What Ejari is and why it exists
Ejari, an Arabic word that roughly means “my rent”, is the official system Dubai uses to record leases. It is run by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), which sits within the Dubai Land Department, and it was introduced in 2007 under Law No. 26 of that year. Every private tenancy in the emirate has to be logged in it using a standard, government-approved contract format. Because the agreed rent and terms are held on an official record, misunderstandings between landlords and tenants are much easier to resolve.
Why you should register without delay
Registration is a legal requirement, and leaving a lease off the system can expose you to penalties and make your rights harder to enforce later. In practice, you will also be asked for an Ejari certificate before your electricity and water can be connected, and for a number of other services in Dubai. Registering soon after you sign means the deposit, rent and contract period are on record from day one, which protects you whether you are the owner or the occupant.
Who is allowed to register a lease
To apply online, you first need an account on the official Ejari platform or access through the Dubai REST app. The system only accepts applications from people who have a direct connection to the tenancy.
- The landlord, or a person the landlord has authorized
- A property management company appointed by the landlord
- The tenant, or a person the tenant has authorized
Documents to prepare
Having your paperwork ready before you start helps you avoid rejected or delayed applications. Check that the tenancy contract is signed by both sides and clearly sets out the rent, the security deposit, the length of the lease and what each party is responsible for.
- The signed tenancy contract
- The title deed for the property
- Passport copies for the landlord and the tenant
- Emirates ID copies for the landlord and the tenant
- A valid power of attorney if a representative is applying for either party
Registering through the Dubai REST app
As a tenant, you can complete the whole process on your phone, and the certificate appears in the app once payment goes through. The landlord has to confirm your request, so let them know a notification is on its way. If you prefer, you can also apply on the Ejari website or in person at a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre.
- Download the Dubai REST app and sign in
- Open Services, choose RERA and pick the option for registering an Ejari contract
- Enter the lease details and upload your documents
- Submit the request and wait for the landlord’s approval
- Pay the registration fee within the app
- Download your Ejari certificate
How the fees work
What you pay depends on the channel you use. Applying through the app is generally cheaper than visiting a trustee centre, where VAT is added to the service charge, and small knowledge and innovation fees are charged on top of the main registration fee either way. Because these amounts are revised from time to time, check the current fees in the app or with the Dubai Land Department before you apply.
Ejari powers of attorney expire after two years
If someone registers a lease for you, they will need a power of attorney, and since May 2019 the Dubai Land Department has capped the validity of these POAs at two years. The period runs from the date the document was notarized and also applies to POAs issued before the rule was introduced, so an older document may already be unusable. The aim is to keep authorizations up to date and to protect owners, particularly landlords who live outside the UAE.
- Look at the notarization date on any Ejari POA you already hold
- Arrange a new POA before the two-year limit is reached
- If you are abroad and cannot travel, you can sign a POA in your country of residence and have it attested for use in the UAE
How we can help
If you want an agent, relative or property manager to handle your Ejari registration, we can draft the power of attorney and arrange its notarization. We can also guide you through the process if you are signing from outside the UAE.