Tenant's Guide

Consider the essential features and amenities you want or need (e.g., location, transportation, schools, neighbourhood). Also note that the advertised price that you see only includes the total annual rent and does not include the following:  

• Security deposit (5% - 10% of annual rent) Brokerage fees (usually 5% of annual rent, but some brokers charge a minimum of 5,000 AED per tenancy contract) 
• Relocation expenses Deposits for DEWA, AC, Gas & Wifi connections 
• Housing fees for Dubai Municipality

 You MUST have the following documents to enter into a tenancy agreement and get an Ejari in Dubai:

• Passport
• Residence Visa
• Emirates ID
• UAE issued cheque book
• On some occasions owners may ask to see a salary certificate and/or bank statement prior to renting their home

Having these ready, along with the required funds, will help you secure your dream home more quickly. 

Hiring a trusted real estate broker can help you find the perfect property in a highly competitive market. They can also assist in negotiating the terms of the lease with your potential landlord and keep you up to date with upcoming listings that match your requirements. We strongly recommend that you only hire registered real estate brokers. You can ask to see their RERA card to confirm that they are operating legally. 
Your broker should accompany all viewings. Ask as many questions as you wan

Once you’ve put in an offer to your broker, they will start negotiating with the landlord. At the point of offer, you will need to provide your passport, Emirates ID, and residence visa, as well as making three payments by cheques - for the deposit, first rental payment and your broker's commission.  You can negotiate the price and number of payments, to either pay in one payment up front for the whole year or pay in up to 12 instalments (provided as post-dated cheques). 

Review the terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement thoroughly. Make sure everything that has been agreed with the landlord is added to the agreement. Once both parties sign the tenancy contract, you must register the tenancy with Ejari, a system designed to regulate and facilitate the rental market of Dubai. You can do this at centres across Dubai, such as the Al Barsha Mall. You will need to bring your tenancy contract, your landlord’s ID, and the title deed along with your Emirates ID. 

 To set up your water and electricity connection, submit an online application for Dubai Water & Electricity Authority (DEWA). Fill out a form and provide the Ejari number, Emirates ID number and your passport number. Then, pay the security deposit through DEWA’s online payment gateway, and the service will be activated within 24 hours.

A DEWA connection can also be applied at the same time when you visit the Ejari office to register your tenancy contract.