial claims, a possible deposit of half the judgment amount subject to the Centre chairman’s stated discretion. The current RDC appeal service also lists filing requirements and charges.

Whether a particular judgment can be appealed, when the period starts, and whether security is required depends on the judgment and procedural history. Obtain licensed advice promptly after receiving a judgment; this guide does not calculate or extend an appeal deadline.

A date point for tenancies spanning 1 June 2026

Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 repealed Federal Law No. 5 of 1985, and the replacement Civil Transactions Law took effect on 1 June 2026. Article 4 states that the new Law applies from commencement and does not apply retroactively to preceding facts and acts unless otherwise provided. For an agreement or events spanning that date, the applicable provisions depend on the issue and relevant dates — including formation, performance, breach, accrual and any limitation period — and on applicable special legislation. Do not assume that a pre-1 June 2026 contract is governed exclusively by either Code. A licensed UAE lawyer or legal consultant should confirm the position for an individual matter. See the official UAE legislation record.

Before submitting: final file check

• [ ] RDC jurisdiction and the selected service have been checked.
• [ ] Party names match the identification, licence and tenancy records.
• [ ] The property and Ejari details are consistent across the form and attachments.
• [ ] The requested order or amount is stated consistently and arithmetically checked.
• [ ] The chronology matches the dates shown in the source records.
• [ ] Original-language records and required legal Arabic translations are included.
• [ ] Every attachment is legible, complete and named in a document index.
• [ ] The filing fee and additional charges have been rechecked on the live RDC service page.
• [ ] No result, decision date or recovery has been assumed.

Questions about filing a rental dispute with the RDC

Can a tenant file an RDC case online?

The current RDC first-instance service page lists the RDC website as a filing channel. It also lists Real Estate Services Trustee Centres. Online filing requires an account, data entry, document upload, electronic verification and payment.

Do RDC documents have to be in Arabic?

The RDC states that documents for the first-instance rental service must be submitted in Arabic or legally translated into Arabic. Keep the source-language originals and confirm the translation and upload requirements before filing.

Is Ejari required for the first-instance filing service?

The RDC’s published document list calls for the latest lease and identifies it as Ejari. Its FAQ separately says an Ejari cancellation statement is not required for claim registration; that is not the same as saying the latest tenancy record is unnecessary. If the latest lease is not registered or available, confirm the route with the RDC and obtain licensed advice rather than assuming the system will accept the filing.

How much does an RDC case cost?

It depends on the official classification. The current service page distinguishes specified claim categories charged at 3.5% of annual rent or lease value, subject to an AED 500 minimum and AED 20,000 maximum, from monetary claims charged at 3.5% of the amount claimed, subject to an AED 500 minimum and AED 15,000 maximum. Additional charges can apply.

How long does an RDC case take?

The RDC lists one business day to complete registration, but that is not the duration of the dispute. Decree No. 26 of 2013 contains stage-specific periods that can be extended. The total time is case-specific, so no fixed completion date should be promised.

Does the RDC provide legal advice?

No. The RDC FAQ says the Centre does not provide legal advice. Dispute.ae also does not provide legal advice. A licensed UAE lawyer or legal consultant can advise on rights, relief, pleadings, evidence and representation.

Does filing guarantee payment or another result?

No. Registration starts the selected process; it does not guarantee acceptance of every request, settlement, payment, judgment, recovery or enforcement.

Can every first-instance judgment be appealed?

No. Appealability depends on the value and type of claim, the judgment and the statutory exceptions. The appeal period can be short. Obtain licensed advice immediately after receiving the judgment.