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Dubai tenancy contract (Word & PDF)
Dubai tenancy contract in Arabic: عقد إيجار دبي / عقد الإيجار الموحد — the DLD Unified Tenancy Contract, registered on Ejari. Not a Saudi Ejar contract and not Abu Dhabi Tawtheeq.
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For a landlord and a tenant agreeing a Dubai home lease before Ejari registration, and for counsel preparing those terms. It follows the DLD unified tenancy contract: the property, the rent, the deposit, the 90-day notice and handover. The contract that counts is the one registered on Ejari.
Sources: 13 official sourcesNot legal advice
What this template includes
Register on Ejari with the Unified Tenancy Contract
- Ejari – DLD(https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/register-renew-ejari-contract/)
- Unified Tenancy Contract(https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/ejari-templates/download-unified-ejari-tenancy-contract)
- Unified Tenancy Contract (PDF)(https://dubailand.gov.ae/media/ivuhfjxa/ejari_unified_tenancy_contract.pdf)
- DLD rental index(https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/rental-index/)
A free bilingual checklist for a Dubai residential tenancy: parties, property, rent, deposit, term and notice. Agree the terms here, then use the Dubai Land Department Unified Tenancy Contract and register it on Ejari.[2][3] It is not a Saudi Ejar contract and not an Abu Dhabi Tawtheeq form. For the definition, see lease contract. This is general information, not legal advice.
When the Dubai tenancy draft is the right file
Use this page for a residential unit in Dubai. The Land Department publishes a Unified Tenancy Contract for Ejari registration.[3] In that contract the Arabic text prevails, and the landlord undertakes to register it on Ejari.[4] Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 requires the lease to be in writing and registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency; a dispute over an unregistered lease is not heard (Art. 4).[1]
- Fill in the [placeholders]: parties, property, term, rent, deposit, utilities and notice.
- Create the official contract from the DLD unified form and register it on Ejari.[2][3]
- A representative who registers needs an official power of attorney.[2]
- Out of scope: commercial leases, Abu Dhabi Tawtheeq, Saudi Ejar, and any rent figure copied from another emirate.
Ejari, Tawtheeq and Ejar are not the same filing
Dubai residential leases use the DLD Unified Tenancy Contract and register on Ejari.[2][3] Abu Dhabi uses Tawtheeq: the landlord or the property manager registers on the standardised form, and registration is required before utilities can be connected.[7] Abu Dhabi tenancy rules are published by ADREC.[6] Saudi Arabia registers leases on Ejar; an unregistered lease does not produce administrative and judicial effects, and the Ejar electronic contract is an enforceable instrument.[8][9]
- Dubai notice: 90 days before expiry to amend the terms or not renew (Law No. 26 of 2007, Art. 14).[1]
- Dubai rent increases: governed by the law and Decree No. 43 of 2013. Check the DLD rental index rather than a fixed number.[4][5]
- Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman: under review. No article number is stated.
- UAE Civil Transactions Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025: lease-formation articles are under review. Dubai tenancy stays on Law No. 26 of 2007.[13]
The template
Dubai tenancy contract
A checklist for a Dubai residential tenancy: parties, property, rent, deposit, term and notice. It does not replace the DLD Unified Tenancy Contract registered on Ejari. Replace every [placeholder].
Landlord: [name], ID/CR [●], address [●], represented by [●] (if an agent, attach the authority). Tenant: [name], ID [●], address [●].
Drafting note
If an agent signs, attach a power of attorney. Registering an Ejari contract through a representative requires an official power of attorney.[2] See notary public. If the landlord is a company, enter its commercial registration number.
[Type: apartment/villa], unit no. [●], building [●], address [●], title deed no. [●], area [●] m², furnishing [furnished/unfurnished], parking [●]. The property is leased for residential use by the Tenant and family members [names/number] only.
Drafting note
Residential use only. Commercial leases are out of scope.
Term: [●] months/years from [date] to [date]. The term must be specified (Law No. 26 of 2007, Art. 5).[1]
Annual rent [amount], payable in [●] instalments on [dates] by [method]. Security deposit [amount], refundable within [●] days after handover, less documented amounts due.
The Landlord shall create the official contract from the DLD Unified Tenancy Contract and register it on Ejari within [●] days of signing, and give the Tenant a copy of the registration certificate.
[Electricity/water/cooling/internet/service charges] are paid by [party]. The Landlord handles [structural/major] repairs and the Tenant handles [minor/routine] repairs, as listed in [schedule].
The Tenant shall not alter the property or sublet or assign it without the Landlord's prior written consent.
Drafting note
The Dubai Unified Tenancy Contract has a similar term.[4]
A party who does not want to renew, or wants to change the terms, notifies the other in writing at least 90 days before expiry (Law No. 26 of 2007, Art. 14).[1] The lease may end early only in the cases set by the applicable law, including the eviction cases in Art. 25, or as agreed here: [●].[1]
Drafting note
Renewal is covered by Art. 6.[1] Do not invent a shorter notice than Art. 14 unless the official form accepts it.
Governed by the laws of the Emirate of Dubai. Disputes over unregistered leases are not heard (Art. 4).[1] The Unified Tenancy Contract refers disputes to the Rental Dispute Center.[4] Arabic and English, with Arabic prevailing.[4]
Landlord: name [●] · signature [●] · date [●]
Tenant: name [●] · signature [●] · date [●]
Drafting note
Use this draft to settle the wording. The contract that works is the Unified Tenancy Contract registered on Ejari. This is a starting point. Have it reviewed by a lawyer licensed in the relevant jurisdiction before you use it.
Dubai notes
What Law No. 26 of 2007 and the DLD unified form support.[1][2][3][4]
| Item | What the text states |
|---|---|
| Registration | Leases must be written and registered with RERA; disputes over unregistered leases are not heard (Art. 4). Registration is through Ejari.[1][2] |
| Term and renewal | The term must be specified (Art. 5); renewal is covered by Art. 6.[1] |
| Notice | 90 days' notice before expiry to amend the terms or not renew (Art. 14).[1] |
| Eviction | The eviction cases are set out in Art. 25.[1] |
| Rent increases | Governed by the law and Decree No. 43 of 2013; check the DLD rental index.[4][5] |
| Unified Tenancy Contract | The Arabic text prevails; the landlord undertakes to register on Ejari; the tenant may not sublet or assign without the landlord's written approval.[3][4] |
| Representatives | Registering through a representative requires an official power of attorney.[2] |
Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and other GCC
These filings are not this template.[7][6][8][9]
| Place | What to do |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Tawtheeq. The landlord or property manager registers on a standardised form; registration is needed to connect utilities.[7] Law No. 20 of 2006 and its amendments, published by ADREC.[6] |
| Saudi Arabia | Ejar. An unregistered lease does not produce administrative and judicial effects. The Ejar electronic contract is an enforceable instrument.[8][9] |
| Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman | Under review. No article number is stated.[10][11][12] |