New Ejari registration

How it works

Original Unified Tenancy Contract, signed by landlord and tenant
original
Emirates ID of the applicant (shown for identification)
originalMust be valid
Title deed of the property (copy) and landlord's ID or passport copy
in some casescopyOnly if: Not listed on the DLD service page, but trustee offices usually ask for it to confirm the landlord is the registered owner (practice; verify).
Official power of attorney, if a representative applies (attach a copy if issued outside Dubai)
in some casesoriginallegal Arabic translationOnly if: Only if someone applies on behalf of the tenant or landlord.

At a trustee centre, the property must not be managed by a company or owner that registers Ejari itself; the applicant is the tenant or an authorised representative, and the landlord is the owner or an authorised representative.
The property must be registered and approved for renting in the DLD system before an Ejari can be created.
Any previous Ejari on the same unit must be cancelled before a new tenant can be registered.
Contract duration: from under one year up to 10 years (DLD FAQ).
An individual may have at most three residential Ejari contracts registered in his or her name at the same time (DLD FAQ, read 2026-10-08; DLD says the limit may change).

Processing time: About 25 minutes at a trustee centre (excluding waiting time); the certificate is issued the same day.
Validity of the result: The registration covers the contract period shown on the certificate; it must be renewed when the contract is renewed.
Where it is applied for: Real Estate Services Trustee centres (in person), the Ejari system on the DLD website, the Dubai REST app (when landlord and tenant are individuals and owner data is up to date), or licensed property-management companies.

Client sends the signed unified tenancy contract, Emirates ID and landlord's documents.
Centre checks the documents and submits through a Real Estate Services Trustee centre / Ejari system.
Fees are paid and the transaction is reviewed and approved.
The e-Contract Registration Certificate is issued; DEWA then sends the move-in account and deposit details to the tenant.

Tips that save you a trip

Register the Ejari before applying for DEWA move-in: DEWA activation for tenants is linked to Ejari (DEWA deposit is commonly AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa – secondary sources).
For a family visa, register the Ejari in the sponsor's own name; a room or bed-space contract is usually not accepted (secondary sources).
A husband may register Ejari for his wife without a legal power of attorney if he provides proof of marriage (DLD FAQ).
Through the Dubai REST app the official total is lower (AED 177.75), but it works only when both parties are individuals and the owner's data is up to date.

Common reasons for rejection or delay

A previous Ejari on the unit is still active (the old tenant or landlord has not cancelled it).
Landlord's name or property details on the contract do not match the DLD title deed record.
The person signing for the landlord has no valid power of attorney.
The property is managed by a property-management company, which must register the Ejari itself.

Is Ejari needed for DEWA?

Yes. DLD states that all customers need Ejari for the DEWA move-in service (some free-zone premises are exempt).

Can the landlord raise the rent at renewal?

Only within the DLD rental index and with at least 90 days' written notice before the contract ends. See the Ejari renewal service for the limits.

Checked by the MARIO E.G.S.H team on 2026-10-08. Rules can change at any time; our consultant confirms the details for your case.

Official sources

Legal basis

Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 regulating landlord-tenant relations (as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008); DLD Ejari service terms

Updates your registered data in the Dubai Land Department's records, at the centre or online.

Obtains a to-whom-it-may-concern letter about your property from the Dubai Land Department.

Obtains an official certificate of your property's registered details from the Dubai Land Department.

Obtains the land map (affection plan) showing your plot details from the Dubai Land Department.