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Understanding Your Tenancy Contract

Key terms to check before you sign.

Updated: September 2026 6 min read

A Dubai tenancy contract is the DLD's unified Ejari contract: a standard form with the parties, property, rent, term and deposit, plus 14 fixed terms. Extra conditions go in an Additional Terms section or a signed addendum. Any term that conflicts with Law No. 26 of 2007 doesn't count.

What the unified tenancy contract records

  • Owner, landlord and tenant names, Emirates ID numbers, emails and phone numbers.
  • Property usage, plot and building, property number, area, Makani number and DEWA premises number.
  • Contract period, annual rent, contract value, mode of payment and security deposit amount.

The standard terms everyone signs

  • You accept the unit in its current condition after inspecting it.
  • No subletting or transferring the lease without the landlord's written approval.
  • No alterations to the unit without written approval.
  • You pay electricity, water, cooling and gas unless agreed otherwise in writing.
  • The landlord gives you full use of the unit and its facilities and does regular maintenance, unless agreed otherwise in writing.
  • Disputes go to the Rental Disputes Center, and the Arabic text prevails if versions differ.
  • The landlord undertakes to register the contract on Ejari.

Additional terms and addenda

The form has space for extra terms, and the DLD notes you may attach an addendum signed by all parties. Use it for anything not in the standard form. Clause 12 says an additional condition won't be considered if it conflicts with the law, so an addendum can add detail but can't remove your legal rights.

  • Early termination: what notice and payment apply if you leave early. The law sets no standard early-exit fee, so the contract decides.
  • Maintenance: who pays for minor repairs, and how quickly major faults are fixed.
  • Deposit: when it is returned and what can be deducted.
  • Chiller or district cooling charges, parking spaces, pets and furniture inventory.

What the law adds even if the contract is silent

  • If the term isn't stated, the lease runs for the period the rent covers (Article 5).
  • If you stay after expiry without objection, the lease renews on the same terms for the same term or one year, whichever is shorter (Article 6).
  • The landlord handles maintenance and repairs unless agreed otherwise (Article 16).
  • A sale of the property doesn't cancel your lease (Article 28), and the lease doesn't end on the death of either party (Article 27).

Checklist before you sign

  • Names and Emirates ID numbers match the IDs you've seen.
  • The landlord is the owner on the title deed, or holds a power of attorney.
  • Rent, number of cheques, deposit and dates are correct.
  • Every verbal promise is written into the addendum and signed by both sides.
  • The DEWA premises number matches the one on the door.
  • You keep a signed copy and the Ejari certificate once registered.

Frequently asked questions

Can extra clauses be added to a Dubai tenancy contract?

Yes, in the Additional Terms section or an addendum signed by all parties. But clause 12 of the unified contract says an additional condition won't be considered if it conflicts with the law, so extra terms can add detail but can't remove your legal rights.

Is there a standard penalty for breaking a lease early in Dubai?

No. The law sets no standard early-exit fee, so the notice and payment that apply if you leave early depend on your contract. Put the early termination terms in the addendum before you sign.

Does my lease end if the landlord sells the property?

No. Under Law No. 26 of 2007, a sale of the property doesn't cancel your lease (Article 28), and the lease doesn't end on the death of either party (Article 27).

Can I sublet my rented apartment in Dubai?

Only with the landlord's written approval. The standard terms of the unified tenancy contract bar subletting or transferring the lease without it, and alterations to the unit also need written approval.

Sources

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