Updated: Nov 2026 | Dubai Livin Property Research
Short answer: Ejari registration is how a Dubai tenancy contract gets officially recorded with the Dubai Land Department (DLD). To register Ejari online as a tenant, you need a signed Unified Tenancy Contract, a valid Emirates ID and UAE Pass. You file through the Dubai REST app, the DLD website or DubaiNow, and pay AED 177.75. At a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre the fee is AED 220. After approval, the e-Contract Registration Certificate (your “Ejari certificate”) arrives by email, and DEWA move-in usually starts automatically.
Ejari turns a private rental agreement into a record that DLD, RERA, DEWA and the Rental Disputes Centre can rely on. This guide covers the documents you need, who provides each one, the online steps for tenants, official fees, trustee centres, DEWA and renewals. For the full renting journey, see Renting in Dubai: Complete First-Timer’s Walkthrough.
What Is Ejari in Dubai?
Ejari (Arabic for “my rent”) is the DLD/RERA electronic system that registers residential and commercial tenancy contracts in the Emirate of Dubai. A successful registration produces an e-Contract Registration Certificate.
Ejari is built on Dubai’s Unified Tenancy Contract, the standard lease format recognised by DLD. Signing that contract isn’t the same as registering it. Until the contract is logged in Ejari, government systems generally treat the tenancy as unregistered.
Ejari applies to Dubai only. Abu Dhabi uses Tawtheeq, and the other emirates have their own systems.
Why Does Ejari Registration Matter?
Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, requires lease contracts and any amendments to be registered with RERA. It also says authorities won’t hear a lease-related dispute unless the contract is registered.
In practice, an Ejari certificate:
- creates an official record of the landlord, tenant, property, rent and term
- triggers DEWA move-in for most mainland tenancies
- strengthens your case at the Rental Disputes Centre
- is often requested as proof of address, for example for family visa sponsorship, some banking procedures and school applications
The rent on your registered Ejari contract also feeds the RERA Rental Index, the benchmark that decides how much your rent can rise at renewal. See RERA Rent Increase & Rental Index. For your wider legal position, see The Dubai Tenant’s Rights Bible.
Who Must Register Ejari: Landlord or Tenant?
Legally, the landlord is responsible for making sure the tenancy is registered. Clause 14 of DLD’s Unified Tenancy Contract has the landlord undertake to register it and provide the required documents. In practice, the tenant or the managing agent often submits the application and pays the fee.
Who pays: No DLD rule forces the tenant to pay. By custom, the tenant covers the official fee unless the lease says otherwise. Agents sometimes add a “typing” or admin charge. That isn’t a DLD fee, so if it isn’t written in the contract, you can push back.
Ejari Documents Needed (Tenant, Landlord, Company)
DLD’s official list is short, and it depends on the channel:
- Online (Dubai REST/DLD website): a copy of the Unified Tenancy Contract
- DubaiNow: a valid Emirates ID, with UAE Pass for electronic signing
- Trustee centre: the original contract, the applicant’s Emirates ID, and a power of attorney (POA) if a representative applies
In practice, the details below are what the forms ask for. Gather them before you start so the application doesn’t stall.
From the tenant
From the landlord
Property and payment details
For companies (commercial or corporate leases)
Older blog checklists demand every one of these documents for every online filing. File what DLD lists for your channel, and have the rest ready in case the system or the trustee desk asks.
How to Register Ejari Online as a Tenant (Dubai REST & UAE Pass)
Tenants can register Ejari online through Dubai REST, the DLD website or DubaiNow. Under DLD’s mobile terms, the app route works when both the tenant and the landlord are individuals and the owner’s data is up to date. If a property management company manages the unit, or the landlord already has Ejari system access, they register it, and a trustee centre may reject your request.
Option A: Dubai REST app or DLD website (step by step)
- Sign the Unified Tenancy Contract with the landlord or their authorised representative.
- Download Dubai REST (DLD’s official app) or open the DLD Ejari service. Log in with UAE Pass.
- Choose Register / Renew Tenancy Contract.
- Enter the property and party details exactly as on the contract: the DEWA premise number or title deed details, landlord details, rent, dates and payment schedule.
- Upload a clear copy of the signed Unified Tenancy Contract.
- Pay the fees (AED 177.75; see the table below) by card or Noqodi.
- Landlord approval: if you, the tenant, started the request, the landlord may need to approve it from their own account before it’s processed.
- DLD review: an employee reviews and approves the request.
- Download the certificate. The e-Contract Registration Certificate is emailed to you and also shows in the app. Save the PDF.
Option B: DubaiNow (landlord starts, tenant signs)
DLD’s DubaiNow service lets individual owners who manage their own property create the contract in DubaiNow. The flow is:
- The landlord logs in with UAE Pass, chooses New Contract or Renew Contract, fills in the details, signs and sends it to the tenant.
- The tenant reviews and accepts, signs electronically with UAE Pass, and pays AED 177.75.
- The tenant then continues to pay the DEWA fees, if they apply.
DLD lists the processing time for this route as instant. It’s the fastest option if your landlord agrees to use it.
Ejari registration fees 2026 (official DLD)
| Fee component | Dubai REST / DLD website / DubaiNow | Trustee centre |
|---|---|---|
| Tenancy contract registration | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| Service partner fee | AED 55 | AED 95 |
| VAT on service partner fee | AED 2.75 | included in the total |
| Total | AED 177.75 | AED 220 |
Source: DLD Register / Renew Tenancy Contract and DubaiNow tenancy service, checked Nov 2026. Renewal costs the same as a first registration. Anything an agent charges above these totals is a private service fee, unless your contract already agreed to it.
How long does Ejari take?
- DubaiNow: instant
- Trustee centre: about 25 minutes of service time, excluding waiting
- Dubai REST/DLD website: usually within one to two working days, once the landlord has approved the request (if needed) and a DLD employee has reviewed it. DLD doesn’t publish a fixed time for this route.
When Should You Use a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre?
Use a trustee centre when the online route doesn’t fit. Examples: originals need checking, a POA from another emirate must be attached, or one of the parties is a company.
DLD’s terms for trustee centres:
- The property must not be managed by a real estate company or by an owner who has Ejari system access.
- The applicant must be the tenant or a legal representative with an official POA.
- The landlord must be the owner or a legal representative with an official POA.
Bring the original contract and your Emirates ID. The total is AED 220, payable by card or cash.
How Does Ejari Connect to DEWA Move-In?
For most mainland tenancies, DEWA treats an issued Ejari as the trigger for move-in. Once the certificate is issued, DEWA usually creates your account and sends a welcome SMS or email with your account number and a payment link for the refundable deposit and activation charges. You don’t need to upload the tenancy contract separately.
DEWA says supply is targeted within about 15 working hours of payment (check the current figure on DEWA’s move-in page). If the welcome message never arrives, for example because the email was mistyped during Ejari, apply on the DEWA website or app with your Ejari number. Free-zone premises that are exempt from Ejari apply directly to DEWA with the tenancy contract.
For the full utility steps, see How to Transfer DEWA to a New Apartment.
Why Ejari Applications Stall (and How to Fix Them)
Most delays are data problems, not mysterious refusals. Check these before you submit:
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Name or Emirates ID doesn’t match the contract | Correct the contract or the profile so they match exactly |
| Wrong DEWA premise number | Copy it from the door plate or a past DEWA bill |
| Unsigned scan, or not on the Unified Tenancy Contract | Re-sign on the official template |
| A previous tenancy is still active on the unit | Ask the landlord to terminate the old Ejari first |
| Tenant-started request waiting | Ask the landlord to approve it in their account |
| Owner data out of date (mobile route) | Landlord updates their DLD profile, or use a trustee centre |
| Managed property filed by the tenant | Ask the property manager to register it |
Skipping Ejari blocks the standard DEWA move-in and leaves you exposed if a dispute comes up. If you’re already in a deposit dispute without registration, fix Ejari first where you can.
How Do You Renew or Amend Ejari?
Renewal uses the same Register / Renew Tenancy Contract service and the same AED 177.75 fee. It needs a newly signed contract for the new period, even if the terms haven’t changed.
Before you sign the renewal, check any proposed rent increase against the RERA rental index. The landlord has to give 90 days’ written notice before expiry, and the increase can’t exceed the Decree 43 band. Changes partway through the lease (rent, term, parties) should be recorded so DEWA and dispute records stay accurate. If you’re ending the lease early, check the current cancellation steps on the DLD page.
Ejari Registration Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents are needed for Ejari?
Online, DLD asks for a copy of the signed Unified Tenancy Contract. You also need the details the form requests: Emirates ID, title deed number or DEWA premise number, landlord details, rent and payment schedule. At a trustee centre, bring the original contract, your Emirates ID and a POA if a representative applies. Companies also need a trade licence.
How do I register Ejari online as a tenant?
Log in to the Dubai REST app or the DLD website with UAE Pass and choose Register / Renew Tenancy Contract. Enter the contract details, upload the signed Unified Tenancy Contract and pay AED 177.75. The landlord approves the request if needed. The certificate is emailed to you after DLD review. If your landlord uses DubaiNow, you simply accept, sign with UAE Pass and pay.
Can a tenant register Ejari without the landlord?
A tenant can start the request, but the landlord’s data must be up to date and the landlord may have to approve it. If a property manager manages the unit, or the landlord has Ejari system access, they have to register it. Legally, making sure the tenancy is registered is the landlord’s duty.
How long does Ejari registration take?
DubaiNow is instant. A trustee centre takes about 25 minutes of service time, excluding waiting. The Dubai REST and DLD website route usually completes within one to two working days, after landlord approval (if needed) and DLD review.
How much does Ejari cost in 2026?
AED 177.75 online through Dubai REST, the DLD website or DubaiNow (AED 100 registration, AED 10 knowledge, AED 10 innovation, AED 55 service partner, AED 2.75 VAT). At a trustee centre it’s AED 220. Renewal costs the same.
Is the Ejari rental index the same as the RERA rental index?
Yes. Both names refer to DLD’s official Rental Index, which is built from registered Ejari contracts and caps rent increases at renewal. See our RERA rent increase guide.
Next Steps
Ejari is one step in a longer renting journey:
- Full process: Renting in Dubai: complete walkthrough
- Utilities: How to transfer DEWA to a new apartment
- Renewals and rent increases: RERA rent increase & rental index
- Your rights: Dubai tenant rights under Law 26/33
- Money: Dubai rental cheques · Security deposit disputes
- Finding the next place: Renting without an agent · Chiller-free apartments · Moving companies in Dubai
Official sources: DLD Register / Renew Tenancy Contract · DLD DubaiNow tenancy service · DEWA move-in · UAE Pass · Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008. This guide is general information, not legal advice.