Property
UAE — Property: Rental Market
Dubai's rental market is governed by RERA's Rental Index — upgraded to a Smart Rental Index in January 2025, using AI and per-building classification (age, quality, amenities, service charges) to set real-time, building-specific rental ranges. Under Dubai Law No. 43 of 2013, rent increases follow a graduated cap based on how far current rent sits below the RERA index: 0% increase if rent is at or up to 10% below the index; 5% if 11-20% below; 10% if 21-30% below; 15% if 31-40% below; up to 20% if more than 40% below. Tenants are entitled to 90 days' notice before any rent increase, and every lease must be registered on Ejari (including all occupants in shared/co-living spaces). As of December 2025, many Dubai communities saw 10-20% rent increases over the prior 12 months, continuing a multi-year upward trend.
Key facts
- RERA's Smart Rental Index (Jan 2025) uses AI and per-building classification for real-time rental benchmarks.
- Rent increase caps (Law No. 43 of 2013): 0% (at/near index) up to 20% (40%+ below index), on a graduated scale.
- Tenants are entitled to 90 days' notice before any rent increase.
- Every lease must be registered on Ejari, including all occupants.
- Dubai saw 10-20% rent increases across many communities in the 12 months to December 2025.
Timelines
- Required notice before rent increase: 90 days
Required documents
- Ejari lease registration
Common mistakes
- Not registering the lease on Ejari, which is required for visa sponsorship, utility connections, and dispute resolution.
- Assuming a landlord can apply any percentage rent increase — the RERA index caps the maximum legal increase.