Ejari Renewal Process

All rental contracts in Dubai have to be registered with the government, and this registration is called Ejari. A tenant cannot open a DEWA account, apply for a residence visa, or take a landlord to the Rental Disputes Center without it.

Online registration is for a fee of around AED 177.75. At an approved center it is closer to AED 219.75. Here's what tenants and landlords need to know.

What is Ejari?

Ejari (Arabic for “my rent”) is the official record of a tenancy created by the Dubai Land Department. The contract you sign is a specification of the rent, the term and what each side agrees to. Putting it on Ejari registers those details with the government, and that is what allows DEWA, immigration and the courts to recognize the tenancy as valid.

It covers apartments, villas, offices, shops and warehouses across Dubai. Holiday homes and short hotel-type stays are licensed under different rules for tourism and are not covered by it.

Ejari Registration Responsibility

This is the responsibility of the landlord as per Dubai law. In practice either party can file it, and tenants often do it (they’re normally the ones waiting on utilities or a visa).

You can easily file it yourself online and just pay the government fee. The landlord confirms it from their own account, keeping both parties in the process.

Documents Required for Ejari Renewal

• The newly signed unified tenancy contract for the coming term
• Tenant's Emirates ID, passport, and visa page
• Landlord's passport, or Emirates ID for UAE nationals
• Title deed
• DEWA premises number (a nine-digit code)
• For business premises: trade license and signatory ID

All documents must be valid on the day of filing.

Registration Directions for Ejari

• Online: Log in to the Dubai REST app or Dubai Land Department website with the UAE Pass, select the rental contract registration service, enter the rent, lease dates, and premises number, upload the documents, and pay by card. After the landlord’s approval, the certificate is sent via email.

• In person: The original documents can be presented at a real estate services trustee center, where the counter staff will verify the paperwork, register the contract, and print the certificate the same day.

Renewal Is Not Automatic

This is where most renters go wrong. Ejari does not roll over. Even if the landlord, the property, and the rent are unchanged, a new contract must be signed and registered every year.

Renewing works exactly like registering for the first time, at the same price. There's no need to cancel the old certificate.

Ejari Renewal Fees In 2026

• The more affordable option is to file the renewal online. This costs AED 177.75. This is not a single charge, but a combination of several. There is AED 100 for the registration itself, AED 10 as a knowledge fee, AED 10 as an innovation fee, AED 55 as a service partner fee, and AED 2.75 in VAT.

• Renewing at a trustee center costs AED 219.75, with the difference paying for the assistance at the counter.

• Cancelation is free to do online if you need to cancel.

The breakdown makes it easier to identify the total when it appears on the payment screen.

No Fine for Late Renewal, But Delays

There is no published grace period and no standard late renewal fine. The real cost is the delay. Visa appointments, DEWA transfers, and trade license renewals all stay on hold until the certificate is issued.

Starting the renewal about a month before the term expires gives you enough time to get any expired documents updated and to get landlord approval without feeling rushed.

Two Points Worth Checking

• The old certificate does not need cancelling at renewal; cancellation applies when a tenancy ends rather than when it continues.

• Landlords should also confirm that earlier leases on the property were registered, as closing any gap in advance keeps the current renewal straightforward.