Can a Dubai landlord raise rent?

Can a Dubai Landlord Raise Rent?

Yes, a Dubai landlord can raise rent, but only within limits set by the RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency) rental index, which caps increases between 0% and 20% depending on how the current rent compares to the market average ^[1]. The landlord must also follow proper notice procedures and cannot impose increases arbitrarily.

Rent Increase Limits

Under Dubai tenancy law, any rent increase must comply with the RERA rental index, which compares your current rent against average market rates for similar properties in your area ^[1]. If your rent is already at or above market, no increase is permitted; if it is significantly below market, the increase can range up to 20%. You can check the permissible increase yourself using the official RERA Rental Index calculator on the Dubai Land Department's website or app.

Notice Requirement

A landlord who wishes to raise rent at renewal must notify the tenant in writing at least 90 days before the contract expiry date. Without this advance notice, the rent must remain unchanged for the renewed term. While the 90-day rule is a well-established Dubai tenancy practice, the specific provision is not contained in the excerpts provided here, so please verify with RERA or your tenancy contract.

Related Protections

Your tenancy contract must be registered with Ejari at the Dubai Land Department for it to be enforceable ^[2]. Separately, a landlord cannot simply evict you to bypass rent caps — eviction during the contract term is only allowed for specific grounds such as non-payment, unauthorized subletting, illegal use, or abandonment ^[3], and landlord-initiated eviction at the end of a term requires a 12-month notice delivered via notary public or registered mail ^[4].

If a landlord demands an increase above the RERA cap or fails to give proper notice, you can file a case at the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (RDSC) in Dubai.

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Citations: ^[1] Dubai Law No. 33 of 2008 — RERA rental index increase limits (0–20%) (Dubai-Law-33-2008) ^[2] Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 — Ejari tenancy contract registration (Dubai-Law-26-2007) ^[3] Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 — Grounds for eviction during contract term (Dubai-Law-26-2007) ^[4] Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 — 12-month eviction notice requirement (Dubai-Law-26-2007)

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This is general legal information, not legal advice. For advice tailored to your situation, consult a licensed UAE lawyer.