Every rental contract in Dubai has to be registered with the Dubai Land Department through a system called Ejari. Once registered, you get an Ejari certificate — a single document that proves your tenancy is officially on the record. That certificate is what you hand over (or show a copy of) when you connect DEWA, renew a family visa, admit a child to school, or take a rental dispute to the authorities.
This guide explains how to verify an Ejari certificate so you can confirm a registration is genuine, check that the details on it are correct, and spot a fake or outdated certificate before it causes problems. Whether you are a tenant checking your own paperwork, a landlord taking over a property, or someone about to sign a new lease, the verification takes only a few minutes.
Quick Answer
You can verify an Ejari certificate through the Dubai REST app (the Dubai Land Department’s official app) or through the Ejari verification/download service on the Dubai Land Department website. You enter the Ejari contract number printed on the certificate, along with the DEWA premise number or municipality number for the unit. The system then shows the registered details: the certificate number, tenant and landlord names, the property, the annual rent, and the contract’s start and end dates. If the details match what you have on paper, the certificate is genuine and current. If nothing is found, the tenancy was never registered.
How to Verify an Ejari Certificate Online
There are two reliable ways to check. Both pull from the same Dubai Land Department database, so the result is identical either way — pick whichever is easier for you.
Method 1: The Dubai REST App
Dubai REST is the Dubai Land Department’s official app, available for Android and iPhone. Here is how to use it:
- Download Dubai REST from your phone’s app store and create an account if you do not have one (signing in with UAE Pass is the fastest route).
- Look for the Ejari services section and choose the option to view or verify Ejari contracts.
- Enter the Ejari certificate number (the long number printed on the certificate itself).
- Review the contract details shown on screen — the tenant name, landlord name, unit details, rent amount and the validity dates.
The app also keeps your Ejari history, which is handy when you want to check whether last year’s certificate was properly replaced or cancelled after renewal.
Method 2: The Dubai Land Department Website
If you prefer a desktop:
- Go to the official Dubai Land Department website (dubailand.gov.ae) and find the Ejari certificate download/verification service.
- Enter the Ejari contract number plus the DEWA premise number or municipality number. Both numbers are listed under the “Leased Unit” section of the Ejari contract.
- Complete the captcha check and submit.
- The system will display — and let you download — the certificate as it exists in the official registry.
This method doubles as a way to get a fresh copy of the certificate if you have lost your original.
What You Need Before You Start
Keep these on hand before you begin, because the verification will not work without them:
- The Ejari contract number — printed on the certificate, usually a long digit string.
- The DEWA premise number or municipality number — found on your DEWA bill or on the Ejari contract itself.
- Your own details — if you are checking someone else’s certificate, make sure you have their permission and accurate numbers; a single wrong digit will return “no record”.
What the Verification Result Tells You
A successful lookup shows the full registered record. Read it carefully and compare it line by line with the paper or PDF certificate you were given — if you want to understand every field on the document in detail, see our guide on how to check Ejari contract information. The key fields:
| Field | What to check |
|---|---|
| Certificate number and issue date | Matches the number on the copy you hold |
| Tenant name | Spelled exactly as on the Emirates ID |
| Landlord name | Matches the title deed holder (or the authorised agent) |
| Property details | Unit, building, area — the actual flat you are renting |
| Annual rent | The figure you actually agreed, not an inflated number |
| Contract start and end dates | Still valid — not expired or from a previous tenant |
| Status | Active; watch out for “cancelled” or “expired” |
If even one field looks wrong — the rent figure is different, the unit number is off, the dates do not cover your tenancy — treat it as a red flag and get it corrected before you rely on the certificate for anything important.
When You Should Verify an Ejari Certificate
Verification is not something you do once and forget. These are the moments when it genuinely matters:
- Before signing a new lease. Ask to see the previous tenant’s Ejari and verify that it has been cancelled. A unit with a live registration in someone else’s name can block your own registration. If you are renting in Dubai for the first time, our rental market guide for tenants walks through the other checks worth doing before you commit.
- Right after your own registration. Confirm the details were entered correctly before you walk away from the trustee centre or close the app.
- Before a visa or school application. Family visa sponsorship files and school admissions ask for a current Ejari — verify yours is active and the names match your documents.
- Before a rental dispute. The Rental Disputes Centre only hears cases built on registered contracts, so check your certificate is current before you file.
- After buying a tenanted property. Landlords taking over a property should verify the existing registration so it can be updated to their name.
What to Do If Verification Fails
If No Record Is Found
First, double-check the numbers you entered — most “no record” results come from a mistyped Ejari number or DEWA premise number. If the numbers are correct and the system still finds nothing, the tenancy was most likely never registered. Contact your landlord or the agent who handled the paperwork immediately and ask them to complete the registration. If they stall or claim it is done, visit a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre with your tenancy contract and ask them to look it up directly. An unregistered contract is not legally recognised in Dubai, so do not let this slide.
If the Certificate Looks Fake
Forged Ejari certificates do circulate — usually as part of rental scams where a “landlord” collects cheques for a property they do not own. If verification shows no matching record, do not hand over any money or post-dated cheques. Report the matter to the Dubai Land Department, and if money has already changed hands, file a complaint with the police. Genuine certificates can always be verified through official channels; a document that cannot be is worthless.
If the Details Are Wrong
A wrong name spelling, an old rent figure, or an incorrect unit number can be fixed, but it has to be corrected in the official system — editing a PDF yourself does not count. Ask the landlord or management company to file a correction, and follow up by verifying again once it is done.
Verifying Your Own Certificate vs Someone Else’s
Checking your own Ejari is straightforward: you have the numbers, and in the Dubai REST app your contracts appear under your account automatically. Verifying a certificate someone else handed you — for example, a landlord’s copy shown during a viewing — requires the Ejari number and the unit’s DEWA premise number, which a legitimate landlord should have no problem providing. Be wary of anyone who refuses to share these numbers or only shows you a screenshot instead of letting you verify.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For more short answers on registration, fees and renewals, see our Common Ejari Questions Answered page.
Is it free to verify an Ejari certificate?
Yes. Looking up a registered Ejari through the Dubai REST app or the Dubai Land Department website is free. You only pay when registering, renewing, or getting certain certified copies — not for a simple status check.
Do I need a UAE Pass account to verify Ejari?
For the Dubai REST app, logging in (usually via UAE Pass) is required. The web-based certificate download service asks for the Ejari contract number and DEWA premise number instead, so it can be used without an account as long as you have the correct numbers.
Can a landlord verify a tenant’s Ejari?
Yes. Anyone with the Ejari contract number and the unit’s DEWA premise number can run the check, which is exactly how landlords confirm a previous tenancy has been cancelled before registering a new one.
What does it mean if the status shows “expired”?
It means the contract dates on the certificate have passed without a renewal being registered. An expired Ejari cannot be used for government services or dispute cases until the tenancy is renewed in the system.
My certificate verified fine, but the rent figure is wrong. Does it matter?
Yes, it matters. The registered rent is what the rental index uses for next year’s increase calculations, and it is the figure the authorities see in any dispute. Get it corrected to the amount you actually agreed.
Can I verify Ejari by SMS?
Various third-party sources mention an SMS check service, but the reliable, official routes are the Dubai REST app and the Dubai Land Department website. Stick to those — you get the full record, not just a yes/no.
How often should I check my Ejari?
At minimum: right after each registration or renewal, and before any application that depends on it (visa, school, DEWA). A quick check once a year at renewal time is a good habit.
The Bottom Line
Learning how to verify an Ejari certificate takes about five minutes and protects you from the two most common Ejari headaches: paperwork that was never actually registered, and documents whose details do not match reality. Run the check through the Dubai REST app or the Dubai Land Department website, compare every field with what you were given, and act fast if anything does not line up. In a rental market where the certificate is your proof of everything, confirming it is genuine is never wasted effort.
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.