Ejari, the registration nothing works without.
Every Dubai tenancy has to be logged with the Land Department through Ejari. What it costs in 2026, how to do it on your phone in a few minutes, and the renewal step landlords forget.
By the Mulki team · Updated 13 June 2026
Ejari is the Land Department's record of your tenancy, and it is mandatory. Without it there is no DEWA, no residence visa off the lease, and no dispute case. Registering online through the Dubai REST app costs roughly AED 155 to 180 and takes a few minutes.
Ejari is the official government record of a Dubai rental contract. Registration is mandatory, not optional.
An unregistered lease blocks DEWA, residence visas, school enrolment, and any Rental Dispute Centre case.
Online registration through the Dubai REST app runs about AED 155 to 180; a trustee centre is closer to AED 230.
Either party can register, but the responsibility usually sits with the landlord or their agent.
Ejari is tied to the contract dates, so it has to be renewed with every lease renewal.
Why it matters
A tenancy contract on its own is just paper between two people. Ejari is what makes the government recognise it. The certificate is checked when a tenant connects DEWA, when they sponsor a spouse or child on the lease, when a school asks for proof of address, and the moment either side wants to take a dispute to the Rental Dispute Centre.
That last point is the one owners underrate. If a tenant stops paying, or a landlord tries an increase the rules do not allow, the Centre will not hear the case without a registered Ejari. The registration you skipped to save twenty minutes is the document that would have protected you. Register first, argue later.
What it costs, and where
You can register online or in person, and the only real difference is the fee and how much of your day it takes. The app is cheaper and instant. A centre exists for anyone who would rather hand the paperwork to someone else.
| Where you register | Roughly what it costs |
|---|---|
| Dubai REST app | AED 155 to 180 |
| DLD Ejari online portal | AED 155 to 180 |
| Trustee or typing centre | AED 220 to 230 |
Fees current at 2026 and inclusive of the government knowledge and innovation fees. Trustee and typing centres add a service partner fee, which is why the in-person figure is higher. Confirm the current amount in the app before you pay.
Registering on the Dubai REST app
| Document | Provided by |
|---|---|
| Signed tenancy contract | Both parties |
| Tenant's Emirates ID or passport | Tenant |
| Landlord's Emirates ID or passport | Landlord |
| Title deed of the unit | Landlord |
The standard residential set in 2026. The app confirms the exact list for your contract. A landlord registering needs the title deed; a tenant registering needs the landlord's details as they appear on the lease.
- 01
Log in with UAE PASS.
Download Dubai REST, then sign in with UAE PASS rather than creating a separate account. It links the registration to your verified identity and saves re-entering details later.
- 02
Open Services, then Ejari, then New Registration.
The path runs through the Housing section. Choose new registration for a first lease, or renewal if you are re-registering an existing tenant for another year.
- 03
Enter the contract and upload the documents.
You will need the tenancy contract, both parties' Emirates ID or passport, and the title deed if you are the landlord. Enter the start and end dates, the rent, and the number of cheques exactly as they appear on the contract.
- 04
Pay, and save the certificate.
Pay by card or Apple Pay and the Ejari certificate is issued as a PDF in the same session. Keep it with the contract. The tenant will need a copy for DEWA and their visa.
Fees and steps current at June 2026 and indicative. The Dubai REST app and DLD portal show the live figure and document list. General guidance, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Ejari and is it mandatory in Dubai?
- Ejari is the Dubai Land Department system that records every rental contract in the city. Registering is mandatory. An unregistered tenancy has no official standing, which means no DEWA connection, no residence visa off the lease, and no case at the Rental Dispute Centre if something goes wrong.
- How much does Ejari cost in 2026?
- Around AED 155 to 180 if you register online through the Dubai REST app or the DLD portal, and roughly AED 220 to 230 at a trustee or typing centre, which adds a service partner fee. The figure includes the registration fee plus the small knowledge and innovation fees the government adds to most transactions.
- Who registers Ejari, the landlord or the tenant?
- Responsibility usually sits with the landlord or their agent, but the system lets either party do it, and in practice the tenant often handles it to get their DEWA and visa moving. Whoever registers needs the signed tenancy contract and both parties' identification.
- What do you actually need Ejari for?
- Connecting DEWA, sponsoring a residence visa, enrolling children in school, and filing any rental dispute all require a registered Ejari certificate. It is the document that turns a private agreement into one the government and utilities recognise.
- How long does Ejari registration take?
- Through the Dubai REST app it is effectively instant. Enter the contract details, upload the documents, pay, and the certificate is issued as a PDF in the same session, provided everything is in order. A typing centre is same-day but slower.
- Do you have to renew Ejari every year?
- Yes. Ejari is tied to the contract term, so each renewal needs a fresh registration with the new dates and rent. Letting it lapse is the quiet mistake landlords make, because the renewed Ejari is what a tenant needs to renew their own visa and utilities.
- Does a DIFC property use Ejari?
- No. DIFC runs its own land registry, so leases there register with the DIFC Registrar of Real Property rather than the Land Department's Ejari, and a DIFC tenancy dispute goes to the DIFC Courts instead of the Rental Dispute Centre. Everywhere else in Dubai, Ejari is the record. If your unit sits inside DIFC, register through the DIFC system and keep that certificate for the same purposes.
Mulki keeps every contract, Ejari and renewal date in one place, so nothing lapses.
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