Before signing an apartment lease in Dubai, verify the exact unit and the people entitled to let or broker it, then put the rent, payment dates, deposit, fees, maintenance duties and exit terms in writing. Budget separately for Ejari, the DEWA deposit and other move in charges; none should be inferred from an agent’s verbal summary.
Editorial check: Reviewed 14 September 2026. Prices, schedules, availability, menus, building access and booking terms can change. Verify live details with the official sources before deciding.
Verify the unit and parties before paying
Match the apartment number, building and landlord details across the offer, title or authority documents and tenancy contract. If an agent or broker is involved, use Dubai Land Department’s licence and permit validation service to check the practitioner or company rather than relying on a logo or forwarded document.
View the exact apartment and record unresolved conditions. If anyone requests a holding payment, require a signed receipt or agreement that identifies the payee and unit, explains the payment’s purpose, states whether and when it is refundable, and says how it will be applied to later amounts. There is no universal holding payment range or automatic refund rule assumed in this guide.
Compare rent and upfront cash separately
| Item | What to confirm in writing |
|---|---|
| Contract rent | Total rent, instalments, due dates, payment method and the consequence of a late or failed payment |
| Security deposit | The agreed amount, permitted deductions, condition evidence, notice process and refund timing; do not treat 5% or 10% as a universal legal rate |
| Brokerage charge | The amount or rate, applicable VAT treatment, payment trigger and cancellation or refund terms; broker remuneration is an agreement point, not a universal one month fee |
| Ejari | The current DLD channel and official fee for registration or renewal |
| DEWA | The residential flat security deposit plus separate activation and other published charges |
| Housing and building charges | What appears on the DEWA bill, what the tenancy contract assigns, and any separate building or common property charge |
Post dated cheques are not presented here as a universal legal requirement. Whatever payment method the parties choose should be written into the contract with exact dates and amounts. Do not hand over funds or cheques until the unit, recipient, authority, terms and receipt process have been checked.
Review the tenancy contract as an operating document
Check the names and identification of the parties, exact premises, contract dates, rent and payment schedule. Add the deposit terms, maintenance allocation, furnishing inventory, parking and access cards, permitted use, pet or occupancy restrictions, notice terms, renewal process and any break clause. Put agreed repairs and move in conditions in an addendum rather than depending on chat messages.
Do not use “major” and “minor” repair labels without definitions. Dubai Land Department’s rental FAQs distinguish maintenance needed for the tenant’s intended use from non essential maintenance, subject to the contract and facts. Identify responsibility for air conditioning, appliances, plumbing, call out charges and damage caused by either party in the signed terms.
Register or renew Ejari through the correct channel
Dubai Land Department’s Register/Renew Tenancy Contract service lists the current channels, documents and fees. Checked on 14 September 2026, the published total is AED 177.75 through the website or Dubai REST and AED 220 through a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. Recheck the live service page before paying because government and partner charges can change.
| Channel | DLD’s published document route | Published service time |
|---|---|---|
| DLD website or Dubai REST | Copy of the Unified Tenancy Contract uploaded through the service flow | Follow the status shown in the application; this guide does not promise a processing time |
| Real Estate Services Trustee Centre | Original Unified Tenancy Contract, applicant’s Emirates ID and power of attorney when a representative applies | 25 minutes, excluding waiting time, as published by DLD |
Follow any additional request shown for the actual application and keep the issued certificate. Register a new tenancy and renew its Ejari record when the tenancy contract is renewed; do not assume every lease has a one year term.
Set up utilities without mixing unlike charges
DEWA’s Move To service publishes a refundable AED 2,000 security deposit for a residential flat, checked on 14 September 2026. A villa has a different deposit. Activation, registration, knowledge and innovation charges are separate, so the deposit is not the complete utility setup budget.
DEWA explains that annual rent data received from Ejari updates the Dubai Municipality housing fee in its system. That housing fee should not be described as rent merely because it may appear on the same household budget. Check the current bill and contract, and distinguish it from common property service charges.
Create evidence at handover
- Walk through each room with the inventory and record existing damage, missing items and agreed work.
- Photograph the condition, meters and supplied items with the other party’s knowledge, and retain dated copies.
- Test water, cooling, appliances, locks and access arrangements that form part of the tenancy.
- Count keys, access cards, parking devices and remotes, and record replacement terms.
- Sign a move in condition report and keep payment receipts, the contract, addenda and Ejari certificate together.
The property viewing checklist helps organize checks before this final handover record.
Plan renewal and early exit before a deadline
For a proposed rent change, use DLD’s current Smart Rental Index or Dubai REST rather than an old blog calculator. DLD’s Smart Rental Index explanation says a landlord should notify the tenant at least 90 days before the contract expires and the index must confirm eligibility for an increase. The contract and current DLD guidance still govern the actual case; notice alone does not make an increase valid.
Early termination has no universal one month penalty in this guide. Article 7 in the RDC real estate legislation compilation says a valid tenancy generally cannot be ended unilaterally during its term except by mutual agreement or under the law. Read the break clause before signing and record any later exit agreement. For a dispute or fact specific interpretation, contact the Rental Disputes Center or obtain qualified legal advice.
Final lease checklist
- Exact unit and landlord or representative authority verified
- Broker licence and permit checked when applicable
- Every payment, due date and refund condition written down
- Deposit and condition evidence agreed
- Maintenance, inventory, parking and access responsibilities recorded
- Ejari channel, documents and live fee rechecked
- DEWA deposit and separate setup charges budgeted
- Renewal, notice and early exit wording understood before signature
This is a practical source linked checklist, not legal advice or a review of a particular lease. Keep the live official pages and signed documents with your records, and seek qualified advice where the contract or circumstances are unclear.
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Compare this long term tenancy process with Dubai holiday home permits, or review how holiday home management responsibilities differ.
How this guide was reviewed
Compare the exact property, room or unit, total stay price, cancellation terms, transport and the facilities that matter to your group. Confirm availability and inclusions on the operator’s current booking page. A neighbourhood guide or property photograph does not establish what a particular rate includes. This editorial review removed date sensitive claims that could not be supported by a current primary source.
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