A landlord in Dubai cannot raise your rent by any amount they choose. The maximum increase is fixed by law — Decree No. 43 of 2013 — and depends on how far your current rent sits below the RERA market average. Oplus International Realty built the calculator below so you can find your exact legal cap in seconds, then read how the rule works and what it won’t tell you.
Calculate your maximum legal rent increase
Enter your current annual rent and the RERA average for a similar unit in your area. The calculator applies the official bands and returns your maximum legal increase in AED.
Dubai Rent Increase Calculator (RERA)
To find the RERA average for your unit, check the official Rental Index on the Dubai REST app or the Dubai Land Department website. Oplus explains how the index is built in its UAE rental index guide.
How the RERA rent increase rule works
The rule is based on one comparison: your current rent versus the RERA average for a similar property in the same area. The further below the average you are, the larger the increase a landlord may apply, capped on a five-band scale under Decree No. 43 of 2013.
| Your rent vs. RERA average | Maximum legal increase |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% below average | 0% — no increase allowed |
| 11% to 20% below | 5% |
| 21% to 30% below | 10% |
| 31% to 40% below | 15% |
| More than 40% below | 20% |
Source: Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013, applied through the DLD/RERA Rental Index. The cap is 20%, regardless of how far below market your rent sits. A landlord cannot move you straight to the market rate in one renewal — the bands force gradual adjustment over several cycles.
The 90-day notice rule
Any rent increase requires 90 days’ written notice before the contract renewal date. A verbal or last-minute notice is not valid, and an increase served without the 90-day notice does not stand. This single rule resolves a large share of renewal disputes: if the notice period was not met, the proposed increase fails on procedure before the percentage even matters.
A worked example
Say you pay AED 60,000 for a one-bedroom, and the RERA average for a similar unit in your area is AED 80,000. You are paying 25% below market, which falls in the 21–30% band, so the maximum legal increase is 10% — AED 6,000, taking your rent to AED 66,000. Your landlord cannot lawfully ask for more at this renewal, even though the market rate is AED 80,000.
What the calculator will not tell you
The percentage is only half the decision. Before accepting or contesting an increase, weigh the cost of moving. As a new tenant in a comparable unit you would usually pay closer to the full market rate, plus agent commission near 5% of annual rent, a new DEWA connection, Ejari registration, and one to three months of overlap or vacancy. In the example above, accepting the AED 6,000 increase is often cheaper than moving to escape it. Oplus covers the registration side in its Ejari guide.
Based on the renewal cases Oplus sees, the most common tenant mistake is treating the market rate as the increase the landlord can charge. The legal cap, not the market rate, is what applies at renewal — and it is frequently far lower than tenants fear.
If your landlord asks for more than the legal cap
If the proposed increase exceeds your calculated cap, or the 90-day notice was not given, you can decline and, if needed, file a case with the Rental Disputes Center. The official rules sit with RERA under the Dubai Land Department; Oplus summarises the wider tenant and landlord rights in its RERA tenancy laws guide.
FAQ
Between 0% and 20%, set by Decree No. 43 of 2013 based on how far your rent is below the RERA market average. If you are within 10% of the average, no increase is allowed. The maximum 20% applies only when your rent is more than 40% below market. Use the calculator above with the official RERA average for your area to find your exact cap.
Dubai rent is contracted annually, but payment is usually split into one to four cheques across the year, and an increasing number of landlords accept monthly payment. The annual figure is what the RERA index and the increase calculation are based on, regardless of how you pay it. Always confirm the cheque schedule in the tenancy contract before signing.
Open the Dubai REST app or visit the Dubai Land Department website and go to the Rental Index section. Enter your area, property type, and number of bedrooms to see the official average. That figure is what you compare your current rent against in the calculator above to find your legal increase band.
No. Any increase requires written notice at least 90 days before the contract renewal date. A verbal notice, or one served later than 90 days, is not valid, and the increase does not apply for that renewal. This is one of the strongest protections in Dubai tenancy law and resolves many disputes on procedure alone.
If your current rent is within 10% of the RERA average for your area, no increase is permitted at renewal. The bands only allow an increase when your rent is meaningfully below market. In that case the landlord must renew on the existing rent unless other lawful grounds apply, such as a valid eviction notice under separate rules.
Written by: Oplus International Realty Editorial Team
About Oplus: Licensed UAE real estate brokerage based in Abu Dhabi, covering Abu Dhabi and Dubai off-plan, secondary market, and investment properties. RERA registered. oplusrealty.com
Last reviewed: June 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rental rules and index values change — verify your maximum increase on the official Dubai Land Department Rental Index or Dubai REST app, and consult the Rental Disputes Center for any dispute.
Sources: Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013 (rent increase bands) Dubai Land Department / RERA Smart Rental Index Dubai REST app — official Rental Index tool