Rent renewal
Dubai rent increase calculator
See how much your annual rent can increase at renewal under Decree No. (43) of 2013, and whether a 90-day notice arrived in time. Enter the annual average from DLD’s Rental Index calculator yourself; we do not read it or copy its values.
Check your renewal
Your entries stay in this page. They are not saved or sent anywhere.
The rent increase bands
In our words: at renewal, the maximum increase depends on how far the existing rent is below the average for comparable units. The increase is a percentage of your existing rent, not of the average.
| Existing rent compared with the average | Maximum increase at renewal |
|---|---|
| Less than 10% below the average | No increase |
| 11% to 20% below | Up to 5% of the rent |
| 21% to 30% below | Up to 10% of the rent |
| 31% to 40% below | Up to 15% of the rent |
| More than 40% below | Up to 20% of the rent |
The written bands leave gaps: 10% up to but not including 11%, more than 20% but less than 21%, and more than 30% but less than 31%. We do not round these into a band. At 10%, the English text includes the boundary, but the Arabic text says less than 10%. The Arabic text prevails if the versions conflict.
Worked examples
These are invented examples, not Rental Index values or market rents. Each uses an annual average of AED 100,000.
| Current annual rent (AED) | Result calculated from the model |
|---|---|
| Current annual rent: AED 120,000 | Your rent is 20% above the average you entered. Your rent is at or above the average. No increase is allowed: the maximum new annual rent stays at AED 120,000. Maximum set by Decree No. (43) of 2013. |
| Current annual rent: AED 95,000 | Your rent is 5% below the average you entered. Band: less than 10% below the average. No increase is allowed: the maximum new annual rent stays at AED 95,000. Maximum set by Decree No. (43) of 2013. |
| Current annual rent: AED 90,000 | Your rent is 10% below the average you entered. Your percentage falls between the written bands: the decree does not say which applies; check DLD’s Rental Index calculator. We show both neighbouring bands without choosing one. Band: less than 10% below the average. No increase is allowed: the maximum new annual rent stays at AED 90,000. Band: 11% to 20% below the average. Maximum increase: 5% of your rent (AED 4,500). Maximum new annual rent: AED 94,500. Maximum set by Decree No. (43) of 2013. |
| Current annual rent: AED 85,000 | Your rent is 15% below the average you entered. Band: 11% to 20% below the average. Maximum increase: 5% of your rent (AED 4,250). Maximum new annual rent: AED 89,250. Maximum set by Decree No. (43) of 2013. |
| Current annual rent: AED 75,000 | Your rent is 25% below the average you entered. Band: 21% to 30% below the average. Maximum increase: 10% of your rent (AED 7,500). Maximum new annual rent: AED 82,500. Maximum set by Decree No. (43) of 2013. |
| Current annual rent: AED 65,000 | Your rent is 35% below the average you entered. Band: 31% to 40% below the average. Maximum increase: 15% of your rent (AED 9,750). Maximum new annual rent: AED 74,750. Maximum set by Decree No. (43) of 2013. |
| Current annual rent: AED 50,000 | Your rent is 50% below the average you entered. Band: more than 40% below the average. Maximum increase: 20% of your rent (AED 10,000). Maximum new annual rent: AED 60,000. Maximum set by Decree No. (43) of 2013. |
The 90-day notice rule
In our words: if either party wants to change the contract terms at renewal, Article 14 requires them to notify the other party at least 90 days before expiry, unless the parties agree otherwise. It is Article 14 of Law No. (26) of 2007 as replaced by Article 1 of Law No. (33) of 2008.
For example, if your contract expires on 31 March 2027, the latest date for a 90-day notice is 31 December 2026, unless your contract sets a different notice period.
Who this applies to
In our words: Article 1 of Decree No. (43) of 2013 concerns increases when a lease is renewed.
In our words: Article 2 covers all landlords in Dubai, whether public or private, including special development zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
In our words: Article 3 bases the average for similar units on the Rent Index approved by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA).
In our words: if the parties cannot agree on renewal terms, Article 13 lets the tribunal determine a fair rent using Article 9’s criteria. Those criteria include RERA’s increase rules, the economic situation, the property’s condition, comparable rents in the same area, applicable legislation and other relevant factors. The tribunal is now called the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre.
In our words: Article 6 of Decree No. (26) of 2013 gives the Centre exclusive jurisdiction over rental disputes in Dubai, including free zones. It excludes free zones with their own competent rental tribunals or courts, lease finance contracts, and long-term leases covered by Law No. (7) of 2006.
Questions about renewing your rent
How much can my rent increase at renewal?
Decree No. (43) of 2013 sets maximum increases of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% of the existing rent, depending on how far it is below the RERA Rent Index average. The written bands have gaps; this page shows both neighbours there and asks you to check DLD’s Rental Index calculator.
Where do I get the average?
Use DLD’s Rental Index calculator for comparable units and enter its annual average here yourself. We do not read or copy its values. Our medians of registered contracts are not the Rent Index and must not be used as this input.
How much notice is needed?
Article 14 requires notice at least 90 days before the contract expires when a party wants to change its terms at renewal, unless the parties agree otherwise. This page checks 90 days, unless your contract sets a different notice period.
What if we cannot agree?
Article 13 allows the tribunal to determine a fair rent using Article 9’s criteria if the parties cannot agree. Rental disputes fall within the Rental Disputes Center’s jurisdiction under Decree No. (26) of 2013, subject to the exceptions in Article 6.
Does this apply in free zones?
Article 2 of Decree No. (43) of 2013 includes free zones such as DIFC. Dispute jurisdiction is a separate question: Article 6 of Decree No. (26) of 2013 excludes free zones with their own competent rental courts or tribunals, lease finance contracts and long-term leases under Law No. (7) of 2006.
Sources and limits
We checked the saved source copies shown below. Long passages are paraphrased in our own words; only short labels are quoted. An unconfirmed amendment history means the text may have changed since issue.
Decree No. (43) of 2013 · Articles 1–3 · Rent increases
Source and checked wording
Authority: Government of Dubai · Ruler of Dubai.
Issued: 18 December 2013. Read: 13 October 2026.
🟡 We could not confirm whether it was amended after it was issued.
Percentages of IncreaseDecree No. (43) of 2013 · Arabic text · Article 1
Source and checked wording
Authority: Government of Dubai · Ruler of Dubai.
Issued: 18 December 2013. Read: 13 October 2026.
🟡 We could not confirm whether it was amended after it was issued.
نسب الزيادةLaw No. (33) of 2008 · Article 1, replacing Articles 9, 13 and 14 of Law No. (26) of 2007
Source and checked wording
Authority: Government of Dubai · Ruler of Dubai.
Issued: 1 December 2008. Read: 13 October 2026.
Article (14)Law No. (33) of 2008 · Article 1, replacing Articles 9, 13 and 14 of Law No. (26) of 2007
Decree No. (26) of 2013 · Articles 4(b) and 6 · Dispute jurisdiction
Source and checked wording
Authority: Government of Dubai · Ruler of Dubai.
Issued: 18 September 2013. Read: 13 October 2026.
🟡 We could not confirm whether it was amended after it was issued.
Jurisdiction of the CentreDecree No. (26) of 2013 · Articles 4(b) and 6 · Dispute jurisdiction