Rental disputes in Dubai: the RDC, fees and how to file
The notice rules behind most disputes, RDC fees (3.5% of annual rent), how to file, how long it takes and how to appeal.
Last reviewed 15 October 2026 by the ZoneIQ team. Facts checked against the official sources listed at the end.
General information, not legal advice. For a decision about your own case, check the official sources or speak to a lawyer.
Source: DLD open data · Information, not financial advice. Not an official DLD product.
Rent disputes in Dubai go to the Rental Disputes Center (RDC), part of the Dubai Land Department. It was set up by Decree No. 26 of 2013 (issued 18 September 2013) and has exclusive jurisdiction over landlord and tenant disputes in Dubai, free zones included, unless a free zone has its own tribunal. Since 2019 it also hears disputes about jointly owned property. This guide covers the notice rules that decide most cases, the fees, how to file and how long it takes, from the decree, the rent law and the RDC's own service pages.
The notice rules behind most disputes
- Changing the rent or terms at renewal: the party asking for the change must give notice at least 90 days before the lease ends, unless the parties agreed otherwise (Law No. 26 of 2007, Article 14, as amended in 2008). The increase is capped by Decree No. 43 of 2013; check it with the rent increase calculator.
- Eviction at the end of the lease: only for demolition or rebuilding, major restoration that cannot be done with the tenant inside, own use or use by a first-degree relative (when the owner has no suitable alternative), or sale. The tenant must be told the reason at least 12 months before, through a Notary Public or by registered mail (Article 25(2)).
- Eviction during the lease: only in listed cases, the first being rent not paid within 30 days of a notice to pay. Others include subletting without written approval, illegal use, damage, and failing to meet any obligation within 30 days of a notice (Article 25(1)).
- After an own-use eviction the property cannot be let to someone else for 2 years (residential) or 3 years (non-residential), or the tenant can claim compensation (Article 26).
- A valid lease cannot be ended early by one side alone; only by agreement or under the law (Article 7).
Older summaries mention a two-year freeze on rent increases and a 90-day eviction notice. Both come from the 2007 text that Law No. 33 of 2008 replaced.
What filing costs
- Eviction, renewal, rent claims, termination of a running lease: 3.5% of the annual rent, at least AED 500, at most AED 20,000.
- Money claims: 3.5% of the amount claimed, at least AED 500, at most AED 15,000.
- Fixed extras: AED 100 process service, AED 10 knowledge fee, AED 10 innovation fee, AED 25 to register a power of attorney if there is one.
- At a Trustee Centre: add AED 130 service partner fee plus VAT.
- Settlement: half the fee is refunded if the case settles at the conciliation stage.
| Annual rent | Base fee (3.5%, min 500, max 20,000) |
|---|---|
| AED 12,000 | AED 500 |
| AED 60,000 | AED 2,100 |
| AED 120,000 | AED 4,200 |
| AED 800,000 | AED 20,000 |
Base fee only, before the fixed extras. Worked from the RDC fee rule; the RDC decides the fee on filing.
How to file
- Collect the documents: the latest lease (Ejari), Emirates ID (for a company, the trade licence and the manager's or owner's ID), a bank letter or statement showing your IBAN, and for an eviction claim the notarised notice with the notification officer's report, or the registered mail notice with proof of receipt.
- Make sure every document is in Arabic or legally translated into Arabic. Files are uploaded; the RDC does not accept hard copies.
- File on the RDC website or at a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. Registration takes about 1 business day. Pay by Noqodi, card, or cash at a centre.
- Attend the hearing through the RDC's tele-litigation system. The judgment is received through the website.
See the Ejari guide if the lease was never registered: the RDC asks for it with the claim.
How long it takes
- Conciliation: most cases first go to the Mediation and Conciliation Directorate, which has up to 15 days from the parties' appearance to settle (extendable). A signed settlement approved by the judge can be enforced like a judgment. Urgent and interim claims skip this stage.
- Decision: the tribunal must decide within 30 days of receiving the file, extendable once by the same period.
- Appeal: within 15 days of the day after the judgment. Judgments on claims under AED 100,000 are final, except in listed cases such as eviction. Appeal judgments are final. An appeal on a money judgment needs a refundable deposit of half the amount awarded, plus the fixed fees.
The RDC does not publish an average case length. These are the legal limits.
For landlords
Most disputes start with notice. Serve renewal changes 90 days ahead and eviction notices 12 months ahead, through a Notary Public or registered mail, and keep proof. Price renewals within the Decree 43 cap: the calculator shows the maximum, and the area pages show the median Ejari rent for each unit type.
Questions
How much does it cost to file a case at the RDC?
For eviction, renewal, rent claims and lease termination: 3.5% of the annual rent, at least AED 500 and at most AED 20,000. For money claims: 3.5% of the amount claimed, at least AED 500 and at most AED 15,000. Add AED 100 process service, AED 10 knowledge fee, AED 10 innovation fee, and AED 25 if a power of attorney is registered. Filing at a Trustee Centre adds AED 130 plus VAT.
Do I get the fee back if we settle?
Half of the fee is refunded if the parties reach an amicable settlement (Decree No. 26 of 2013, Article 10).
How much notice must a landlord give to evict at the end of the lease?
At least 12 months, served through a Notary Public or by registered mail, and only for one of four reasons: demolition or rebuilding, major restoration, own use or use by a first-degree relative, or sale (Law No. 33 of 2008, Article 25(2)).
How much notice is needed to change the rent at renewal?
At least 90 days before the lease ends, unless the parties agreed otherwise (Article 14). The increase itself is capped by Decree No. 43 of 2013.
How long does an RDC case take?
The law sets limits rather than an average: up to 15 days for the conciliation stage (extendable), up to 30 days for the tribunal to decide once it has the file (extendable once), and 15 days to appeal.
Can I appeal an RDC judgment?
Judgments on claims under AED 100,000 are final, except in listed cases, which include eviction judgments. The appeal deadline is 15 days. An appeal on a money judgment needs a refundable deposit of half the amount awarded.
Official sources
- Decree No. (26) of 2013 concerning the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre, Dubai Legal Portal (issued 18 Sep 2013) (read 15 Oct 2026)
- Law No. (33) of 2008 amending Law No. (26) of 2007, Dubai Legal Portal (issued 1 Dec 2008) (read 15 Oct 2026)
- RDC: Register First Instance Lawsuit (Rental), fees and documents (read 15 Oct 2026)
- RDC: Dispute lawsuit for amicable settlement (read 15 Oct 2026)
- RDC: Register an Appeal (Rental) (read 15 Oct 2026)
- RDC: About the Rental Disputes Center (read 15 Oct 2026)
ZoneIQ is not a government service. This guide summarises public rules; the official sources and the law decide. Check them before you act.