Ejari Guide · Dubai

How to cancel Ejari
registration in Dubai

Updated July 2026 · ⏱ 5 minutes online · Fee: free

When you move out of a Dubai rental — or terminate a tenancy early — you should formally cancel your Ejari registration with the Dubai Land Department. Cancellation is completely free, takes about 5 minutes online via the Dubai REST app, and is confirmed the same day. It can be submitted by the tenant, the landlord, or an authorised agent, and it matters more than most tenants realise: only one active Ejari is allowed per unit, so the next tenant cannot register until yours is closed. Here is the full process, updated for July 2026.

◆

What's your situation?

✓ Contract ended

Standard cancellation

You can submit cancellation alone — no landlord signature or NOC needed.

✗ Early termination

Landlord must e-sign

Both parties confirm via UAE Pass, or you attach a signed NOC. Disputes go to the RDC.

Staying in the same property? Then you don't cancel at all — renew your Ejari online instead once the new contract is signed. Cancellation is only for moving out, early termination, or sale of the property.

Why cancelling Ejari matters

Ejari is the Dubai Land Department (DLD) registry of tenancy contracts, and only one active Ejari is allowed per rental unit. Until your record is cancelled:

The next tenant cannot register a new Ejari for the unit — the system rejects the application, which then blocks their DEWA connection, visa and school paperwork.
The landlord cannot show the unit as vacant in DLD systems — many hold back the security deposit until cancellation is confirmed.
You remain on record as the tenant of a property you no longer occupy.

Closing the tenancy properly also keeps your utilities clean: the final DEWA disconnection and the refund of your DEWA deposit go through without queries when the Ejari record is closed at the same time.

Close your DEWA account first

Submit Move Out in the DEWA app or website, pay the final bill, and download the DEWA clearance confirmation — the Dubai REST app asks for this proof during Ejari cancellation. Your DEWA deposit (AED 2,000 for apartments, AED 4,000 for villas) is refunded within 7–10 working days after the final bill is settled.

Relocating within Dubai? See our DEWA Move Out and transfer guide to shift electricity and water to your new address in the same request, or simply close the account if you're leaving Dubai.

Documents required to cancel Ejari

Keep these ready before you start — the whole submission then takes minutes:

Ejari certificate or Ejari number — the number (format 22-99999/2026) is printed at the top of the certificate
Emirates ID of the person submitting the cancellation
Final DEWA bill or DEWA clearance confirming the account is settled
Landlord NOC or signed termination agreement — only for early termination; not needed when the contract has expired

That's the full list — no original tenancy contract, no passport copies, and no fee.

Open the Dubai REST app

Download Dubai REST — DLD's official real-estate app — and log in with UAE Pass. Go to Services → Ejari → Cancel Contract and select the active Ejari registration you want to cancel from the list.

Prefer a counter? Any Ejari typing centre can submit the same cancellation for a small service fee of around AED 40 — the government cancellation itself is still free either way.

📱 Dubai REST recommended

Upload documents and select the reason

Upload:

Existing Ejari certificate (or enter the Ejari number)
DEWA clearance / final bill receipt
Property handover form (if your landlord requires it)

Then select the cancellation reason: End of contract, Early termination, Sale of property, or Other. Choose accurately — the reason determines whether the system requests a landlord signature.

Submit — landlord signature only when needed

For end-of-contract cancellations no landlord approval or NOC is required — the tenant submits alone and the system processes it immediately. For early termination, the landlord receives a notification and must e-sign within Dubai REST via UAE Pass — usually done within 24–48 hours. A landlord (or their authorised agent) can likewise cancel an expired registration without the former tenant's signature.

⚠️ If the landlord refuses to sign an early-termination cancellation, file a case at the Rental Dispute Centre — the filing fee is 3.5% of annual rent (minimum AED 500) and the RDC can issue a binding cancellation order.

✓

Cancellation confirmed — same day

The confirmation email usually arrives within minutes, and always the same working day when documents are complete. The Ejari record is closed in DLD systems, freeing the unit for the next tenant's registration. 🆓 No cancellation fee

Cost, who can cancel, and how long it takes

Cost — free. The Dubai Land Department charges no government fee for Ejari cancellation: through the Dubai REST app you pay AED 0. Only if you use a typing centre will you pay their service fee of roughly AED 40.
Who can cancel — the tenant, the landlord, or an authorised agent (for example a property management company holding a power of attorney). In practice the party who needs the record closed first usually submits.
How long — same day. Online submissions with complete documents are processed instantly; only an early termination waiting on the landlord's e-signature adds 24–48 hours.

Getting your security deposit back

Ejari cancellation does not handle the rental deposit — that stays between you and the landlord. The deposit (typically 5% of annual rent unfurnished, 10% furnished) and its refund terms are set out in your DLD Unified Tenancy Contract, so re-read that clause before handover. Document the property's condition with photos and a signed handover report. If the landlord refuses to return the deposit, file at the Rental Dispute Centre — most deposit disputes resolve within 15–30 days.

Frequently asked questions

How do I cancel my Ejari online?

Open the Dubai REST app, log in with UAE Pass, and go to Services, then Ejari, then Cancel Contract. Select your active registration, upload the Ejari certificate and your final DEWA bill or clearance, choose the cancellation reason, and submit. Confirmation is emailed the same day, usually within minutes.

How much does it cost to cancel Ejari?

Cancelling Ejari is free of charge — the Dubai Land Department charges no government fee for cancellation. If you use a typing centre instead of the Dubai REST app, expect a small service fee of around AED 40 for the counter service, but the cancellation itself still costs nothing.

What documents are required to cancel Ejari?

You need your Ejari certificate or Ejari number, your Emirates ID, and your final DEWA bill or DEWA clearance confirmation. For an early termination you may also need a signed NOC or termination agreement from the landlord. No original tenancy contract is required if you have the Ejari number.

Do I need the landlord's approval to cancel Ejari?

Not for a standard end-of-contract cancellation — the tenant can submit it alone once the contract has expired and the DEWA account is settled. Landlord approval or an e-signature via UAE Pass is only needed for early termination before the contract end date, or when the cancellation is contested.

Can a new tenant register Ejari if the old one is not cancelled?

No. Only one active Ejari is allowed per rental unit, so the system blocks any new registration until the previous record is cancelled. If a former tenant did not cancel, the landlord or an authorised agent can request the cancellation through Dubai REST or a typing centre so the new tenant can register.

Moving to a new place?

Generate a DLD-format tenancy contract PDF for your new address in minutes. AI reads Emirates IDs and Title Deed — no manual typing.

Generate new contract →

How to cancel Ejariregistration in Dubai