When your tenancy year comes to an end, signing the renewed contract is only half the job. How to Renew an Existing Rental Contract means re-registering it with Ejari as well — the Dubai Land Department’s tenancy register does not carry your old certificate forward automatically, and an expired Ejari quietly blocks things you will need, from DEWA account management to visa renewals.
This guide covers the full renewal process: when to start, how the 90-day notice rule works, what documents you need, what a renewal typically costs, and what to do if the landlord proposes a rent increase. If your contract end date is approaching, start here.
Quick Answer
To renew an existing rental contract in Dubai, you sign the renewed tenancy contract (with any agreed rent changes), then re-register it with Ejari through the Dubai Land Department website, the Ejari app, or an approved real-estate service trustee centre. You need the tenant’s Emirates ID, passport and visa copies, the landlord’s title deed, and the renewed contract. Renewal is typically processed the same day at a trustee centre or within a couple of working days online, and the renewal fee is typically around AED 100–120 depending on the channel. You receive a new Ejari certificate number for the renewed term.
How to Renew an Existing Rental Contract: Step-by-Step
Step 1 – Check the calendar and the notice rule
Start 60–90 days before the contract ends. Dubai tenancy law requires either party to give 90 days’ written notice before the contract expiry if they want to change the rent or not renew. If neither side gives notice, the contract generally renews on the same terms. Marking this deadline protects you: a tenant who wants to leave should notify the landlord in writing, and a landlord planning a rent increase must do the same. For the full legal background, see the Dubai Ejari registration guide.
Step 2 – Agree the renewed terms and sign the contract
Renewal is not a rubber stamp. Review the rent against the RERA rental index (more on this below), confirm the payment schedule, and agree any changes to the terms before signing. Then sign the renewed unified tenancy contract — a fresh contract document for the new term, not just an amendment to the old one. If the rent, tenant details, or contract dates have changed, the Ejari record will need to reflect them, so accuracy matters here just as much as at first registration.
Step 3 – Gather the renewal documents
The document set for a renewal is essentially the same as for a new registration, updated for the new term:
- Tenant’s Emirates ID (original + copy)
- Tenant’s passport copy and valid UAE visa copy
- Signed renewed unified tenancy contract (Arabic)
- Landlord’s title deed copy
- Previous Ejari certificate or contract number (helps the centre pull up your record)
- Updated cheque details, if the payment schedule changed
If your Emirates ID was renewed during the year, bring the new one — the ID number on the application must match your current card.
Step 4 – Submit the renewal application and pay the fee
Take the documents to an approved trustee centre, or apply through the Dubai Land Department website or Ejari app. The Ejari renewal fee is typically lower than the first-registration fee — roughly AED 100–120 depending on the channel — though fees change from time to time, so confirm the current figure with the Dubai Land Department or your chosen centre before you go.
Step 5 – Receive the new Ejari certificate
Once approved, you get a new Ejari certificate number for the renewed term — the old number is not extended. Keep the new certificate with your tenancy file and update any service or authority that holds your previous certificate number, such as DEWA or your visa sponsor.
RERA Rules on Rent Increases at Renewal
This is the part of renewal that causes the most disputes. In Dubai, a landlord cannot raise the rent by any amount they choose. Rent increases are governed by the RERA rental index: the permitted increase depends on how far your current rent is below the average market rent for a comparable property in the same area. If your rent is already at or above the average, no increase is allowed; the further below average it is, the larger the permitted increase (capped at 20%).
Three practical points:
- The landlord must notify you of any increase at least 90 days before the contract expires. A last-minute demand has no legal force.
- You can check your property’s position on the RERA rental calculator yourself before agreeing to anything.
- If you disagree with a proposed increase, you can file a case with the Rental Dispute Centre — but you will need your renewed or existing Ejari registration to do it.
What Happens If You Do Not Renew
If the contract ends and the renewal is never registered, your Ejari certificate expires — and an expired certificate is not just a technicality. An expired Ejari can block DEWA account changes, complicate residence visa renewals that ask for proof of tenancy, and leave you with no standing at the Rental Dispute Centre if a conflict arises. If you are staying in the property, renew on time. If you are leaving, the old Ejari should be cancelled once you move out and the contract is formally ended.
Renewal Timing: When to Do What
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 90 days before expiry | Give or receive written notice of any rent change or non-renewal |
| 45–60 days before expiry | Negotiate terms, confirm the rent against the RERA index |
| 2–4 weeks before expiry | Sign the renewed contract and collect documents |
| At or just before expiry | Submit the Ejari renewal application |
| After approval | Update DEWA and other records with the new certificate number |
Most renewals are completed the same day at a trustee centre, so the real risk is not processing time — it is starting too late and missing the notice deadlines.
Renewing When Something Has Changed
Renewals are straightforward when nothing changed from the previous year, but they often come with a change or two. If the tenant’s personal details changed — a new passport, a renewed Emirates ID, a different visa status — make sure the renewed contract carries the updated information and bring the current documents to the centre; the Ejari record must match your present paperwork, not last year’s. If the property changed hands and you now have a new landlord, bring the new owner’s title deed rather than the old one. And if the contract terms changed (a different rent, a new payment schedule, added or removed conditions), confirm that every change is written into the renewed contract before registration, because the certificate will reflect exactly what is on the signed document. For changes made mid-term rather than at renewal, the process is a modification, not a new registration — see how to update tenant details on Ejari for those cases.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Ejari renewal automatic when I renew my contract?
No. Signing the renewed contract and registering it are two separate steps. The renewal only takes effect in the official record once the new Ejari application is submitted and approved.
Can my landlord increase the rent at renewal?
Only within the limits set by the RERA rental index, and only if they gave you 90 days’ written notice before the contract expired. Check your property against the index before accepting any increase.
Do I get the same Ejari number after renewal?
No — each renewal generates a new Ejari certificate number for the new contract term. Update your records with DEWA and any other authority that keeps the old number.
What documents do I need if nothing changed from last year?
The same standard set: Emirates ID, passport and visa copies, the landlord’s title deed, and the newly signed contract. Centres still require the full document set for each renewal.
What if I want to leave at the end of the contract?
Notify the landlord in writing at least 90 days before expiry. Once you have moved out and the contract is formally ended, make sure the Ejari is cancelled so the old registration does not linger against your name.
Can I renew Ejari online, or must I visit a centre?
Both work. Online renewal through the Dubai Land Department website or Ejari app is usually cheaper; trustee centres are faster (often same day) and more forgiving if your documents need checking.
The Bottom Line
Renewing an existing rental contract in Dubai means signing the renewed tenancy agreement and then re-registering it with Ejari — the certificate does not roll over on its own. Start 90 days before expiry to protect your notice rights, check any rent increase against the RERA index, and submit the renewal application with the full document set. Do that, and the new certificate arrives the same day, keeping your DEWA, visa, and legal paperwork running without a break.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Asandada24, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Asandada24 is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.