Leasing

Rent Increases, Ejari & Rental Disputes

Three rule sets a leasing broker uses every week: the Decree No. 43 of 2013 caps on renewal increases, Ejari registration of every lease, and the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre under Decree No. 26 of 2013. Expect band calculations and questions on jurisdiction, appeals and deadlines.

Leasing5 min read7 sections

Must-know for the exam

Renewal caps by gap below the index average: up to 10% none; 11-20% 5%; 21-30% 10%; 31-40% 15%; over 40% 20% (Decree 43/2013, Art. 1; in force 12 Oct 2026).
Measure the gap against the index average, then apply the band percentage to the current rent, not to the average.
The caps bind private and public landlords, including free zones such as DIFC (Art. 2); the average comes from the RERA rent index (Art. 3).
Every lease and amendment is registered (Law 26/2007, Art. 4(2) as amended) in Ejari, through Dubai REST, the DLD website or a services trustee centre.
RDC rent-case fee: 3.5% of annual rent, minimum AED 500, maximum AED 20,000 (RDC e-service, as at 12 Oct 2026).
Mediation aims to settle within 15 days of appearance; a signed, judge-approved settlement is a writ of execution; half the fee is refunded (Decree 26/2013, Art. 10).
First Instance judgments in claims under AED 100,000 are final, except eviction and five other listed cases (Art. 17).
Appeal within 15 days from the day after the judgment hearing; deposit half a money judgment unless the chairman waives it (Art. 18).
Tribunals decide within 30 days of referral, extendable once for the same period; Appellate judgments are final (Arts. 14, 16).
Excluded from the RDC: free zones with their own rent courts, lease finance contracts, and long-term leases under Law 7/2006 (Art. 6(b)).

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Traps that cost marks

Placing a rent exactly 30% below the average in the next band up.
Applying the AED 100,000 finality rule without checking the listed exceptions, especially eviction.
Confusing the fee rate with its minimum, or halving it as if the case had settled in mediation.
Assuming every free zone dispute is outside the RDC.
Using a 30-day appeal period, or counting from the hearing day itself.
Measuring the gap against the current rent, which nudges a 10% gap into the 5% band.
Treating a mediated settlement as a private contract that must be sued on.
Assuming the full judgment amount must be deposited.

Why it matters on the exam

Rent-increase questions are the most common leasing calculations: a current rent, an index average, and a cap to find. The disputes material tests whether you know where a dispute goes, how fast, and whether the loser can appeal.

•Calculation items: band caps, RDC fees, appeal deposits, mediation refunds.
•Rule items: RDC jurisdiction and its exclusions, the AED 100,000 finality threshold and its exceptions, Ejari channels.

Rent increases under Decree No. 43 of 2013

Current rent below the index average by	Maximum increase on renewal
Up to 10%	No increase
11% to 20%	5% of current rent
21% to 30%	10% of current rent
31% to 40%	15% of current rent
More than 40%	20% of current rent

Decree No. 43 of 2013, Art. 1 (in force 12 Oct 2026)

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