Tenant's guide How to rent a property in Dubai

Set a budget

Whether you are a first-time renter or you are looking to move up from your apartment to a villa, budgeting for your dream house is important. You should make sure that you are comfortable with your rent and do not exceed what you can afford. Make sure you have factored in monthly running costs such as DEWA and other utilities, and be aware of all upfront costs associated with the move such as deposit, upfront rent, DEWA connection, removals and commissions.

Meet our experts

Working with a real estate broker will help you find your home in a competitive market and negotiate the terms of the lease with your landlord. A good broker will keep you up to date with new and upcoming listings and will be able to suggest alternative options that match your requirements. It is essential that your broker is knowledgeable on the areas you are are looking and is fully RERA qualified. All viewings should be accompanied by your broker and you should note down any maintenance issues that you see so that your broker can arrange for repairs before you move in.

Secure the property

Once you have found a property that you love you are ready to make an offer. At the point of offer, you will be asked to provide your Emirates ID and visa and write three cheques for the deposit, the first rental payment and your broker's commission. The first two cheques should be in the name of the landlord and the third in the name of your broker's company.

Once all aspects of the lease have been agreed your broker will draw up an agreement on the Unified Ejari Contract. Make sure everything that has been agreed with the landlord is added to the contract otherwise those points are not enforceable.

Once all parties have signed and cheques have cleared you will receive your keys and you are ready to move in.

Register your Ejari

After singing the tenancy agreement, you must register the tenancy with Ejari. It is normal practice for the tenant to do this but if your property is managed by Betterhomes our Property Management Team will do this for you. Ejari registration can be done at centres across Dubai such as the Al Manara Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road.

In order to register Ejari, you will need a copy of your tenancy contract, a copy of your landlords' ID, a copy of the title deed which your broker will provide to you.

Connect your DEWA

Your DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) connection is now linked to the Ejari system so you will not be able to set up DEWA until your Ejari is registered, but you can easily register DEWA at the Al Manara Centre at the same time as your Ejari and your connection should be established within 24 hours.
You will be required to pay a refundable security deposit of AED 4000 for a villa and AED 2000 for an apartment. Ensure you have collected the receipt after paying to claim the refund at the end of your tenancy.