Updated November 2026. Ejari is Dubai’s official system for registering tenancy contracts. Every rental in Dubai has to be registered, and you need the Ejari certificate to connect DEWA, sponsor your family’s visas and take a dispute to the Rental Disputes Centre. Most people now register in a few minutes in the Dubai REST app, and the total cost is usually around AED 170 to 220, depending on where you register.
What is Ejari?
Ejari (“my rent” in Arabic) is the Dubai Land Department (DLD) system that records every tenancy contract in the emirate. Registering the contract turns it into an official record: it shows who rents which unit, for how long and at what rent. That record protects both sides if there is a disagreement later about the rent, the deposit or an eviction notice.
Registration is required under Dubai’s tenancy law (Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008), which is still the law in force in 2026.
Why you need an Ejari certificate
- DEWA: you need your Ejari number to activate electricity and water in your name.
- Family visas: a registered tenancy contract is part of the paperwork for sponsoring a spouse or children.
- Rental disputes: to file a case at the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC) about rent, a deposit or an eviction, you normally need a registered contract.
- Business licences: companies need a registered lease for their office to issue or renew a trade licence.
- Shared housing: under Dubai’s new shared housing law (Law No. 4 of 2026), shared accommodation contracts must also be registered. See our guide to Dubai’s shared housing law.
Who registers Ejari: the tenant or the landlord?
Either can. In practice the landlord, the property management company or the agent often registers it, but a tenant can start the registration in the Dubai REST app and the landlord then approves it. Agree in writing who will register and who pays the fee before you sign, so it doesn’t get missed.
Documents you need
- The signed unified tenancy contract (the standard DLD contract), plus any addendum.
- Tenant’s Emirates ID (or passport and visa).
- Landlord’s Emirates ID or passport (a trade licence if the landlord is a company).
- Title deed details for the property.
- DEWA premises number (on the DEWA bill or the meter area of the unit).
- A power of attorney if someone registers on the landlord’s behalf.
How to register Ejari in the Dubai REST app
- Download Dubai REST from the App Store or Google Play and log in with UAE PASS.
- Choose the Ejari service to register a new tenancy contract.
- Enter the contract details (property, dates, rent, payment method) and upload the documents.
- The landlord approves the request in their own account if the tenant started it.
- Pay the fee in the app.
- Download the Ejari certificate once it is approved. Many registrations are approved the same day; others take a working day or two.
If you don’t want to do it yourself, Real Estate Services Trustee Centres across Dubai register Ejari for you for a slightly higher fee. Take the same documents.
How much does Ejari cost in 2026?
Expect to pay roughly AED 170 to 220 in total. Registering yourself in the Dubai REST app is at the lower end; a service centre charges more because it adds its own service fee and VAT. The app shows the exact amount before you pay, and fees can change, so check it there rather than relying on any fixed figure.
Renewing Ejari
An Ejari certificate covers one contract period. When you renew the tenancy, the renewed contract has to be registered again, through the same process and fee. Before you renew, check whether the landlord’s proposed rent increase is allowed: the landlord must give you at least 90 days’ notice of any change, and our rent increase calculator shows the maximum increase under the RERA rules.
Cancelling Ejari when you move out
When a tenancy ends, the Ejari has to be cancelled so the unit can be registered to the next tenant and you can register your new home. Cancellation is done in the Dubai REST app or at a service centre. Settle the final DEWA bill and get written confirmation from the landlord that the contract has ended, and agree the return of your security deposit at the same time. If the deposit is slow to come back, see what to do if your deposit is late.
Common problems
- “The unit already has an active Ejari”: the previous tenant’s contract was never cancelled. Ask the landlord to cancel it first.
- Details don’t match: the names, Emirates ID numbers and title deed details on the contract must match the official records exactly.
- No landlord approval: if you started the registration, it stays pending until the landlord approves it in their account.
- Paying monthly or by many cheques: the payment schedule in the contract is recorded in Ejari, so make sure it reflects what you agreed. More on newer payment options in monthly rent payments in Dubai.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ejari mandatory in Dubai?
Yes. Every tenancy contract in Dubai must be registered with Ejari.
How long does Ejari registration take?
Through the Dubai REST app it often takes minutes to submit and is usually approved the same day or within one to two working days.
Can a tenant register Ejari without the landlord?
A tenant can start the registration, but the landlord (or their representative) has to approve it.
Do I need a new Ejari every year?
Yes. Each renewed contract is registered again.
Does Ejari apply in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?
No. Ejari is Dubai only. Abu Dhabi uses Tawtheeq and Sharjah has its own registration through the municipality.
Looking for a new place? Browse properties for rent in Dubai with video tours, and read whether to renew or move in 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures are set by the Dubai Land Department and can change; check the Dubai REST app or the DLD before you pay.