How to rent out your property in Dubai: a landlord's guide

Clean the property, check every appliance works and fix any snags before viewings start. A move-in-ready unit can let one to three weeks faster than an equivalent home needing minor repairs, and you never recover the rent from an empty week.

You will also need live utility connections and, in most communities, an NOC or move-in permit from the developer or management for the incoming tenant. Arrange these early so handover isn't delayed. Price the rent from the RERA rental index and live comparable listings: asking even 5 to 10% above the market can leave a good unit sitting empty.

You can market the property yourself or hire a RERA-licensed agent to handle advertising, viewings and screening for around 5% of the annual rent. An agent earns the fee if you live overseas or can't field enquiries, because they filter out casual browsers before you get involved.

Once you agree terms, you and the tenant sign a tenancy contract covering rent, payment schedule (often one to four cheques a year), duration and responsibilities. Check the tenant's Emirates ID, visa status and proof of income, such as pay slips or a salary certificate showing the rent is no more than a third of monthly earnings. That screening prevents most late-payment problems.

Ejari is the mandatory government system that records every tenancy contract in Dubai. Registration makes the contract legally enforceable, and the tenant needs it to connect utilities and, where relevant, sponsor family visas. The fee is modest, in the region of AED 220, and the certificate comes through the same day in most cases.

Register online through the Dubai REST app or at an approved typing centre. You and the tenant then hold a legally recognised agreement, which you will need if a dispute ever reaches the Rental Dispute Centre. Renew the registration with each tenancy renewal, because an expired Ejari can hold up the tenant's visa and utility renewals.

At handover, collect the security deposit: commonly 5% of annual rent for an unfurnished home and around 10% if furnished. Write a condition report and take dated photos, noting existing marks, appliance serial numbers and meter readings. At move-out, that record settles any argument about deductions.

You handle major maintenance and structural upkeep. Tenants cover minor repairs, often those under a threshold written into the contract, such as AED 500 or AED 1,000. RERA's rental index limits increases at renewal, and you must give 90 days' written notice of any proposed change before the contract ends.

Dubai's tenancy framework, chiefly Law No. 26 of 2007 and its amendments, sets clear obligations for landlords and strict rules on ending a tenancy. You cannot evict a tenant because you want a higher rent. Evicting to sell or to occupy the property yourself requires 12 months' written notice served through a notary or registered mail.

If you and the tenant can't settle a disagreement over rent, repairs or deposits, either of you can file at the Rental Dispute Centre, the specialist body for tenancy cases. A registered Ejari contract and a documented condition report are your strongest evidence there, so keep a record of every payment, notice and repair request.