Anyone who rents a home or an office in Dubai registers the tenancy contract in the "Ejari" system. Registration places the tenancy in the official system of the Dubai Land Department and produces an "electronic contract registration certificate". This certificate is also used in other services; for example, the "Apply for or manage a driving licence" service of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority accepts a tenancy contract attested in Ejari as one of the proofs of living in Dubai for a resident whose residence is from another emirate. This article is based on the "Register or renew a tenancy contract" service page and the Ejari services guide page of the Dubai Land Department, checked on 24 October 2026; the department's website was updated on 14 October 2026.
Who registers?
The Dubai Land Department allows these applicants:
| Applicant | Condition |
|---|---|
| Tenant | In person or through a legal representative with an official power of attorney |
| Landlord | Must be the owner of the property, or the owner's legal representative with a power of attorney |
| Property management company | Must hold a property management licence |
| Representative of an individual owner | A legal power of attorney for property management |
The Ejari services guide says a tenant can register the contract "with the landlord's approval" through the Real Estate Trustee Centers or the Dubai REST app. If the landlord does not approve within 5 days, the request is cancelled automatically.
Channels and documents
| Channel | Documents |
|---|---|
| Dubai REST app or the Land Department website | A copy of the Unified Tenancy Contract, for individuals and companies only |
| Real Estate Trustee Centers | The original Unified Tenancy Contract, the applicant's UAE identity card and, if a representative applies, an official power of attorney |
On powers of attorney, the Land Department says a power of attorney issued in Dubai is entered by its number and need not be attached, but one issued in another emirate must be attached.
Conditions for each channel
- **Trustee centre:** the property must not be managed by a real estate company or an owner who has access to the Ejari system; the applicant is the tenant or the tenant's legal representative, and the landlord is the owner or the owner's legal representative.
- **App:** both the tenant and the landlord must be individuals, and the owner's details must be up to date.
- **Ejari system:** companies hold a property management licence, and individual owners manage their own property.
Fees
| Line | Dubai REST app or website | Real Estate Trustee Centers |
|---|---|---|
| Tenancy contract registration | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| Service partner fee | AED 55 plus AED 2.75 value added tax | AED 95 plus value added tax |
| Total | AED 177.75 | AED 220 |
According to the Land Department, payment methods are credit card, cash and the Noqodi wallet.
Steps
| Step | At a trustee centre or property management company | In the Ejari system or the app |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go to the nearest trustee centre or property management company | Sign in to the system or the app and choose the service |
| 2 | Hand in all documents | Enter the details and upload the documents |
| 3 | An employee reviews and approves the request | Pay the fees |
| 4 | Pay and get a receipt | An employee reviews and approves the request |
| 5 | Receive the electronic contract registration certificate | Receive the certificate by email |
The Land Department gives a service time of 25 minutes at trustee centres, with no waiting time.
Renewal, and what the page does not say
Registration and renewal both go through this same service. The service page says it is available for all residency statuses, its form is the "standard tenancy contract", and the document issued is the "electronic contract registration certificate". The same page says nothing about special renewal conditions or a deadline for registering after the contract is signed; if these points matter to you, ask the Land Department or a trustee centre.
The registration certificate and cancellation
The Ejari services guide gives two ways to get the registration certificate: the Land Department website, if you have the Ejari contract number, or the Dubai REST app under Property Wallet. On cancellation:
- the landlord can cancel through the Ejari system, the trustee centres or the app;
- the tenant needs the landlord's approval to cancel, unless the contract term has ended;
- if a cancellation request stays without approval for 5 days, it is cancelled automatically;
- the Land Department does not issue a cancellation certificate.
An example
This example is hypothetical and only shows the official fees above. A family that has just arrived in Dubai rents an apartment. The landlord is an individual who manages their own property.
| Line | Through the app | At a trustee centre |
|---|---|---|
| Contract registration | AED 177.75 | AED 220 |
| Difference | — | AED 42.25 more |
If the tenant files the request through the app, the landlord has 5 days to approve it. After approval, the certificate arrives by email and the family keeps it for later procedures, such as proof of living in Dubai. Each renewal of the contract is registered again through this same service.
Practical points
- Draw up the contract on the "Unified Tenancy Contract" form; this is the form the Land Department asks for.
- Before registering through the app, agree with the landlord that they will see the approval request within 5 days.
- If the property is managed by a real estate company, registration usually goes through that company.
- Keep the Ejari contract number; with it you can download the certificate again from the website.
- If residence or licence procedures lie ahead, see also the articles "Family residence in the UAE" and "Exchanging a foreign driving licence in Dubai".
Royal Golden does not give legal or real estate advice. This article is general information, and the decision on any registration rests with the Dubai Land Department.
Sources
- Dubai Land Department, Register or renew a tenancy contract — https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/register-renew-ejari-contract/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Dubai Land Department, Ejari services guide — https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/campaign-for-ejari-services/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA), Apply for or manage a driving licence — https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/rta-services/service-details?serviceId=617 (checked on 24 October 2026)