Direct answer
How much can Dubai rent increase at renewal?
Use Dubai Land Department's live Rental Index—not listing asking prices. Decree No. 43 of 2013 caps the increase at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%, based on how far the current contractual rent is below the official comparable-rent average. The calculator result is a maximum, not an automatic increase, and a lease-term change normally requires at least 90 days' notice unless the parties agreed otherwise.
Official sources: Live Rental Index calculator · Decree No. 43 of 2013 · Law No. 33 of 2008, including Article 14Published by PropertyStellar Editorial Team. Updated 14 September 2026. Read our editorial policy and research methodology.
Official sources checked 14 September 2026
Dubai Land Department calls the current official tool the Rental Index. For a residential check, the live form can request the contract end date, property type, a search method such as Ejari or municipality details, and the current annual rent.
The result should be read with the tenancy contract and notice history. It sets a legal ceiling for a renewal increase; it does not by itself rewrite the lease or resolve a dispute.
Official Dubai rent-increase bands
| Current rent below the official comparable average | Maximum increase |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% below | 0% |
| 11%–20% below | 5% |
| 21%–30% below | 10% |
| 31%–40% below | 15% |
| More than 40% below | 20% |
These are the statutory bands in Decree No. 43 of 2013. Use the live DLD result for a borderline value instead of inventing a decimal rule between the published bands.
Official sources: Decree No. 43 of 2013 · Official rent-increase calculation exampleThe calculation uses your current rent
First calculate how far the current contractual rent is below the official comparable average: (official average − current rent) ÷ official average × 100. The relevant band then supplies the maximum percentage, which is applied to the current contractual rent—not to the market average and not to the size of the gap.
Official source: Official rent-increase calculation exampleDLD's own example uses an AED 80,000 official average and AED 60,000 current rent. The current rent is 25% below the average, so the maximum increase is 10% of AED 60,000: AED 6,000. The resulting rent is AED 66,000.
Official source: Official rent-increase calculation exampleHow to use the official Rental Index
DLD lists the website, Ejari system, Dubai REST and DubaiNow as service channels and describes the result as immediate.
Official source: Rental Index service information- Open DLD's live Rental Index or the Dubai REST app.
- Choose the relevant property and search options shown by the service.
- Enter the contract expiry date, Ejari or municipality information requested, and current annual rent.
- Save the dated result and the inputs used; the live form includes a CAPTCHA.
- Compare the result with the written notice and the renewal terms actually proposed.
The 90-day notice rule is a separate check
Article 14 of Law No. 33 of 2008 says that a party wishing to amend lease terms must notify the other party no less than 90 days before expiry, unless the parties agreed otherwise. Calculator eligibility and timely notice are therefore separate requirements.
Official sources: Law No. 33 of 2008, including Article 14 · Smart Rental Index implementation explanationThis is not the same as the 12-month notice used for certain eviction grounds. Keep the rent-change notice, its delivery evidence, the lease and the dated calculator result.
Official source: Law No. 33 of 2008, including Article 14What changed with the Smart Rental Index
DLD launched the Smart Rental Index in January 2025. Its residential methodology added building-level classification and considers factors such as technical characteristics, finishes, maintenance, location, services, facilities, cleanliness and parking management. It is no longer safe to say the index ignores building condition and facilities.
Official sources: Smart Rental Index launch · Smart Rental Index implementation explanationDLD describes the smart component as residential and says DIFC is excluded. Commercial and industrial options visible in the broader Rental Index service should not be confused with Smart Residential building classification.
Official source: Smart Residential Rent Index methodologyIf the parties still disagree
Start with a written comparison of the proposed rent, the live index result, the notice date and the relevant contract clause. The official index is indicative for a new lease but is used when parties disagree about permitted increases at renewal.
Official source: Rental Index frequently asked questionsA calculator result is not a court judgment. Dubai's Rental Disputes Center provides conciliation and rental-case services; where a landlord refuses renewal rent, the RDC also publishes an Offer and Deposit procedure with its own evidence requirements.
Official sources: Rental dispute amicable settlement · Offer and Deposit serviceFrequently asked questions
Is the RERA calculator result an automatic rent increase?
No. It states the maximum percentage supported by the official index for the inputs used. The parties still need valid notice and a renewal agreement, or an RDC determination if they cannot agree.
Official source: Law No. 33 of 2008, including Article 14Does the percentage apply to market rent?
No. The relevant percentage is applied to the current contractual rent. DLD's AED 80,000/AED 60,000 example produces AED 66,000, not AED 68,000 or AED 72,000.
Official source: Official rent-increase calculation exampleShould I use listing prices as the market average?
No. Decree No. 43 ties the comparable average to the RERA-approved Rent Index. Asking prices can provide market context but do not replace the official renewal calculation.
Official source: Decree No. 43 of 2013Does the calculator cover DIFC homes?
DLD's current Smart Residential Rent Index document says DIFC is excluded. Obtain DIFC-specific guidance rather than relying on this workflow.
Official source: Smart Residential Rent Index methodologyPrimary-source register
Official pages used for this review
- Live Rental Index calculatorDubai Land Department
- Rental Index service informationDubai Land Department
- Decree No. 43 of 2013Government of Dubai / Dubai Land Department
- Official rent-increase calculation exampleDubai Land Department
- Law No. 33 of 2008, including Article 14Government of Dubai / Rental Disputes Center
- Smart Rental Index launchDubai Land Department
- Smart Rental Index implementation explanationDubai Land Department
- Smart Residential Rent Index methodologyDubai Land Department
- Rental Index frequently asked questionsDubai Land Department
- Rental dispute amicable settlementRental Disputes Center
- Offer and Deposit serviceRental Disputes Center
Continue with the right guide
Important: This is an evidence guide, not legal advice. Use the live DLD result for the exact property and contract date; the Arabic legislation prevails if an official translation differs.
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