How to Keep a Tenancy Addendum File for Extra Terms on a Dubai Lease

The official Dubai Land Department unified tenancy contract features five Additional Terms lines. When a Dubai landlord and tenant agree on brief conditions, those terms belong directly on the form. Any supplementary clauses require a distinct addendum, which must be signed by all parties. For a Dubai landlord, a tenancy addendum extra terms file properly organizes these signed pages alongside the contract—and keeps them separate from a 90-day renewal notice. A casual WhatsApp conversation does not count as a valid extra-terms file if the official lines remain empty. Every agreed-upon rule must sit on those designated lines or on an attached, signed page.

When preparing the lease, always use the unified contract published for registration. The Land Department's FAQ confirms this official document contains the necessary registration fields, basic clauses, and space for special conditions. Page 3, labelled Additional Terms, offers lines 1 to 5. A note at the bottom of that page clarifies that a further addendum is permitted for extra terms, provided all parties sign it. Habi’s field guide covering this specific template explains that the PDF lacks a standalone official addendum sheet. This means both sides should retain a complete physical set of any extra signed pages alongside their Ejari certificate.

Disclaimer: IziRento is operations software, not legal advice. Local tenancy rules vary; check a qualified adviser for binding decisions.

Organizing the five lines and supplementary pages

Lines 1 through 5 are designed for concise rules exactly as the parties drafted them. Lengthier items—like a specific utility split, pet permissions, or early-termination clauses—shift to a supplementary addendum. A sublet agreement also belongs there to capture the landlord's written consent. Clause 2 explicitly mandates this approval, and Article 24 of Law No. 26 of 2007 reinforces the rule unless a different agreement exists. According to LeasePilot’s addendum guide, this extra sheet must reference the primary contract, outline the precise rule changes, and state the effective date. Once signed by everyone, this page sits seamlessly next to the main unified contract.

Do not confuse extra terms with clause 3 of the standard form, which discusses addendums in the context of physical property modifications. A tenant always requires the landlord’s written approval before starting unit alterations. Article 19 of Law No. 26 of 2007 dictates that tenants cannot alter the premises or perform construction without this permission and the necessary local licences. That specific approval paper is separate from the extra-terms addendum.

Law No. 33 of 2008 states that any adjustments to the property, the parties involved, the rent, or the tenancy dates must be registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). The required files for that process make up the Ejari registration documents. If one side intends to alter lease terms upon renewal, they must deliver at least 90 days’ notice prior to expiry, unless the parties agreed otherwise. That notification falls under Article 14 of the amending law and creates an entirely separate file.

Keep the extra-terms folder focused. Post-dated cheques go into the cheque schedule. If the addendum features a specific payment date, leave it there. Should the unified contract already list a Security Deposit Amount, simply record that number. Any receipts proving payment belong strictly in the deposit register. When a tenant departs mid-lease, the final financial settlement is another distinct document, and this extra-terms file only holds the early-break wording if the parties originally signed it.

Officially, the form specifies two attachments for Ejari processing: the original unified tenancy contract and the applicant’s Emirates ID. Using the register service app requires a digital copy of the unified contract, while trustee centres require the original physical contract, the Emirates ID, and a power of attorney for representatives. Notice that this list omits the addendum. Regardless of what the portal demands, always retain every signed extra page—including maintenance or pet clauses—in your internal tenancy file.

Handling maintenance, utilities, pets, and exit clauses

Look at Clause 8 of the unified contract: it assigns routine property maintenance to the landlord unless an alternative written arrangement exists. Similarly, Article 16 of Law No. 26 of 2007 declares the landlord responsible for upkeep and fixing defects that hinder the tenant’s intended use throughout the term, barring any alternative agreement. The Land Department’s official maintenance answer contains no specific dirham threshold. As a TruHauz note from September 2026 points out, any monetary repair limit is simply a custom negotiated by the parties, not a statutory cap.

Clause 4 mandates that the tenant pays for electricity, water, cooling, and gas from the moment they occupy the unit, unless a signed condition shifts the burden. When documenting pets, simply capture the exact permission or refusal the parties endorsed. Even with an approved pet, clause 6 ensures the tenant must respect all building and common-area regulations, such as those governing the gym, pool, and parking. Regarding early exits, Article 7 of Law No. 26 of 2007 clarifies that a valid lease cannot be broken by one party alone during the term. It concludes solely through mutual agreement or authorized legal channels.

Once the signed supplementary pages are neatly filed next to the unified contract, the landlord has a clear view of which conditions occupy the form's five lines and which sit on the further addendum. IziRento allows property managers to store a digital copy of these documents right beside the lease record. The software does not register the contract, write the clauses, or sign on behalf of the parties, and it is not a party to the lease itself. The authentic signed originals always remain with the people who executed them.