Tenant-Side · Rent Increase · RDC

Disputing a rent increase in Dubai: records and RDC route.

A Dubai tenant questioning a proposed rent increase should preserve the tenancy and notice records, check any agreed notice term, record the current official DLD Rental Index result, compare the proposed figure with Decree No. 43 of 2013, and use the RDC route if an in-scope landlord–tenant dispute remains unresolved.

This guide does not decide whether a particular increase is valid. It shows which facts and official records a tenant should organise before agreement, licensed legal review or an RDC filing.

Check these four points first

• The tenancy and property. Record the parties, unit, current annual rent, Ejari number, contract start date and contract expiry date.
• The agreed notice wording. Read the tenancy contract and every addendum for a clause about amendments or renewal notices.
• The notice actually received. Preserve the complete message or letter, its date, sender, delivery record, proposed rent and effective date.
• The official index result and calculation. Run the current DLD Rental Index using the correct property and contract details, then save the inputs, result, date and time.

A broker’s summary, an advertisement, a portal listing or a neighbourhood average is not a substitute for recording the official DLD result and the tenancy-specific facts.

The 90-day rule is a default, not a sentence to quote without the contract

Article 14 of Dubai Law No. 33 of 2008 states that, unless the parties have agreed otherwise, a party wishing to amend a tenancy term under Article 13 must notify the other party of that intention at least 90 days before the tenancy expires.

For the file, record:

• the contract expiry date;
• the exact notice-period clause, if any;
• the date the proposed change was sent and received;
• who sent it and in what capacity;
• the new annual rent and any other proposed term; and
• whether later messages changed the amount or basis.

Do not turn a late, incomplete or disputed notice into an automatic outcome claim. Contract wording, proof of receipt and the relief later requested may matter. A licensed UAE lawyer or legal consultant should interpret the effect in the individual tenancy.

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Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 repealed Federal Law No. 5 of 1985, and the replacement Civil Transactions Law took effect on 1 June 2026.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.

Use the current DLD Rental Index, then preserve the result

The Dubai Land Department Rental Index service says it calculates rental increase and average market rent from property and tenancy information. DLD currently lists the service through its website/Ejari system, the Dubai REST app and DubaiNow.

When using the online calculator:

• enter the correct contract expiry date;
• use the Ejari or property details requested by the selected search route;
• enter the current annual rent, not the proposed rent;
• check the property type, area, building or unit details before calculating; and
• save a dated PDF, screenshot or screen recording showing both inputs and output.

Run the check again before relying on it if the renewal date or underlying record changes. DLD describes the index as continuously updated, so a result saved without its date and inputs is a weaker factual record.

Maximum rent-increase bands in Decree No. 43 of 2013

Article 1 of Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013 sets maximum percentages for renewal by reference to how far the current rent sits below the average rental value of similar units. Article 3 ties that average to the RERA-approved Rent Index.

This table follows the Decree’s published bands. Use the official calculator for the property-specific output rather than estimating a band from advertisements or an unofficial average. The percentage is a maximum under the Decree; the tenant and landlord may agree renewal terms, and Article 13 of the amended tenancy law states that the tribunal may determine fair rent if they do not agree.

DLD’s Smart Rental Index announcement explains that the system uses a building-classification mechanism considering technical, structural, finish, maintenance, location, service and facility factors. That announcement does not remove the need to preserve the tenancy inputs and actual calculator output.

Turn the disagreement into a factual comparison

The table does not determine the legal result. It creates a reviewable record.

Tenant evidence checklist

Keep negotiation drafts separate from the final signed tenancy. Label each file by date and source.

A factual response template

This template records the issue without pretending to be a legal notice or legal opinion. Adapt only the facts that are true.

Do not label this an RDC pleading or a formal legal notice. If a procedural notice is required, a licensed professional should advise on its form and service.

If the disagreement remains: the RDC route

Article 6 of Dubai Decree No. 26 of 2013 gives the RDC jurisdiction over landlord–tenant rental disputes concerning Dubai property, subject to exclusions for a free zone with its own competent tribunal or special court, lease-finance disputes and qualifying long-term leases.

The RDC amicable-settlement service and first-instance rental lawsuit service are distinct procedures. Which one is appropriate, what relief should be requested and how the notice point should be framed are legal questions. See the complete RDC filing guide for the current documents, process, timing caveats and appeal information.

Current filing-fee wording

For the RDC service’s listed categories, including lease renewal and rent claim, the current service page states 3.5% of annual rent or lease value, with an AED 500 minimum and AED 20,000 maximum. For a monetary claim, it states 3.5% of the amount claimed, with an AED 500 minimum and AED 15,000 maximum.

The page also lists AED 100 process service, AED 25 power-of-attorney registration if applicable, AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee. Trustee-centre filing adds the stated partner fee of AED 130 plus VAT on that partner fee. The portal determines classification and the payable total; recheck it before filing.

The amicable-settlement page says half the basic-claim fee is refunded where conciliation is sought and settlement is reached. It is not a general or automatic half-fee refund.

Timing and outcomes are case-specific

The RDC service pages state one business day to complete registration. They do not promise a one-day decision. Decree No. 26 of 2013 contains extendable stage periods for conciliation and first-instance determination, and later steps can add time. No particular renewal, rent figure, settlement or judgment is guaranteed.

Questions about Dubai rent-increase disputes

Can a landlord increase rent by any percentage at renewal?

Decree No. 43 of 2013 sets maximum renewal-increase bands linked to the difference between current rent and the RERA-approved average rental value. The highest band stated in the Decree is 20%. The official DLD Rental Index should be checked for the property-specific result, and the contract and notice facts still matter.

Is 90 days always the agreed notice period?

Article 14 of Law No. 33 of 2008 provides a default of at least 90 days unless the parties agreed otherwise. Read the signed tenancy and addenda before stating which notice period applies.

Does a notice sent inside 90 days automatically cancel the increase?

This guide does not make that conclusion. Preserve the contract, the notice, proof of receipt and later communications, then obtain licensed advice on the effect of those facts and the correct RDC request.

Which rent should I enter in the DLD calculator?

The DLD service instructions call for the current annual rental value together with the contract expiry date and property details. Check every input and preserve the displayed result.

What if the DLD Rental Index changes after the notice?

Do not rely on memory or overwrite the earlier record. Save the dated output used when the issue arose and any later output, with all inputs visible. A licensed adviser can assess which facts and date are relevant to the dispute.

Does the calculator decide an RDC case?

The calculator is the official DLD service for rental increase and average market rent. The amended tenancy law also lists criteria a tribunal may consider when determining fair rent. Do not describe a calculator screenshot as a guaranteed case result.

Can I stop paying rent while the increase is disputed?

This guide does not advise withholding rent or changing the payment method. Those steps can have legal consequences. Obtain licensed UAE advice promptly and keep a complete payment record.

Does this guide cover eviction or possession threats?