When you renew your tenancy and stay in the same Dubai apartment, your Ejari must be renewed too — it does not roll over automatically. You or your landlord/agent register the new contract through the Dubai REST app, the Dubai Land Department portal, or an Ejari typing/real estate trustee centre, using the new signed tenancy contract and the usual ID documents. Renewing promptly matters because your Ejari is the proof of address behind DEWA, visa sponsorship and many other services.
Quick facts
- Who can renew: Tenant, landlord or their authorised agent/representative
- Where: Dubai REST app, Dubai Land Department (via the Ejari system), real estate services trustee centres and typing centres across Dubai
- Cost: Typically around AED 120–220 in total including service/typing fees — check the official app/portal for the current fee
- Time needed: About 10–30 minutes once documents are ready; the certificate is usually issued the same day
- When: As soon as the renewed contract is signed — do not wait for the old Ejari to cause a problem with DEWA or a visa file
How to renew your Ejari, step by step
- Sign the renewed tenancy contract first. Ejari renewal registers the new contract — same unified RERA tenancy contract form, with the new term and rent agreed under Dubai’s rental rules. Make sure names, unit number and dates match your IDs exactly.
- Agree who will do the registration. Many agents handle Ejari renewal as part of the renewal service; if you are doing it yourself, tell your landlord, as their details (title deed and ID) are needed either way.
- Gather the documents listed in the next section — scans or clear photos are fine for the app route.
- Open the Dubai REST app (or visit a trustee centre). In Dubai REST, choose the Ejari registration/renewal service, enter the previous Ejari or contract details, and upload the new signed contract and documents. At a trustee centre, hand everything to the agent and check the data typed before you pay.
- Pay the fee. Pay in the app or at the centre and keep the receipt. Fees are typically around AED 120–220 all-in — check the official app/portal for the current fee.
- Download your new Ejari certificate. You will receive the renewed Ejari with a new registration number and QR code. Save the PDF and share a copy with your landlord or agent.
- Update anything linked to the old certificate. If your DEWA account, employer records or a family visa file references your tenancy, keep the new Ejari ready to present — most systems simply ask for the current certificate when you next transact.
Documents needed
- The new signed unified tenancy contract (all pages)
- Tenant’s Emirates ID and passport copy
- Landlord’s Emirates ID or passport copy, and the property title deed copy
- Previous Ejari certificate (helps the centre/app match the unit quickly)
- DEWA premises number for the apartment, if asked
- If an agent acts for you: their RERA ID and an authorisation/NOC from the landlord where required
Costs in AED
The official Ejari registration fee plus the centre or app service charge comes to typically around AED 120–220 in total — check the official app/portal for the current fee. If your real estate agent bundles Ejari renewal into a renewal admin fee, ask for the breakdown in writing; the government fee itself is modest, and you should not be charged a second full “new Ejari” price without explanation. Keep the payment receipt with your tenancy file.
Common mistakes
Assuming renewal is automatic is the biggest one — every year we hear from residents whose family visa renewal or DEWA transfer stalled because the Ejari on file had expired. Second is a mismatch in details: a misspelled name, wrong unit number or old passport number on the contract will flow straight onto the Ejari, so proofread before submitting. Third is waiting until the last day of the old contract — if your landlord is travelling and the title deed copy is missing, a same-day fix may be impossible. Renew as soon as the new contract is signed, ideally two to four weeks before the new term starts.
One more point: if your rent changed, make sure the amount on the contract, the cheques and the Ejari all agree. RERA’s Rental Dispute Centre and the rent calculator work from the registered contract, so the Ejari is worth getting right.
FAQ
Does Ejari renew automatically when I renew my tenancy?
No. Signing a new contract and registering the Ejari are two separate steps. Someone — you, the landlord or the agent — must submit the new contract and pay the Ejari fee.
Can I renew Ejari online without visiting a centre?
Yes. The Dubai REST app handles Ejari registration and renewal with uploaded documents and online payment, and the certificate is issued digitally.
What happens if my Ejari has already expired?
Renew it as soon as possible with the current signed contract. An expired Ejari mainly causes practical problems — visa, DEWA and banking files that need a valid certificate — so do not delay once you notice.
