Ejari cost in 2026: AED 177.75,
and where every dirham goes
Ejari costs AED 177.75 if you file it yourself in the Dubai REST app or on the DLD portal, and AED 219.75 at a trustee or typing centre. The government portion — AED 120 — is identical on both routes; the entire difference is the service-partner fee and the VAT charged on it. Anything above AED 219.75 is somebody’s margin, and you are entitled to see it as a separate line.
The exact 2026 fee, line by line
| Tenancy contract registration | AED 100.00 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10.00 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10.00 |
| Service-partner fee | AED 55.00 |
| VAT (5% on the service-partner fee) | AED 2.75 |
| Total | AED 177.75 |
The same registration at a trustee centre
| Tenancy contract registration | AED 100.00 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10.00 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10.00 |
| Service-partner fee | AED 95.00 |
| VAT (5% on the service-partner fee) | AED 4.75 |
| Total | AED 219.75 |
Every channel compared, with the markup shown
| Dubai REST app / DLD portal | AED 177.75 — government fee only, no markup. Certificate usually the same day |
| Trustee / typing centre | AED 219.75 — government fee only, higher partner tier. Issued while you wait |
| Online filing services | AED 250–350 — AED 177.75 plus roughly AED 75–175 margin |
| Real-estate agent | AED 300–500 — AED 177.75 plus roughly AED 120–320 margin |
| Property-management company | AED 400–500, sometimes bundled into a management fee |
What costs nothing
| Cancelling an Ejari | Free, through Dubai REST or a trustee centre — how to cancel |
| Refiling after a rejection | Free. A refused application is not charged again when you correct and resubmit |
| Checking status or re-downloading | Free and unlimited — every way to check |
| Creating the Ejari / UAE Pass account | Free |
| Renewing late | No surcharge. The fee is AED 177.75 however overdue you are — what late Ejari actually costs |
What the Ejari fee does not cover
| Ejari registration | AED 177.75 |
| Agency commission (typically 5% of annual rent) | ≈ AED 4,250 |
| Security deposit (5% unfurnished / 10% furnished) | AED 4,250 – 8,500 — refundable, if you document it |
| DEWA connection deposit | AED 2,000 apartment / AED 4,000 villa — refundable |
| DEWA activation & registration charges | ≈ AED 130 – 180 — DEWA activation |
| Tenancy contract preparation | AED 0 with the free DLD template, or AED 15 auto-filled from your documents |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Ejari cost in 2026?
AED 177.75 if you file it yourself in the Dubai REST app or on the DLD portal. That is AED 100 registration, AED 10 knowledge fee, AED 10 innovation fee, AED 55 service-partner fee and AED 2.75 VAT. At a trustee or typing centre the same registration costs AED 219.75.
Why is Ejari more expensive at a typing centre?
The government portion is identical. What changes is the service-partner fee: AED 55 when you file it yourself online, AED 95 when a trustee centre clerk files it for you, plus 5% VAT on that fee. That is the entire AED 42 difference — AED 219.75 against AED 177.75.
Is VAT charged on the Ejari fee?
Only on the service-partner portion. The AED 100 registration fee and the AED 10 knowledge and innovation fees are government charges outside the scope of VAT. The 5% applies to the partner fee alone — AED 2.75 online, AED 4.75 at a trustee centre.
Does Ejari renewal cost less than first registration?
No. Renewal costs exactly the same as a first registration — AED 177.75 online, AED 219.75 at a centre. There is no loyalty discount, and there is no surcharge for renewing late either; the fee is flat however overdue you are.
How much does it cost to cancel Ejari?
Nothing. Cancellation is free through Dubai REST or at a trustee centre. Because it costs nothing and an open registration on a unit blocks the next tenant's filing, there is no reason to skip it when you move out.
Who pays the Ejari fee — landlord or tenant?
UAE law does not assign it. Law No. 26 of 2007 places the registration duty on the landlord, but Dubai contracts routinely pass it to the tenant and in practice the tenant usually pays. Whichever way you agree, write it into the contract so it cannot be reopened later.
Is AED 300 or AED 500 for Ejari a scam?
Not necessarily a scam, but it is not the government fee. Agents, property managers and online filing services charge the AED 177.75 fee plus their own margin, and they are entitled to. What is not acceptable is presenting the total as though it were the official price. Ask any provider to show the government fee and their service fee as separate lines.
What else do I have to pay when moving into a Dubai rental?
Ejari is one of the smaller line items. Budget also for the agency commission (typically 5% of annual rent), the security deposit (5% unfurnished, 10% furnished), the DEWA connection deposit (AED 2,000 for an apartment, AED 4,000 for a villa) and the DEWA activation charges. Ejari at AED 177.75 is rarely what breaks the budget.