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Dubai · Rental Disputes Center

Disputing an Illegal Rent Increase

If your landlord exceeds the legal cap or skips the 90-day notice, you can challenge it at the RDC. Here's the process — and what it costs to file.

What it costs to file

AED
Basic fee (3.5% of rent)
AED 2,800
Knowledge fee
AED 10
Innovation fee
AED 10
To file your case
AED 2,820

If both sides settle during the case, AED 1,400 (half the basic fee) is refunded.

Official RDC rates (rdc.gov.ae) — capped at AED 500–AED 20,000 basic. Fees can change; confirm before filing.

How the RDC process works

  1. 1

    Try an amicable settlement first

    Raise it in writing with your landlord and cite the legal cap. Many disputes end here — and the RDC expects you to have tried.

  2. 2

    Register your case at the RDC

    File at the Rental Disputes Center (part of Dubai Land Department) online via the Dubai REST app, or in person. You'll need your Ejari, tenancy contract and Emirates ID.

  3. 3

    Pay the filing fee

    3.5% of your annual rent (min AED 500, max AED 20,000), plus small knowledge and innovation fees.

  4. 4

    Submit your evidence

    Attach the RERA index figures, the increase notice, dated correspondence and any payment records. Clear evidence wins cases.

  5. 5

    Attend the hearing and get the judgment

    Most rental cases are heard quickly. If you settle during the process, half of the basic fee is refunded.

More on rent disputes

When is a rent increase challengeable?

A rent increase is not enforceable if it breaks the rules in Decree 43 of 2013 — for example, if it exceeds the cap for how far your rent sits below the market average, if it is applied in your first lease year, or if the landlord did not give 90 days' written notice before renewal. In those cases you can keep paying the old rent and, if pressed, file at the RDC.

Start by confirming the legal maximum with the Rent Increase Calculator, then gather your evidence before you file.

Common questions

When can I dispute a rent increase in Dubai?

If your landlord demands more than the Decree 43 legal cap for your index position, or did not give 90 days' written notice before renewal, the increase is not enforceable and you can file a case at the Rental Disputes Center (RDC).

How much does it cost to file a rental dispute?

The RDC filing fee is 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000, plus small knowledge and innovation fees. If both parties settle, 50% of the basic fee is refunded.

What is the Rental Disputes Center (RDC)?

The RDC (also called the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre) is the judicial arm of the Dubai Land Department that handles rent and tenancy disputes between landlords and tenants in Dubai.

What evidence do I need?

Your registered Ejari, the tenancy contract, your Emirates ID, the RERA rental-index figure for a comparable unit, the landlord's increase notice, and any dated written correspondence.