A 2026 walkthrough
How to File a Rental Dispute Case at the RDC in Dubai
A practical walkthrough of the whole route: which service to register, what the Centre asks for, what it costs, and the deadlines written into the Decree.
Direct answer
Register the case online through the RDC system or at a Real Estate Services Trustee centre: create an account, enter the contract and party details and your requests, upload the documents, and pay the fee. Registration completes in about one business day and the first hearing is scheduled automatically at least seven days after payment. The fee is 3.5% of the annual rent, minimum AED 500 and maximum AED 20,000.
Step by step
- 1
Serve a proper Notice first
Through a Notary Public or by registered mail. For non-payment, thirty days must pass before the claim is accepted.
- 2
Choose the right service
Conciliation, First Instance, Payment Writ, Offer and Deposit, Petition Order or Execution — they are not interchangeable.
- 3
Assemble the documents
Ejari contract, ID or trade licence, IBAN letter, the Notice with its proof of service, and the supporting evidence.
- 4
Translate everything
Certified Arabic translation of every non-Arabic document, before submission.
- 5
Register and pay
Noqodi, card or net banking; cash at service centres. An unpaid registration cancels after five days.
- 6
Conciliation, then judgment
Conciliation is capped at fifteen days with half the court fee refunded on settlement; a First Instance judgment follows within thirty days of referral.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Eviction, renewal, termination and rent claims | 3.5% · min 500 · max 20,000 AED |
| Monetary claims | 3.5% · min 500 · max 15,000 AED |
| Process service · POA · knowledge · innovation | 100 · 25 · 10 · 10 AED |
| Via a Real Estate Services Trustee | 130 AED + VAT |
| Proving a leasehold relationship | 500 AED |
Three things that stall self-filed cases
Filing in English; treating a WhatsApp message as a Notice; and choosing the wrong service — a Payment Writ where a First Instance claim was needed, or a dispute where an urgent petition was needed.
We can do the filing for you
Send the contract and the facts. We identify the case type, prepare and translate the file, register it and follow it through.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to file?
3.5% of the annual rent, minimum AED 500 and maximum AED 20,000 for rental claims; monetary claims are capped at AED 15,000. Add AED 100 process service, AED 25 power of attorney and AED 10 each for knowledge and innovation fees.
How long does registration take?
About one business day, with the first hearing scheduled automatically at least seven days after payment.
Do I need a lawyer?
The RDC does not require legal representation. Taw-Theeq prepares, translates and files — we are not a law firm and do not give legal advice or appear at hearings.
Can I file without Ejari?
Yes, by adding a request to prove the leasehold relationship, at AED 500. An Ejari cancellation statement is not required either.
Must documents be in Arabic?
Yes — in Arabic or legally translated. This is the most common reason a self-prepared file stalls.
How long until judgment?
Conciliation is capped at 15 days, extendable; First Instance must decide within 30 days of referral, extendable once by a further 30.
Can I attend remotely?
Yes. A session link is issued by the Centre and appears in the Case Summary.
What if I lose?
Appeals are available within 15 days, but claims under AED 100,000 are final except in six situations — eviction among them. On a money judgment the appellant deposits 50% of the award.
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Disclaimer. General information about Dubai tenancy law, not legal advice. Legislation is cited from the Dubai Legislation Portal and procedure and fees from the Rental Disputes Centre as published at the date of writing. Taw-Theeq Corporate Services and Legal Translation LLC is a legal support services provider — not a law firm and not a government authority.