Brief

Dubai Rental Dispute Guide: Filing a Case with the RDC

Tenants and landlords in Dubai can now navigate the Rental Disputes Centre process with clearer guidance on paperwork, costs and court procedures.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:39:39 GMT

Dubai residents facing a rental dispute can now follow a clearer path to the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC). The guide, published on 28 September 2026, outlines the documents needed, the filing fees and the steps to resolve issues such as unpaid rent, security deposits, rent increases, lease renewals and evictions.

According to Awatif Al Khouri, Senior Emirati Advocate and founder of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates, parties should first try to settle disputes directly and keep written records. If an agreement cannot be reached, a formal notice may be required – for example, a landlord may need to give a tenant 30 days to pay outstanding rent, while certain eviction cases require a 12‑month notice through a notary or registered mail.

Al Khouri lists the basic documents for filing: a valid Ejari‑registered tenancy contract, a valid Emirates ID, a bank letter or statement showing the IBAN, and any supporting correspondence such as notices, cheques or DEWA bills. Eviction claims may also need proof of the required notice.

Filing can be done online via the RDC website or through a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. After submission, hearings may be attended through the RDC’s tele‑litigation system, and the centre offers an amicable settlement process before litigation.

Fees depend on the claim type. For eviction, lease renewal or termination, the fee is 3.5 % of the annual rent or lease value, with a minimum of Dh500 and a maximum of Dh20,000. Monetary claims are charged at 3.5 % of the claimed amount, capped at Dh15,000, plus additional service and innovation fees.

Tenants often make the mistake of assuming they can appeal later. Ahmed Elnaggar, CEO of Elnaggar & Partners, notes that under Article 17(a) of Decree No. 26 of 2013, any RDC judgment for a claim under Dh100,000 is final and cannot be appealed, meaning most residential deposit claims fall below this threshold and give tenants only one chance.

Key facts

• Filing fees for eviction, lease renewal or termination are 3.5 % of annual rent, min Dh500, max Dh20,000 (gulfnews.com)
• Monetary claims are charged at 3.5 % of the claimed amount, capped at Dh15,000 (gulfnews.com)
• RDC judgments for claims under Dh100,000 are final and cannot be appealed (gulfnews.com)

Sources

• [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Dubai Rental Dispute Guide: How to File a Case with RDC, Required Documents, Fees, Timeline and Common Tenant Mistakes”