Asan Tata— November 2, 2026Dubai tenants and landlords can now handle more of the rental journey in one place. Dubai Land Department (DLD) has launched an upgraded Ejari service inside the DubaiNow app, bringing tenancy registration, renewal and cancellation together with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) security deposit payment.
Until now, these steps often sat in separate channels. A tenant might register a contract in one system and then deal with utilities somewhere else. The upgraded service joins them into a single digital journey, signed in through UAE PASS, with the Ejari certificate issued immediately after the contract is approved.
Quick Answer
The upgraded Ejari service on DubaiNow lets users register, renew or cancel a tenancy contract and pay the DEWA security deposit in one connected flow. You sign in with UAE PASS, complete the contract steps, pay the DEWA deposit in the same journey, and receive the Ejari certificate once the contract is approved. The change is about the process, not the law: Ejari registration itself remains mandatory for Dubai tenancy contracts, and the usual fees still apply. If you already hold a valid Ejari certificate, you do not need to redo it just because the app changed.
What Changed on 2 November 2026
DLD announced the enhanced Ejari service on DubaiNow on 2 November 2026. The service covers four actions in one place: new tenancy registration, renewal, cancellation, and payment of the DEWA security deposit for electricity and water services.
The most practical change is the DEWA link. In the new flow, customers pay the electricity and water security deposit directly while completing Ejari, instead of treating it as a separate transaction afterwards. That matters because a DEWA account normally cannot be opened without a registered tenancy contract, so joining the two steps removes a common cause of delay when moving into a new home.
DLD frames the upgrade as part of Dubai Government’s Services 360 policy. The idea behind that policy is simple: related government services should sit around one customer journey, rather than forcing people to move between departments and apps. Digital Dubai and DEWA are partners in the integration.
Mohammed Ali Al Badwawi, Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Registration Sector at DLD, said the approach “accelerates service delivery, enhances transparency and provides a secure and interactive digital experience that meets the expectations of Dubai’s community.” Dr Moza Suwaidan of Digital Dubai put the test more plainly: “fewer steps, greater time savings and a smoother overall experience.”
Why This Matters in Dubai’s Rental Market
The upgrade lands in a very active rental market. DLD figures reported with the announcement put rental contracts in the first quarter of 2026 at approximately AED 32.2 billion, with 118,385 new contracts and 135,607 renewals registered in that period alone.
For tenants, the main benefit is speed at move-in time: once the contract is approved and the deposit is paid, the paperwork needed to switch on utilities is in place. For landlords, a single digital journey means fewer disputes about whether a contract was properly registered.
What You Can Now Do in One Flow
The upgraded service brings four tasks together:
- Register a new tenancy contract through DubaiNow, with the certificate issued immediately after approval.
- Renew an existing contract when the tenancy continues, without starting a separate process.
- Cancel a contract when a tenancy ends, closing the registration properly.
- Pay the DEWA security deposit inside the same journey, so utility activation is not left as a separate errand.
Authentication runs through UAE PASS, the UAE’s national digital identity. That keeps the process paperless and ties the contract to verified identities on both sides, which is one reason DLD points to greater transparency and security in the new flow.
How to Register Ejari on DubaiNow: Step by Step
The exact screens in the app can change with updates, so treat these steps as the standard order of the journey rather than a word-for-word guide to every button.
Step 1: Sign in with UAE PASS
Open the DubaiNow app and sign in with UAE PASS. Both landlord and tenant need verified identities for a digital contract, so make sure your UAE PASS account is active before you start.
Step 2: Start the Ejari service
Find the Ejari service inside DubaiNow and choose whether you are registering a new contract, renewing one, or cancelling. Select the property and the contract details that match the signed tenancy agreement.
Step 3: Enter the contract details
Enter the tenancy details carefully: the parties, the property, the rent, and the contract period. Mistakes here cause the most common delays, because the certificate must match the signed agreement and the title details held by DLD.
Step 4: Review and approve
Review the contract and approve it in the app. Under the upgraded service, the Ejari certificate is issued immediately after the contract is approved, so check names, dates and amounts before you confirm.
Step 5: Pay the DEWA security deposit
Pay the DEWA security deposit inside the same flow. This activates the utility side of the move without a separate transaction. Keep the payment receipt with your Ejari certificate, since both are useful when you later close the account or move out.
Step 6: Save your certificate
Download and save the Ejari certificate. You will need its number for DEWA services, and it is the document to produce if a tenancy question ever reaches the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre.
Ejari Fees: What to Budget
The upgrade changes the journey, not the published fee structure. Figures below are the widely reported current amounts; always confirm the exact total shown in the app before paying, because service partner charges can vary by channel.
| Item | Typical amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ejari registration online | About AED 177.75 | Through DLD digital channels such as Dubai REST |
| Ejari registration at a trustee centre | About AED 220 | Real Estate Services Trustee Centre, including service fees |
| DEWA security deposit, apartment | AED 2,000 | Refundable when the account is closed and bills are settled |
| DEWA security deposit, villa | AED 4,000 | Refundable on the same basis |
| DEWA activation charges | About AED 130 | For smaller connections; larger connections can cost more |
Two costs are often confused with Ejari fees but are separate. The DEWA deposit is paid to DEWA, not to Ejari, even though it can now be paid inside the same DubaiNow journey. The landlord’s security deposit is another separate amount: by custom it is usually 5 per cent of annual rent for an unfurnished home and 10 per cent for a furnished one, and it is refundable at the end of the tenancy subject to damage or unpaid dues.
On who pays the Ejari fee, practice and guidance point in two directions that tenants should settle in writing. The duty to register the tenancy rests with the landlord, but the fee is usually paid by the tenant unless the contract says otherwise. If your contract is silent on this, agree it before you start the registration.
Renewal and Cancellation in the New Flow
Renewal is not optional admin. A tenancy that continues on an expired Ejari certificate can cause problems with utilities, visa-related paperwork and dispute claims, so renew promptly when the contract is extended, even if the rent and terms have not changed.
The renewal journey in DubaiNow follows the same pattern as registration: sign in with UAE PASS, select the existing contract, update any changed details, approve, and receive the renewed certificate.
Cancellation matters just as much at the end of a tenancy. Closing the Ejari record properly protects both sides: the tenant can close the DEWA account and recover the deposit, and the landlord has a clean record for the next tenancy. Do not leave an old contract open after you have moved out, and keep the cancellation confirmation with your move-out documents.
Documents You Will Need
Have these ready before you open the app, so the journey is not interrupted halfway through:
- Emirates ID for tenant and landlord, linked to UAE PASS.
- The signed tenancy contract with rent, dates and property details.
- Title deed details or the property information held by DLD.
- DEWA premise number, if the property already has one.
- A payment card for the Ejari fee and the DEWA deposit.
If the property has a complex ownership structure, or the landlord is not registered on the app, the digital route may not work for your case. The offline route remains available through a DLD-authorised Real Estate Services Trustee Centre, where staff submit the documents and issue the certificate.
What Has Not Changed
It is worth being clear about what this announcement does not do. It does not change the law behind Ejari. Tenancy registration remains mandatory for Dubai rental contracts under Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended, and the registration system remains run by DLD and regulated by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA).
It does not change rent rules either. Increases, notice periods and dispute rights still follow the existing tenancy framework, and the RERA rental index remains the reference for permitted increases. The upgrade only changes how registration, renewal, cancellation and the DEWA deposit payment are completed.
It also does not remove the need for care with the contract itself. Read the rent, the payment schedule and the notice terms before approving anything, and keep a copy of the signed agreement alongside the certificate.
Common Problems and How to Avoid Them
The certificate does not match the contract
Check names, Emirates ID numbers, rent and dates character by character before approval. A mismatch can block DEWA activation and complicate any later dispute.
The landlord is not on the app
Digital registration needs both sides to take part. If the landlord cannot or will not use the app, use a trustee centre instead of leaving the contract unregistered.
The DEWA deposit is paid but utilities are not active
Keep the DEWA payment receipt and the Ejari certificate number together. If activation stalls, both numbers are what DEWA support will ask for first.
An old contract is left open
Cancel the Ejari record when you move out and close the DEWA account. An open record can cause confusion over deposits and responsibility for later bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ejari registration mandatory in Dubai?
Yes. Every tenancy contract in Dubai must be registered through Ejari, the system run by Dubai Land Department and regulated by RERA. Without it, you generally cannot connect DEWA services or rely on the contract in a rental dispute.
Do I need to re-register because of the DubaiNow upgrade?
No. If your current Ejari certificate is valid, the upgrade does not require you to register again. The new flow applies when you register a new contract, renew one, or cancel one.
How much does Ejari registration cost?
Online registration costs about AED 177.75 through DLD digital channels, while a trustee centre charges about AED 220 including service fees. Confirm the exact total shown in the app before paying.
How much is the DEWA security deposit?
The refundable DEWA security deposit is AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa, plus activation charges of about AED 130 for smaller connections. The deposit is refunded when the account is closed and outstanding bills are settled.
Can I cancel Ejari on DubaiNow?
Yes. Cancellation is one of the four actions in the upgraded service, alongside registration, renewal and DEWA deposit payment. Cancel when the tenancy ends and keep the confirmation.
What if the digital route does not work for my property?
Use a DLD-authorised Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. Staff there can submit the documents and issue the certificate, which carries the same legal standing as one issued through the app.
Disclaimer: This article explains the upgraded Ejari service on DubaiNow as reported on 2 November 2026. Fees, screens and service availability can change, so always confirm the current fee and requirements in the DubaiNow app or with Dubai Land Department before paying or submitting a contract. This is general information, not legal advice.
Last Updated: 2 November 2026
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