Filing a Rental Dispute Case in Dubai
When a notice produces nothing, a case before the Rental Disputes Centre becomes the route. The process is entirely electronic, and it succeeds or fails on how complete your file is before you register it.
Fully electronic filing · No paper documents accepted
When does filing a case become the right step?
A case is not always the first move, but it becomes the only one in specific situations. If any of these describes you, delay increases the loss rather than limiting it.
The notice period expired with no response
If you served a notarised notice through the proper channel and the period passed without payment or vacating, the amicable route is exhausted and only the Centre remains.
A rent cheque has bounced
A returned cheque is written evidence of the debt. Its value and what follows from it can be claimed within the rental case.
A dispute over renewal or increase
Where the parties disagree on renewing the contract or on the increase and reach no agreement, the Centre decides the dispute.
The security deposit has not been returned
A landlord withholding the deposit after vacating without established grounds is a live financial claim before the Centre.
Mistakes that delay your case or get it rejected
Most of what stalls a case is not a weak right but a gap in the file or a missed deadline. These are the most frequent causes:
A contract not registered with Ejari
A contract registered with Ejari is among the mandatory documents for filing. Its absence is an obstacle that precedes the dispute itself.
A notice with no proof of service
In eviction cases a copy of the notice alone is not enough; proof of service from the notification agent or by registered post is required with it.
Foreign-language documents without legal translation
The Centre requires every document to be in Arabic or legally translated. English contracts and correspondence need certified translation before upload.
Missing the deadlines
The appeal window is fifteen days only. Letting it pass closes the route to challenge, however arguable the judgment.
Leaving out the bank details
A bank letter or statement showing the claimant IBAN is among the required documents, and it is often overlooked, which holds the filing up.
An incomplete file at registration
The process is fully electronic and no paper document is accepted. Every gap found after registration means another hearing and more time lost.
The stages of a case
A file passes through four stages. Knowing where you stand determines what can still be done and what the time for has passed.
Amicable settlement
The dispute goes first to the Conciliation and Settlement Department, with urgent and interim orders, requests and claims excluded. The period is fifteen days at most from the parties attending, and it may be extended. Where a settlement is reached, half the filing fee is refunded.
The first instance circuit
If settlement produces nothing, the file passes to the first instance committee. Hearings are held through the remote litigation system, and the judgment is collected from the website.
Appeal
The appeal window is fifteen days from the day after a judgment given in attendance, or from the date the judgment is served where it was given in absence. A security equal to half the awarded amount is paid where the case includes a financial claim.
Execution
Once the judgment becomes enforceable, an execution file is opened at the Centre to recover what was awarded.
Documents required to file
This is the official list held by the Centre. Completing it before registration is the difference between a file that moves and one that stalls.
- A copy of the latest tenancy contract registered with Ejari
- A copy of the Emirates ID for individuals
- For companies: a copy of the trade licence and the ID of the licence manager or owner
- A bank letter or statement showing the claimant IBAN
- In eviction cases: a copy of the notarised notice with proof of service from the notification agent or by registered post
- Supporting documents where they exist: powers of attorney, the management contract, correspondence and notifications, electricity and water bills, copies of cheques
Every document must be in Arabic or legally translated, and uploaded to the Centre system electronically. No paper document is accepted.
Your next step
If you have not sent a notice yet, that may be the first step. To understand the body that will hear your case, see the Center guide. And to know exactly where you stand, start with a case assessment.
Fees
Fees are set by the Dubai Land Department and paid at registration. We receive none of them, and they are entirely separate from service charges.
The official fees
- Eviction, renewal, tenancy and termination cases: 3.5% of the annual rent value, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000
- Financial claims: 3.5% of the claim value, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 15,000
- Notification fee: AED 100
- Power of attorney registration where applicable: AED 25
- Knowledge and innovation fees: AED 10 each
- When filing through real estate services trustee centres: AED 130 service partner fees plus VAT
- Where an amicable settlement is reached: half the filing fee is refunded
Frequently asked questions
Can a case be filed without a contract registered with Ejari?
Ejari registration is mandatory, and the registered tenancy contract is among the documents required to file.
What does filing a case cost?
The main fee is 3.5% of the annual rent value in eviction, renewal and termination cases, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000. For financial claims it is 3.5% of the claim value, capped at AED 15,000. Notification and small administrative fees are added to that.
How long does a case take?
No period is fixed by the rules. In practice most cases conclude within one to two months, and the time varies with the nature of the dispute, how complete the file is, and how far the other party cooperates.
Is the amicable settlement stage mandatory?
Rental disputes go first to the Conciliation and Settlement Department, with urgent and interim orders, requests and claims excluded. Where a settlement is reached, half the filing fee is refunded.
Do I have to attend hearings in person?
Hearings are held through the remote litigation system, and the judgment is collected from the Centre website.
My documents are in English. What do I do?
The Centre requires every document to be in Arabic or accompanied by a certified legal translation before it is uploaded to the system.
Can a case be filed by proxy?
Yes, provided the power of attorney expressly authorises litigation before the Rental Disputes Centre. Registering the power of attorney carries a fee set by the Centre.
What happens after judgment?
The judgment may be appealed within fifteen days. Once it becomes enforceable, an execution file is opened to recover what was awarded.
Content review
- Written by
- Firas Ahmad
- Legal review
- Dr. Mohammed Al-Ramlawi
- Last updated
- 30 July 2026
- Sources
- Rental Disputes Centre — Register a first instance lawsuit: https://rdc.gov.ae/en/eservices/register-first-instance-lawsuit-rental/
- Rental Disputes Centre — Register an appeal: https://rdc.gov.ae/en/eservices/register-an-appeal-rental/
- Decree No. (26) of 2013 concerning the Rental Disputes Centre in the Emirate of Dubai — Dubai Legislation Portal
All services are provided through accredited law firms and a licensed notary public. This website is independent and is not affiliated with the Rental Disputes Centre, the Dubai Land Department, or any government body. Fees and procedures are subject to change; please verify against the official sources. Outcomes differ according to the facts of each case.
Know where you stand before you begin
Send us the details of your situation and we will set out whether a case is the right step now, what your file is missing, and the full cost before anything begins.