Registering your tenancy with Ejari costs AED 177.75 when you do it yourself through the Dubai REST app, or around AED 220 at a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre (typing centre). The whole process comes down to three moves: sign the unified tenancy contract, submit it in the Dubai REST app for your landlord’s approval, then pay the fee and download your Ejari certificate. This guide breaks down every fee, the documents you need, and the exact steps tenants follow to register Ejari in Dubai.
What Is Ejari and Why Do Tenants Need It?
Ejari — Arabic for “my rent” — is the Dubai Land Department’s (DLD) official registry for tenancy contracts, administered by RERA. Every residential and commercial tenancy in Dubai must be registered in the system. The certificate you receive carries a unique Ejari number and barcode, and it is the legal proof of your tenancy.
Without a registered Ejari, three everyday things simply stop working. DEWA will not open a utilities account in your name, a family residence visa file cannot be submitted without an attested lease, and the Rental Disputes Centre only accepts cases backed by an Ejari-registered contract. Legally, the landlord is responsible for making sure the contract is registered — but in practice, the tenant usually completes the process and pays the fee.
What Is the Ejari Registration Cost?
The Ejari registration cost depends on where you register. The Dubai Land Department lists two fee schedules: one for the online route (the Dubai REST app or the DLD website) and one for registering in person at a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. Always check the fee shown in the app before you pay, because government fees are reviewed from time to time.
Ejari Registration Online Cost: AED 177.75
The cheapest official route is the Dubai REST app. The total of AED 177.75 breaks down as follows:
| Fee component | Online (Dubai REST app) | Trustee centre (typing centre) |
|---|---|---|
| Tenancy contract registration | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| Service partner fee | AED 55 | AED 95 |
| VAT (5%, on the service partner fee only) | AED 2.75 | About AED 4.75 |
| Total | AED 177.75 | About AED 220 |
The Full Cost of Ejari Registration, Component by Component
Four of the five charges are fixed whichever channel you use: AED 100 for the registration itself, AED 10 knowledge fee, and AED 10 innovation fee. The only moving part is the service partner fee — AED 55 online versus AED 95 in person — and VAT applies to that fee alone. Renewal costs the same, and these figures exclude your rent, security deposit, and any agency commission.
Is the Ejari Registration Cost Expensive Online?
No — online is the cheapest legitimate route, and nothing about the online process costs more than doing it in person. A trustee centre charges roughly AED 40 extra for the in-person service, and management companies or typing centres that file for you add their own service charge on top, so ask for the figure in advance. Private online platforms are the priciest — one published comparison lists around AED 299 all-in — so registering yourself through the Dubai REST app saves the most.
How to Register Ejari Online
The Dubai REST app is the route most tenants use — it is fast, cheap, and fully digital. Prefer the short version? Our quick guide on how to register Ejari covers the essentials in a few minutes; the detailed walkthrough below is the complete version.
- Download the Dubai REST app and log in with UAE Pass. The app is free on the App Store and Google Play; UAE Pass is the recommended login because it syncs your profile and Emirates ID automatically.
- Go to Services, then RERA, then Register Ejari Contract. The same service covers new registrations and renewals.
- Enter the DEWA premises number. This 9-digit number pulls the correct property details into the form — double-check it against your contract.
- Fill in the contract details. Lease start and end dates, annual rent, number of cheques, and the tenant and landlord information exactly as written in the signed contract.
- Upload your documents. The signed unified tenancy contract plus the documents listed below — clear PDF or JPEG scans only, since blurry uploads are a top cause of rejection.
- Submit for landlord approval. The landlord approves through their own Dubai REST or DLD account. No approval within five days cancels the request, so nudge them the same day you submit.
- Pay the fee. AED 177.75 online, by card or the app’s accepted payment methods. The app shows the exact amount before you confirm.
- Download the Ejari certificate. Once approved and paid, the PDF certificate is issued — usually the same day — and emailed to you. Keep it: DEWA and others will ask for the Ejari number repeatedly.
How to Register Ejari in Dubai at a Typing Centre
Prefer in-person help? Visit a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. Bring the original signed unified tenancy contract and your Emirates ID (a representative also brings an official power of attorney). The typing agent enters your details into the DLD system, you pay about AED 220, and DLD lists the service time as roughly 25 minutes, excluding waiting time. Since late 2024, some trustees also accept registrations over WhatsApp — you share the documents digitally and the trustee completes the filing and sends the certificate back.
Documents Required for Ejari Registration
Gather everything first — a missing document is the main cause of delays. For a standard residential tenancy you need:
- The signed unified tenancy contract (original for in-person registration, a clear copy for the app)
- Tenant’s Emirates ID, plus passport copy and valid residence visa for non-GCC nationals
- Landlord’s passport or Emirates ID copy and the property’s title deed
- The DEWA premises number (or a recent DEWA bill)
- Security deposit receipt, if one was issued
- A power of attorney, only if someone is registering on behalf of the landlord or tenant
- Trade licence copy for commercial properties
For companies, Ejari is tied to the trade licence — a business cannot issue or renew its licence without a registered commercial lease. Still choosing a setup? Compare the cheapest free zone licences in the UAE first.
Common Reasons Ejari Applications Get Rejected
Most rejections are paperwork errors. Watch for these:
- Blurry or cropped uploads. Unclear documents are the single most common online rejection cause.
- Mismatched property details. The DEWA premises number, unit number, and title deed must all describe the same property. A single digit off between the contract and the deed sends you back to the start.
- Expired documents. Check the expiry dates on Emirates IDs, visas, and passports before submitting.
- Landlord never approves. The request dies after five days without approval, so nudge your landlord the same day you submit.
- Wrong contract form. The DLD only accepts the unified tenancy contract — a private agreement on company letterhead will not pass.
- Undeclared co-occupants. For shared units, RERA requires co-occupant details to be declared. If you rent a room or a bed space rather than a whole unit, check the bed space rules and prices in Dubai so your arrangement stays within the tenancy rules.
What to Do After You Register
Hand the Ejari number to DEWA to activate your electricity and water account — the app emails you an automatic DEWA activation link. Keep a PDF of the certificate with your passport and Emirates ID: you will need it for family visa applications, and it is the only version of your contract the Rental Disputes Centre will hear.
Ejari does not renew automatically — register each new contract the same way, at the same fee. Start renewal as soon as the new contract is signed to avoid gaps in your legal tenancy record. When you move out, cancel the record before the next tenant registers: free in the Dubai REST app, around AED 40 + VAT at a trustee centre (confirm at the counter).
