Complete Ejari Registration Guide for Dubai Rentals (2025)

Ejari (Arabic: "My Rent") is mandatory for all rental contracts in Dubai. Without it, your lease is not legally recognized, and you cannot activate DEWA (electricity and water).

What is Ejari

Ejari = Dubai Land Department's online system for registering and regulating tenancy contracts.

Purpose:

• Legalize rental contracts
• Protect rights of tenants and landlords
• Regulate the market and prevent fraud
• Enable services: DEWA activation, Emirates ID address update, visa renewal

Legal Requirement: Under Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (Law Regulating the Relationship between Landlord and Tenant), all rental contracts in Dubai must be registered in Ejari within 30 days of the contract start date.

Penalty for Non-Registration:

• Fine up to AED 5,000
• Cannot activate DEWA
• Cannot renew residence visa
• Contract invalid in RDC disputes (Rental Dispute Center)

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Prerequisites

Before starting Ejari registration, ensure you have:

Signed Unified Tenancy Contract

• Official Dubai Land Department template
• Signed by tenant and landlord
• All pages (usually 4 pages)
• No digital signatures (must be original)

RERA ORN (your real estate agency registration number)

• Required for all Ejari submissions
• If you don't have ORN, see our guide Company Setup

All documents ready (complete list below)

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Required Documents

Tenant Documents

For Individuals:

1. Emirates ID

   • Valid (not expired)
   • Both sides (front and back)
   • Clear color copy

2. Passport

   • Photo page
   • Valid (6+ months validity)

3. Residence Visa

   • Visa page from passport
   • Or visa inside Emirates ID
   • Valid

For Companies (additional): 4. Trade License

• Certified copy
• Valid
• Must include "property leasing" or related activity

5. Memorandum of Association
   • For joint-stock companies only
   • Proof of authority to sign

Owner Documents

1. Passport

   • Signature page visible
   • Valid

2. Title Deed

   • From Dubai Land Department
   • Shows owner name matching passport
   • Plot and building number

3. Power of Attorney (if representative)

   • Notarized
   • Grants authority to sign rental contracts
   • Valid

Property Documents

1. Title Deed

   • Recent copy from Land Department
   • Plot Number
   • Building Number
   • Unit Number

2. DEWA Number

   • Building/unit number in DEWA
   • Required to link services
   • Can be found on DEWA bill or previous contract

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Step-by-Step Registration Process

Method 1: Online (Recommended)

Step 1: Login to DLD Portal

1. Visit dubailand.gov.ae
2. Click on Ejari Services
3. Login using:
   • UAE Pass (recommended)
   • Or DLD account (create if new)

Step 2: Select Registration Service

1. Select Register New Rental Contract
2. Choose contract type:
   • Residential
   • Commercial
   • Industrial

Step 3: Upload Documents

1. Click Upload Documents
2. Upload in order:
   • Signed Unified Rental Contract (PDF)
   • Tenant's Emirates ID
   • Tenant's passport and visa page
   • Owner's passport
   • Title Deed
   • Power of Attorney (if applicable)

Tip: Use high-quality scans (300 DPI, color) - poor scans = rejection

Step 4: Fill Details

Property Details:

• Full property address
• Plot, building, and unit numbers (from Title Deed)
• DEWA number
• Property type (apartment, villa, office, etc.)

Tenant Details:

• Full name (matching Emirates ID)
• Emirates ID number
• Mobile number
• Email

Owner Details:

• Full name (matching Title Deed)
• Passport number
• Mobile number
• Email

Contract Details:

• Start date
• End date (usually 12 months)
• Annual rent (in AED)
• Number of payments (1, 2, 4, 6, 12)
• Utilities included (if applicable)

Step 5: Pay Fees

Registration Fees:

• AED 220 (online) - cheapest
• AED 250 (via trusted broker)
• Payment methods: credit card, debit card, UAE Pass

Renewal Fees (existing contracts):

• AED 170 (online)
• AED 200 (via broker)

Tip: Online payment is faster and cheaper

Step 6: Submit and Wait for Certificate

1. Review all details carefully
2. Click Submit Application
3. Receive reference number (keep it!)
4. Processing time: 2-3 business days
5. Digital certificate sent to your email

What to do next:

• Download Ejari certificate (PDF)
• Use it to activate DEWA
• Save a copy for records (7-year archive)

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TenancyDesk Method (Faster)

TenancyDesk automates much of the Ejari preparation process:

1. Create Deal in TenancyDesk
2. Upload Documents once
3. Click Prepare Ejari
4. TenancyDesk:
   • Validates all documents (missing, expired, incorrect)
   • Extracts data from documents using AI
   • Pre-fills Ejari form
   • Generates ZIP package ready for upload
5. Upload ZIP package to DLD portal
6. Submit - done!

Time saving: Significantly reduced manual time

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Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: "Invalid RERA ORN"

• Solution: Check your ORN number in Settings → Company. Must match your RERA certificate.

Problem: "Expired Emirates ID"

• Solution: Cannot register Ejari with expired ID. Tenant needs to renew first.

Problem: "Title Deed doesn't match owner name"

• Solution: Owner needs to provide Power of Attorney (POA) from actual owner.

Problem: "Blurry images"

• Solution: Re-scan at 300 DPI, color, PNG or JPG. Avoid phone screenshots.

Problem: "Application rejected - incomplete details"

• Solution: Check all mandatory fields are filled. DEWA number is usually missing.

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After Ejari Registration

Step 1: Activate DEWA (Immediate)

1. Download Ejari certificate (PDF)
2. Visit dewa.gov.ae or customer service center
3. Bring:
   • Ejari certificate
   • Tenant's Emirates ID
   • Deposit (usually AED 2,000 for apartments)
4. DEWA activation same day

Step 2: Update Address on Emirates ID

1. Visit GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs)
2. Bring Ejari certificate
3. Address update fee: AED 100
4. Processing: immediate

Step 3: Renew Residence Visa

• Ejari required for visa renewal
• Valid certificate = proof of residence
• Essential for family visa applications

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Renewal (Existing Contracts)

When to renew Ejari:

• 30 days before current contract expiry
• Or when signing a new renewal contract

Renewal Process:

1. Login to DLD portal
2. Select Renew Ejari Contract
3. Enter current Ejari certificate number
4. Upload new renewal contract (if terms changed)
5. Pay renewal fee: AED 170 (online)
6. Updated certificate within 1-2 days

Renewal Changes:

• If rent changed → need new contract + new registration
• If same terms → simple renewal (cheaper)

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Ejari Cancellation

When to cancel:

• Tenant leaving before contract end
• Eviction (after legal notice)
• Property sold

Cancellation Process:

1. Login to DLD portal
2. Select Cancel Ejari Contract
3. Enter certificate number
4. Reason for cancellation (early termination, expiry, sale)
5. Upload proof (termination notice, agreement between parties)
6. Cancellation fee: AED 120
7. Processing: immediate

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Timeline and Fees (Summary)

Savings: Online submission saves AED 30-80 per transaction

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Register Ejari within 30 days of contract start to avoid fines and activate DEWA. Use TenancyDesk to automate much of the preparation work.