You can cancel your Ejari online in a few minutes through the Dubai REST app, DubaiNow, or at a trustee centre once you have moved out, paid your final DEWA bill and returned the keys. Cancelling matters: if the old Ejari stays active, it can block your next registration and keep bills linked to your name.
Quick facts
- Cost: Typically around AED 40 online — check the official app/portal for the current fee; trustee centres charge around AED 120-170 including service fees
- Time needed: 5-10 minutes online, same day at a centre
- Where: Dubai REST app, DubaiNow, Dubai Land Department website, or an Ejari trustee centre
- Who can cancel: The tenant named on the contract, the landlord, or an authorised representative with a power of attorney
Step-by-step: how to cancel your Ejari
- Finish your move-out properly first. Hand back the keys, get a signed handover note or email from the landlord or agent confirming the date, and take dated photos of the empty property and meter readings.
- Settle DEWA. Request a final bill and move-out (deactivation) through the DEWA app or website. You will usually need this settled before Ejari cancellation is clean, and you will need the final bill to reclaim your DEWA deposit.
- Gather the documents listed below. Have your Ejari certificate number, Emirates ID and tenancy contract ready as PDFs or clear photos if you are going to a centre.
- Open the Dubai REST app or DubaiNow. Log in with UAE PASS, go to the Ejari / rental services section, select the active contract and choose Cancel Ejari.
- Enter the reason and date. Select move-out / end of tenancy, add the actual vacating date, and upload any documents requested.
- Pay the fee and download proof. Pay by card in the app, then save the cancellation certificate and payment receipt. Send a copy to your landlord or agent in writing.
- Check the status a day later. Log back in and confirm the contract shows as cancelled, not active. If it still shows active, call the Dubai Land Department on 800 44 88 or visit a trustee centre with your receipt.
Documents you need
You will normally need your Emirates ID, the Ejari certificate or contract number, and the tenancy contract. If the landlord is cancelling, the title deed may be requested. If someone is acting for you, they need a notarised power of attorney and their own ID. Keep your final DEWA bill and handover note as well — they are not always uploaded, but they protect you if the landlord later claims you left late or left damage unpaid.
Costs in detail
Online cancellation is the cheapest route, typically around AED 40 — check the Dubai REST or DubaiNow app for the current fee before you pay, as government fees do change. Trustee centres add typing and service charges, so expect roughly AED 120 to AED 170 in total. There is no penalty for cancelling late, but do not delay: an active Ejari in your name can complicate a new tenancy, as only one active residential Ejari is normally expected per tenant.
Common mistakes to avoid
Cancelling before handover. If you cancel too early and there is a dispute about the state of the property, you lose a useful record. Cancel once keys are returned and both sides agree you have left.
Forgetting DEWA and chiller. Ejari cancellation does not automatically close DEWA, district cooling (Empower or Emicool) or your internet. Close or transfer each one separately and keep the final receipts.
Leaving it to the agent without proof. Many agents will happily cancel for you, but always ask for the cancellation certificate in your email. Verbal promises are hard to chase months later.
Not telling the landlord. The landlord needs the cancellation to re-let and register the next tenant, so a quick message with the certificate keeps things friendly and helps with your deposit return.
What happens after you cancel
Once cancelled, the tenancy no longer appears as active in the Dubai Land Department system. Your former landlord can register a new tenant, and you can register a new Ejari elsewhere in Dubai without a conflict. Keep your cancellation proof, final DEWA bill and handover photos for at least a year — they are your evidence if a deposit or final-bill disagreement appears later. If you are leaving the UAE permanently, cancelling Ejari is one of the tidy closing steps alongside cancelling your visa, DEWA and bank accounts.
FAQ
Can my landlord refuse to let me cancel Ejari?
At the natural end of the contract after you have vacated, cancellation is an administrative step. If the landlord disputes the move-out, sort the handover and final bills first, or visit a trustee centre / Rental Dispute Centre for guidance.
Can I cancel Ejari if I am outside the UAE?
Yes, in most cases through Dubai REST or DubaiNow with UAE PASS. If UAE PASS access has lapsed, authorise someone in Dubai with a power of attorney to cancel at a trustee centre.
Do I need to cancel if my contract simply expired?
Yes. Expiry alone does not always close the active record. Cancelling formally clears your name for your next Ejari and helps the landlord re-let.
