How to Build a 90-Day Rent Increase Notice File Before Renewal
The main points in 30 seconds
For a Dubai landlord, a 90-day rent-increase notice file requires exactly three records: a written notification, a dated capture from the official Dubai Land Department rental index, and proof of delivery. Under Article 14 (amended by Law No. 33 of 2008), you must serve this notice at least 90 days before the contract expires unless the lease dictates otherwise. Decree No. 43 of 2013 caps the increase; never request more than the official calculator permits.
When renewing a tenancy contract, a Dubai landlord preparing a 90-day rent-increase notice file must compile three specific documents, all driven by the expiry date printed on the agreement. Under Law No. 33 of 2008, which updated Article 14 of Law No. 26 of 2007, you must issue a written notice to the tenant at least 90 days before the lease concludes, unless the signed contract stipulates a different timeline. To complete the file, generate a dated official Dubai Land Department rental-index result, draft the notice at or below that figure, and secure proof of delivery while the statutory window remains open.
A casual chat message sent during the final three months does not satisfy these requirements. Rely on the actual signed contract to confirm the dates, and follow the specific notice period if both parties mutually agreed to an alternative schedule.
Disclaimer: IziRento is operations software, not legal advice. Local tenancy rules vary; check a qualified adviser for binding decisions.
Preparing the three exhibits using the contract expiry
The written notice declares your intention to modify the upcoming rent. The second exhibit is a timestamped output from the official Dubai Land Department rental index, generated specifically for your unit, which displays your input parameters alongside the authorised cap. The final piece is evidence that the notice actually reached the tenant. The send or handover date on this receipt must fall at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current contract, unless the lease designates an alternative timeframe.
Law No. 33 of 2008 took effect in Dubai on 1 December 2008, replacing Article 14 of Law No. 26 of 2007 alongside other clauses. It dictates that any party wishing to alter a tenancy term must alert the other party at least 90 days before the agreement concludes, barring a separate mutual agreement. Always check the signed lease before treating 90 days as the absolute rule. Setting an operational calendar reminder 120 days out ensures you are not rushing on the final valid day, but it remains a working buffer, not a secondary legal deadline.
If Ejari—Dubai’s official tenancy registration system—displays an end date, note it down alongside the expiry printed on your contract. Use the contract's dates to count backwards unless the agreement specifically defaults to the registered Ejari timeline.
Article 14 establishes the 90-day duty
The mandate to alert the other party regarding a change in terms sits in Article 14. For this specific file, the modified term is the annual rent. The 90-day notice requirement belongs exclusively to Article 14, not Article 13.
Separating Article 14, Article 13, and Article 25
Article 14 of Law No. 26 of 2007, as replaced by Law No. 33 of 2008, governs the written notice for changing a term. It requires notification at least 90 days before expiry unless another period was agreed upon. Article 13 addresses the renewal itself, noting that parties can amend the rent and, failing agreement, the Tribunal may step in to determine a fair rate. Meanwhile, Article 25 deals with an entirely different procedure: an eviction notice served at least 12 months ahead of the eviction date via notary or registered mail. This covers scenarios like demolition, major restoration, owner occupation, or property sale. Do not apply the 12-month timeline or the strict notary service rules of Article 25 to a standard rent-increase letter.
The statutory definition of Notice in the amending law explicitly requires a written communication dispatched via notary public, registered mail, hand delivery, or any legally approved technological method. Email and WhatsApp are not explicitly named in this definition. Retain whatever documentation your chosen route generates, whether that is a registered-mail tracking slip, a signed delivery confirmation, a notary seal, or logs from a legally sanctioned digital channel. Note that the English text acts as a translation; in the event of a discrepancy, the Arabic version takes precedence.
Decree 43 of 2013 sets the maximum ceiling
Decree No. 43 of 2013, issued on 18 December 2013, outlines the absolute maximum a landlord can raise the rent upon renewing a Dubai tenancy. This decree functions by comparing the current rent against the average rental value of comparable properties. It applies upon renewal across Dubai to both private and public landlords, covering special development zones as well as free zones like the Dubai International Financial Centre. RERA (the Real Estate Regulatory Agency) approves the official Rent Index of the Emirate of Dubai that determines these averages.
The schedule below dictates the absolute limit during renewal. However, the actual document you place in your file must be the timestamped official calculator result for the specific unit, rather than a theoretical percentage derived from market listings or a neighbour's lease. These maximum bands are also detailed within the official legislation compilation. Should any English translation conflict with the original Arabic text of Decree 43, the Arabic wording prevails.
Maximum increase on renewal under Decree 43 of 2013
| Current rent compared to the average of similar properties | Maximum permitted increase |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% less than the average | No increase |
| 11% to 20% less than the average | 5% of the unit’s rent |
| 21% to 30% less than the average | 10% of the unit’s rent |
| 31% to 40% less than the average | 15% of the unit’s rent |
| More than 40% less than the average | 20% of the unit’s rent |
The sequential workflow: expiry, index, notice, and proof
Always verify the contract expiry before consulting the index. The calculator requires the contract end date, and Article 14 hinges entirely on counting backwards from that day. Secure the official calculator output before drafting the notice, ensuring the requested rent never exceeds the figure you just captured. Store the delivery confirmation alongside your letter. Relying on your memory of when you handed over a document, without a corresponding receipt, fails to satisfy the third requirement.
When using the Dubai Land Department rental-index service, supply the tenancy end date, property type, region, number of rooms, and the current annual rent. The system generates an immediate calculation. This official page directs users to several channels, including the Land Department website, the Dubai REST application, and DubaiNow. The specific index form also mandates a valid contract end date and the DEWA premise number—DEWA being Dubai’s electricity and water utility—along with the contract number, area, land number, and municipality number. Capture a full record displaying the execution date, your specific inputs, and the final calculation; avoid isolated screenshots of just the percentage.
Assembling the complete notice file
Confirm the expiry and count backwards
Locate the expiry date on the active lease and check if a different Ejari end date is recorded alongside it. Count back exactly 90 days, or adhere to whichever notice timeline is explicitly written into the contract, retaining a copy of that specific clause. Utilise a 120-day operational reminder so you avoid scrambling to serve documents on the final legally permitted day.
Capture the official index calculation
Access the official rental index via one of the channels designated on the Dubai Land Department service portal. Input the property’s end date, type, zone, room count, and current annual rent, alongside any DEWA or contract identifiers requested. Save the execution date, the data you entered, and the final output as a single record.
Draft the letter at or below the threshold
Detail the parties and property exactly as they appear on the lease, declare both the current and proposed annual rent, and include the contract expiration and notice generation dates. Reference your index capture. Do: ensure the proposed rent sits strictly at or below the official result. You are permitted to offer a lower figure. If the calculator returns zero, the renewal rent remains identical to the current rent. Don't: request an amount exceeding the calculation, or dispatch an increase letter when the calculator explicitly permits no increase.
Secure the delivery confirmation
Deliver the paperwork using a method sanctioned by the statutory definition of Notice, and carefully file the resulting receipt, stamp, or signature. A digital message lacking a formal read receipt or acknowledgement does not constitute robust proof.
Conclude once all three records are stored
The administrative task concludes once the dated official calculator result, a written notice adhering to that threshold, and proof of successful delivery are securely filed with the tenancy. The transmission or physical handover must occur at least 90 days before the contract expiry, or prior to the deadline defined in the lease. Remember that sending a notice late does not automatically guarantee the current rent is permanently locked in.
After both parties finalise the renewal terms, compiling the paperwork for system entry becomes a separate registration pack. IziRento provides a dedicated workspace to store the notice, the calculator capture, and the delivery receipt directly against the tenancy record. The platform does not calculate the legal rent caps, dispatch notices, or interface directly with the Dubai Land Department.
Secure the three exhibits with the tenancy record
Maintain the written notice, the timestamped index output, and the delivery receipt directly on the tenancy profile. IziRento does not calculate legal caps or dispatch letters.
Start a workspaceCount back from the Dubai contract expiry, keep a dated official rental-index result, and serve written notice at or under that figure at least 90 days ahead.
FAQ
What happens if the official calculator permits no increase?
Retain the timestamped capture. Article 1(a) of Decree No. 43 of 2013 governs this zero-increase band, which applies when a property's rent is up to 10% less than the average rental value for comparable units. The decree establishes a ceiling; it never compels you to raise the rent.
Are emails explicitly named in the legal definition of Notice?
The statutory definition of Notice specifies a notary public, registered mail, hand delivery, or any other technological means legally approved. It does not expressly mention email or WhatsApp. Always preserve the receipt, stamp, or acknowledgement generated by whichever delivery method you select.
How do you proceed if fewer than 90 days remain?
Review your signed contract immediately. Article 14 requires notification at least 90 days before expiry, assuming the parties did not mutually agree to an alternative timeframe. The statute does not state that a delayed letter automatically locks the existing rent in place. If landlords and tenants cannot reach an agreement, Article 13 permits the Tribunal to determine a fair rental value.
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This material is for information only and is not legal advice.