Conciliation · Decree 26 of 2013, Article 10
Amicable Settlement of a Rental Dispute in Dubai
The RDC's conciliation track is capped at fifteen days, produces an agreement that can be enforced like a judgment, and returns half your court fee if it succeeds. For a great many disputes it is simply the better route.
Direct answer
You file a Dispute (Conciliation) case at the RDC, a conciliator works with both sides to reach terms, and if you settle, the agreement is signed by the parties and the conciliator and approved by a supervising judge — after which it can be enforced at the Centre exactly like a judgment. The fee is the same 3.5% of annual rent as a normal case, but half the court fee is refunded if a settlement is reached. Conciliation is capped at 15 days.
What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Eviction, renewal, termination or rent claims | 3.5% of annual rent · min AED 500 · max AED 20,000 |
| Purely monetary claims | 3.5% of the amount · min AED 500 · max AED 15,000 |
| Process service | AED 100 |
| Power of attorney | AED 25 |
| Knowledge + innovation fees | AED 10 + AED 10 |
| Refund if a settlement is reached | Half of the court fee |
What you need to file
Core
- Latest tenancy contract (Ejari)
- Emirates ID, or trade licence and manager ID for a company
- Bank letter or statement showing your IBAN
If eviction is claimed
- Notarised Notice with the officer's report, or
- The registered-post receipt
Supporting
- Power of attorney or management contract
- Correspondence, bills, cheques
- Arabic translation of every non-Arabic document
How it runs
- 1
Register the dispute
Online through the RDC system or at a Real Estate Services Trustee centre. Registration completes in about one business day.
- 2
A conciliator is assigned
The Centre's conciliators work in Arabic, English, Persian and Urdu, and use phone, email, WhatsApp Business and Microsoft Teams as well as in-person sessions.
- 3
Sessions run, capped at 15 days
Article 10 sets the limit, extendable for equal periods where progress is being made.
- 4
Settle — or move on
A settlement is signed by the parties and the conciliator and approved by a supervising judge. If no settlement is reached, the matter proceeds to First Instance.
- 5
Enforce if needed
An execution file can be opened on the basis of a conciliation agreement exactly as on a judgment.
A case at First Instance can still be sent back
Conciliation is not a door that closes. The RDC confirms a case may be referred back to conciliation while it is at First Instance, by a decision taken in session.
Settle it in fifteen days, not fifteen weeks
Send us the contract and what is in dispute. We will tell you whether conciliation fits, what the file needs and what must be translated into Arabic.
Frequently asked questions
Is conciliation compulsory before a rental case?
The Centre operates a dedicated Dispute — Amicable Settlement service and its structure places mediation and conciliation ahead of the First Instance Division. A case can also be referred back to conciliation from First Instance by a decision in session.
Do I really get half the fee back?
Yes — the RDC states that half of the court fee is refunded if a settlement is reached on the amicable settlement track. The other line items, such as process service, are not refunded.
Is a settlement agreement actually enforceable?
Yes. It is signed by the parties and the conciliator and approved by a supervising judge, and an execution file can be opened on it at the Centre.
How long does it take?
Conciliation is capped at 15 days under Decree 26 of 2013, extendable for equal periods. For context, the RDC reported an average settlement period of six days across 443 conciliation agreements in Q2 2025.
Do documents have to be in Arabic?
Yes. The service page states that all documents must be in Arabic or legally translated.
What if the other side simply refuses to engage?
Then conciliation ends without agreement and the matter proceeds to First Instance. The time is rarely wasted: the file you built for conciliation is the file you file.
Can I keep withholding rent during conciliation?
No. Article 31 requires the tenant to keep paying rent throughout proceedings. If the landlord refuses payment, use the RDC's Offer and Deposit service.
Can Taw-Theeq attend the conciliation for me?
No. We prepare and translate the file and handle the filing. We are not a law firm and do not represent clients in sessions.
Related
Disclaimer. General information, not legal advice. Procedure and fees are as published by the Rental Disputes Centre 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.