Ejari Guide · Dubai

How to renew Ejari
in Dubai — step by step

Updated August 2026 · ⏱ 10 min online · Fee: AED 177.75 · العربية

How do I renew my Ejari? Sign the renewed tenancy contract with your landlord, gather your documents, submit them through the Renew Ejari service on the Dubai REST app and pay AED 177.75 — the renewed certificate is issued the same day. In short: 1) sign the renewed contract → 2) gather documents (Emirates ID, previous Ejari, Title Deed) → 3) open Dubai REST → Renew Ejari → 4) pay AED 177.75. Ejari must be renewed every time your tenancy contract renews, even with the same landlord at the same address. This guide covers the 2026 fees, deadlines, the practical grace period and exactly what stops working if you renew late.

Download the blank DLD tenancy contract
Official Dubai Land Department format — print, fill by hand or in Acrobat, then take to Ejari.
Download PDF
Prefer to type? Get the editable Word (.docx) version. Having trouble filling it correctly? Use our AI tool — upload your Emirates IDs and Title Deed, get a pre-filled, Ejari-ready PDF in minutes for AED 15.
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Is this a renewal or a new contract?

Renewal applies only when you stay with the same landlord at the same property. Anything else counts as a new registration.
✓ Renewal
Same landlord, same address
Continue with this guide.
✗ New contract
New landlord or new property
Even within the same building. Use the new registration guide →
Moving out instead of renewing? Only one active Ejari is allowed per unit, so the landlord cannot register the next tenant until yours is closed — see how to cancel Ejari (it's free and takes minutes).
1

Sign the renewed tenancy contract

Before you can renew Ejari, both parties must sign a renewed tenancy contract in the official DLD Unified Tenancy Contract format with the new dates — see our Dubai tenancy contract guide for the required fields and standard terms. The new start date should be the day after the old contract ends, so there is no gap in registration.

The agreed annual rent must respect the caps in Decree 43 of 2013: if your current rent is within 10% of the market average, no increase is allowed; permitted increases scale from 5% up to a maximum of 20% only when the rent sits far below market. Check your property in the official RERA rental index calculator before signing. Any increase also requires 90 days written notice before expiry — an out-of-cap or un-notified increase can be challenged at the Rental Dispute Centre.
Need a fresh DLD-format contract? Ejari Helper auto-fills it from your previous Ejari and Emirates IDs in seconds.
2

Documents required for Ejari renewal

Renewal needs almost the same paperwork as new registration, plus your previous Ejari certificate. Have everything ready as PDFs or clear photos before you start.
Renewed tenancy contractDLD format, signed by both parties
Tenant Emirates IDValid, not expired
Previous Ejari certificatePDF or printed copy
Title Deed copySame as previous registration
Recent DEWA billConfirms the premises being renewed
Landlord Emirates IDOr passport for non-resident landlords
⚠️ If your Emirates ID has been renewed since the last Ejari, upload the new one — the system cross-checks against the latest record. Most other fields are pre-filled from the previous registration.
3

Renew Ejari on the Dubai REST app

The Dubai REST app is the Dubai Land Department's official platform and the cheapest, fastest way to renew (see the official Dubai REST page). Here is the exact in-app path:
  1. Download or open Dubai REST (iOS or Android) — or use the DLD website on desktop.
  2. Log in with UAE Pass.
  3. Go to Services → Real Estate Services → Ejari → Renew Ejari.
  4. Select the Ejari certificate being renewed from your list of active registrations.
  5. Upload the renewed contract, confirm the pre-filled details, and pay.
📱 Dubai REST app recommended
The app shows all your active Ejari certificates. Select the one being renewed — the system pre-fills the lessor, tenant, and property details from the previous record, which is why renewal is faster than first-time registration.
4

Upload the new contract and verify details

Upload the renewed contract PDF and check every pre-filled field. Pay attention to the contract dates, annual rent, and mode of payment — these change at renewal even when other fields don't.
If anything in the property section needs to change (e.g. an updated DEWA Premises Number after a building renumbering), edit it now. After submission, only the dates and rent can be amended — property fields are locked.
5

Pay the fee — cost of Ejari renewal in 2026

Renewal costs exactly the same as new registration — there is no renewal discount. Pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay; the certificate is released as soon as payment clears.
Online via Dubai REST appAED 177.75 incl. VAT
Walk-in at a typing centreAED 219.75 incl. VAT and service charges
Discount vs new registrationNone — renewal and registration cost the same
The AED 177.75 online fee includes VAT and the knowledge & innovation fees. Typing centres charge more because they add their own service fee on top of the government fee.
Renewing? Generate your new tenancy contract in 5 min — AED 15
Upload last year's Ejari certificate and your Emirates IDs — AI fills the official DLD contract with the new dates and rent, ready to sign and submit for renewal.
Auto-fill my renewal contract →
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Is the renewal approved?

✓ Approved
New certificate issued same day
Sent by email and available in Dubai REST, usually within minutes. The Ejari registration number stays the same — only the validity period extends.
✗ Rejected
Most common cause
Mismatch between the new contract dates and the previous certificate's expiry. The new contract should start the day after the old one ends.
✓

Renewed Ejari issued — keep using your existing services

Your DEWA, residency visa, and any other services tied to Ejari continue without interruption. The Ejari number on your new certificate stays the same; only the validity dates change. Nothing needs to be re-linked — DEWA and GDRFA read the updated validity automatically. ⚡ Issued same day
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When to renew Ejari — the deadline

Renew as soon as the renewed contract starts — that is the intended deadline, because your old Ejari certificate expires the day the previous contract ends. The Dubai Land Department does not publish a countdown or send reminders; the responsibility sits with the tenant (or the landlord, if your contract says so).

In practice, aim to complete the renewal within 30 days of the new term starting. Since the process takes about 10 minutes online and the certificate arrives the same day, there is rarely a good reason to wait. Renewing on day one means your registration never lapses and every service that checks Ejari — visas, DEWA, schools — keeps working without questions.
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The Ejari renewal grace period, explained

There is no official grace period written into the rules — but there is a practical one. Nothing automatically happens the day your Ejari expires; the certificate simply shows as expired in the system. Most tenants have roughly a 30-day window before the expiry starts to bite, because that's typically when the next Ejari-dependent transaction comes up.

What breaks while your Ejari is expired:
  • GDRFA visa applications — new or renewed residence visas for you and your family are put on hold
  • DEWA changes — Move In, Move Out and name changes are refused until the registration is active
  • School registration — Dubai schools ask for a valid Ejari as proof of residence
  • RDC filings — you cannot open a rental case without an active registration
Treat the 30 days as a safety net, not a target. The renewal itself takes 10 minutes — inside or outside the window, the process and the AED 177.75 fee are identical.

Is there a fine for late Ejari renewal?

No — there is no fixed, published fine for renewing Ejari late, and the fee does not increase. The penalty is indirect: an expired Ejari silently blocks government services until you renew.
  • Visa renewals for tenant and family — GDRFA requires an active Ejari
  • RDC case filings — you cannot file at the Rental Dispute Centre without active registration, which matters if a dispute is brewing
  • DEWA service changes — Move In, Move Out, and name changes all require valid Ejari
  • School and parking permits issued by Dubai authorities often require Ejari proof
If your Ejari has already expired, sign the renewed contract first, then run the renewal exactly as described above — there is no separate "late renewal" path and no extra charge. The new certificate covers the new term going forward.
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Online vs typing centre vs agent — which to use?

All three routes produce the same certificate; they differ in cost and effort.
Dubai REST app (online)AED 177.75 · ~10 minutes · certificate same day · needs UAE Pass. Best for almost everyone.
Typing centre (walk-in)AED 219.75 · travel + queue time · same-day certificate. Useful if you have no UAE Pass or documents need fixing on the spot.
Agent / property managerGovernment fee plus the agent's own service charge · zero effort. Common when the landlord's agent manages renewals anyway.
If this is your first time using Dubai REST, registering with UAE Pass takes a few minutes but pays off every year — the same login handles new Ejari registrations, renewals, and cancellations.

Frequently asked questions

How do I renew my Ejari?

Sign the renewed tenancy contract with your landlord, open the Dubai REST app, choose Renew Ejari, upload the signed contract and pay AED 177.75. The renewed certificate is issued the same day, usually within minutes.

How much does Ejari renewal cost in 2026?

AED 177.75 including VAT when you renew online through the Dubai REST app. At a typing centre expect AED 219.75. There is no discount for renewal — it costs exactly the same as a new Ejari registration.

What documents are required for Ejari renewal?

You need the renewed signed tenancy contract in DLD format, your Emirates ID, the previous Ejari certificate, a copy of the Title Deed and a recent DEWA bill. The landlord's Emirates ID or passport copy is also needed, although most fields are pre-filled from the previous registration.

Is there a fine for late Ejari renewal?

No fixed fine is published for renewing Ejari late. The real cost is what an expired Ejari blocks: GDRFA visa renewals, DEWA account changes, school registration and filing a case at the Rental Dispute Centre all require an active certificate.

What is the grace period for Ejari renewal?

There is no official grace period, but in practice you have about 30 days after the old contract expires before problems surface. During any gap your Ejari shows as expired, so renew as soon as the renewed contract starts to keep visas, DEWA and other services running.

How do I renew Ejari on the Dubai REST app?

Open Dubai REST, log in with UAE Pass, then go to Services, Real Estate Services, Ejari, Renew Ejari. Select your existing certificate, upload the renewed signed contract, confirm the pre-filled details and pay AED 177.75 by card. The new certificate arrives by email the same day.

Can I renew Ejari online?

Yes. The whole renewal is done online through the Dubai REST app or the Dubai Land Department website — no office visit is needed. Online renewal costs AED 177.75 versus AED 219.75 at a typing centre and takes about 10 minutes.

Do I need to renew Ejari every year?

Yes, Ejari must be renewed every time your tenancy contract renews, even with the same landlord at the same address. The certificate expires with the contract, so a standard annual contract means an annual Ejari renewal.

Can the landlord increase rent at Ejari renewal?

Only within the caps of Decree 43 of 2013 and the RERA rental index, and only with 90 days written notice before the contract expires. If your rent is within 10% of the market average, no increase is allowed at all.

Don't have a renewed contract yet?
Ejari Helper auto-fills a fresh DLD-format contract from your previous Ejari, Emirates IDs, and Title Deed. New dates, same property — ready to sign in minutes.
Generate renewed contract →
Related guides
Register Ejari
First-time registration step-by-step
Tenancy contract
DLD format and required fields
Cancel Ejari
Free cancellation when moving out
Ejari fines
What late registration really costs
Rent increase rules
Caps, notice period, how to dispute
Activate DEWA
Electricity & water for new tenants