Last reviewed: August 2026 · Prepared by the Taw-Theeq legal services team, Deira, Dubai
If a landlord–tenant disagreement in Dubai cannot be settled privately, the case is decided by the Rental Disputes Center (RDC) — the judicial arm of the Dubai Land Department created by Decree No. 26 of 2013. This guide explains what the RDC handles, what a filing actually costs, which documents you must submit, and why the Arabic language requirement is the single most common reason a first filing is rejected.
Key point: The RDC is a court, not a mediation service. Its judgments are enforceable. Filings and evidence are handled in Arabic, so any English, Russian, Chinese or other foreign-language document in your file must be submitted with a legally certified Arabic translation.
What the Rental Disputes Center covers
The RDC has jurisdiction over disputes arising from the landlord–tenant relationship for property located in the Emirate of Dubai, under Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008). In practice, the case types that reach the Center most often are:
- Non-payment of rent — bounced cheques or unpaid instalments.
- Eviction — including eviction on expiry of the lease term.
- Rent increase disputes — where the increase exceeds the permitted cap.
- Security deposit disputes — deductions the tenant contests.
- Maintenance obligations, early termination, and sub-letting without consent.
- Execution of judgments — enforcing a decision already issued.
Not every property dispute belongs here. Sale and purchase disputes, off-plan matters and owner–developer claims follow a different route. If you are unsure which forum applies, confirm before filing — a case filed in the wrong forum costs both the fee and the time.
Filing fees at the RDC
The claim fee is calculated as a percentage of the annual rent stated in the tenancy contract, within a fixed floor and ceiling:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Claim filing fee | 3.5% of the annual rent |
| Minimum fee | AED 500 |
| Maximum fee | AED 20,000 |
| Refund on amicable settlement | 50% of the basic fee returned |
Additional service charges (knowledge and innovation fees, translation, typing, expert fees where an expert is appointed) apply on top of the basic claim fee. Confirm the current schedule on the official RDC portal before you budget, as fee schedules are updated by the Land Department from time to time.
Documents required to open a case
A complete file moves faster than a strong argument. Prepare the following before you approach the Center:
- Ejari-registered tenancy contract — an unregistered contract is the most frequent obstacle for landlords.
- Title deed or proof of ownership (landlord) / Emirates ID and passport copy (both parties).
- Trade licence and power of attorney where a company or representative is filing.
- Proof of the claim — cheques, bank returns, payment receipts, DEWA bills, statements of account.
- The legal notice served on the other party, with proof of service.
- Certified Arabic translations of every non-Arabic document in the bundle.
The notice requirement — where most cases fail
Two notice rules decide the outcome of a large share of Dubai rental cases, and neither can be fixed retroactively:
Rent change: a landlord must give 90 days’ written notice before the renewal date to change rent or any other contract term, and rent may be increased only once in any 12-month period.
Eviction on expiry of the term: requires 12 months’ written notice served through a notary public or by registered mail.
An email, an SMS or a WhatsApp message is not a legally valid substitute for notarised or registered service on the 12-month eviction notice. Serving it informally is the single most common reason an otherwise valid eviction claim is dismissed and has to be restarted with a fresh 12-month clock.
If the notice you intend to serve is drafted in English, it must be issued in Arabic for the notary public to attest it. See our guide on certified legal translation in Dubai for what “certified” means in this context.
Rent caps and the Smart Rental Index
Permitted rent increases in Dubai are governed by Decree No. 43 of 2013, which ties the maximum increase to how far the current rent sits below the average market rate for comparable units. From 1 January 2025, the Dubai Land Department’s Smart Rental Index replaced the earlier rental increase calculator as the reference used to assess market value. Check the index through the official DLD channels or the Dubai REST app before you accept or contest an increase — the index output, not the landlord’s figure, is what the Center will weigh.
How the process runs
- Reconciliation. The file first passes through an amicable settlement stage. If the parties settle here, half of the basic fee is refunded.
- First instance. If no settlement is reached, the case is referred to a judicial committee, which hears submissions and issues a judgment.
- Appeal. Judgments may be appealed within the statutory period where the value of the claim or the nature of the ruling allows it.
- Execution. A final judgment is enforced through the execution department — this is a separate procedural step, not automatic.
Practical guidance before you file
- Register the tenancy contract with Ejari before a dispute arises, not after.
- Keep every payment record. Verbal agreements carry very little weight in a Dubai rental file.
- Serve notices correctly the first time — through a notary public or registered mail where the law requires it.
- Have the Arabic translation prepared by a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice; an uncertified translation will be returned.
- Attend the reconciliation stage seriously. A settlement recovers half the fee and closes the matter in weeks rather than months.
Need your rental file prepared in Arabic?
Our Ministry of Justice–licensed translators handle Ejari contracts, notices, cheques, correspondence and court bundles for RDC filings. Office located opposite the RDC building in Deira.
Related reading
- Rental Disputes Center services — Taw-Theeq
- Landlord services at the RDC
- Tenant rights at the RDC
- Certified legal translation in Dubai
- Rental Disputes Center — Dubai Land Department
- Dubai Land Department
- Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008) — landlord and tenant relationship
- Decree No. 26 of 2013 — establishing the Rental Disputes Center
