Dubai RERA Rental Increase Calculator 2026
Use this free RERA rent increase calculator to check whether your Dubai landlord can legally raise your rent this year — and by exactly how much — under Decree No. 43 of 2013.
RERA Rent Increase Calculator
Enter your current annual rent and your area’s average rent (from the official RERA Rental Index) to see the maximum legal increase.
Your rent is 0% below the area average.
Maximum new annual rent: AED 0
Disclaimer: Calculated under Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013. Official benchmark must be cross-verified on Dubai REST App / DLD Rental Index.
How the RERA Rent Increase Rules Work (Decree 43 of 2013)
RERA (the Real Estate Regulatory Agency) sets the maximum rent increase a landlord can impose at renewal, based on how far your current rent sits below the average rent for your area and property type in the official RERA Rental Index.
| Rent vs. Area Average | Maximum Legal Increase |
|---|---|
| 0% – 10% below | No increase allowed |
| 11% – 20% below | Up to 5% |
| 21% – 30% below | Up to 10% |
| 31% – 40% below | Up to 15% |
| More than 40% below | Up to 20% |
The 90-Day Notice Rule
A landlord who wants to raise the rent must serve written notice at least 90 days before the renewal date. If they miss the 90-day window, they cannot legally increase the rent for that renewal — even if the RERA index would otherwise allow it.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Always check the official RERA Rental Index for your exact building and unit type — averages for a whole district can be misleading.
- Keep a record of the landlord’s notice date; a verbal “heads up” does not count as the 90-day written notice.
- Verify the average is for a comparable unit (same number of bedrooms and area).
How to Check Whether a Rent Increase Is Legal in Dubai (Step by Step)
- Look up the official benchmark. The Dubai Land Department Rental Index gives the average rent for your building or area and unit type, based on the Smart Rental Index 2025 methodology. Agent listings and portal estimates are not the benchmark.
- Work out where your current rent sits against it. The tier you fall into sets the maximum increase, and the percentages are not negotiable.
- Find your tier. 0% to 10% below the benchmark means no increase at all. 11% to 20% allows 5%. 21% to 30% allows 10%. 31% to 40% allows 15%. More than 40% allows 20%, which is the ceiling.
- Check the notice, not just the number. The landlord must give written notice at least 90 days before the renewal date. A correct percentage served late gives no right to increase for that term.
- If either test fails, say so at renewal. Tenants can decline the increase and, if the landlord insists, take it to the Rental Disputes Centre, which has exclusive jurisdiction over Ejari-registered tenancies.
Two details trip people up. Notice can be served by notary public, registered mail, hand delivery, or another legally recognised method, and whether a WhatsApp message qualifies is disputed in practice. Notice periods can also be shortened or extended by the contract itself, because the law applies unless the parties agreed otherwise.
Average Rent Increase in Dubai: What the Rules Actually Allow
There is no single “average” increase, because the legal percentage depends entirely on how far your rent sits below the benchmark:
| Your rent vs the index | Maximum increase |
|---|---|
| 0% to 10% below | 0% (no increase permitted) |
| 11% to 20% below | 5% |
| 21% to 30% below | 10% |
| 31% to 40% below | 15% |
| More than 40% below | 20% (the maximum in any case) |
The practical point is that most units sit close to the benchmark, and anything within 10% below it cannot be increased at all. Twenty percent is a ceiling for units that are far below the index, not a typical outcome.
Landlords may propose an increase at each renewal, so it is worth checking every year rather than assuming a multi-year freeze. The two-year rent freeze that appeared in the original Law 26 of 2007 was replaced by Law 33 of 2008, and renewals can be renegotiated annually.
Rental Valuation vs the RERA Rental Index
These two are often confused, and mixing them up weakens a tenant’s position.
| RERA Rental Index | Rental valuation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The statutory benchmark published through the Dubai Land Department | A specific assessment of an individual unit, usually for a dispute, a bank, or a court |
| Who issues it | Dubai Land Department | A licensed valuation firm or surveyor |
| What it is used for | Setting the legal cap on a rent increase under Decree 43 of 2013 | Evidence of value in a specific case |
Article 3 of Decree 43 of 2013 ties the increase cap to the index, which is why an agent’s asking price for a similar unit carries no legal weight. A valuation can support a case, but it does not replace the index as the benchmark for the cap.
FAQ: Dubai Rent Increases
Can my landlord increase rent without 90 days notice?
No. Under Decree 43 of 2013, a landlord must give written notice at least 90 days before the tenancy renewal date to legally raise the rent. Without this notice, the increase is not enforceable for that renewal term.
What if my rent is within 10% of the area average?
If your current rent is 10% or less below the area average, the landlord is not entitled to any increase at renewal.
How do I find my area’s average rent?
Use the official RERA Rental Index on the Dubai Land Department website and search by your building or area, then match your unit type (studio, 1-bed, 2-bed, etc.).
Is the RERA increase calculated on the current or new rent?
The percentage is calculated on your current annual rent, applied once at renewal. The result is your maximum new annual rent for the next term.
How do I check if my rent increase is legal in Dubai?
Two tests, in order. First, look up the average rent for your building or area in the Dubai Land Department Rental Index and see which tier your current rent falls into, since the tier sets the maximum percentage. Second, confirm the landlord gave written notice at least 90 days before the renewal date. If the percentage exceeds your tier, or the notice came late, the increase is not enforceable for that renewal.
What is the average rent increase in Dubai?
There is no single figure, because the legal maximum depends on how far below the index your rent sits. Rent within 10% of the benchmark cannot be increased at all, and the tiers then allow 5%, 10%, 15% and up to 20% for the units furthest below the index. The 20% ceiling applies to a minority of cases, not to a typical renewal.
What is the difference between a rental valuation and the RERA rental index?
The RERA index is the statutory benchmark used to set the legal cap on a rent increase under Decree 43 of 2013. A rental valuation is an individual assessment of a specific unit, usually produced by a licensed valuer for a dispute or a bank. A valuation can support a case, but the index remains the benchmark for the cap.
Can a landlord increase rent every year in Dubai?
Yes. The two-year rent freeze from the original Law 26 of 2007 was replaced by Law 33 of 2008, so renewals can be renegotiated annually. Each year the landlord still has to satisfy both conditions: an increase within the tier set by the index, and written notice at least 90 days before the renewal date.
Need an Independent Lease Review?
Need an independent lease review or rental dispute assistance? Let me handle it on the ground in Dubai — from verifying the correct RERA average to reviewing your notice and renewal terms.
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Disclaimer: This calculator reflects the RERA rent increase framework under Decree No. 43 of 2013 for general guidance only. It is not legal advice. Always confirm with the official RERA Rental Index and a qualified professional before acting.