Dubai rent increase calculator: RERA rules explained
How much can my Dubai landlord increase the rent?
As of November 2026, Dubai renewal increases depend on the official rental index and the bands in Decree 43 of 2013: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%. Check your property through DLD, then assess the notice and contract. This calculator applies the permitted percentage you enter.
Published . Updated .
Content record as of November 2026. Checked against Dubai Land Department and Dubai Legislation Portal sources on 12 November 2026.
Get your permitted percentage from DLD’s Rental Index, then multiply your current annual rent by that percentage. The default notice for changing lease terms is at least 90 days before expiry, unless the parties agree otherwise.
In this guide
Calculate the increase from your DLD result
As of November 2026, Dubai's Smart Rental Index is the official starting point for checking a residential renewal increase. Get the permitted increase from the Dubai Land Department Rental Index, then use this calculator to convert that percentage into an annual amount.
Dubai renewal rent estimate
Enter your current annual contract rent in AED and select the permitted percentage shown in your official DLD result. This tool applies Article 1 of Decree No. 43 of 2013. It does not query the index or decide whether a notice is valid.
Formula: maximum annual increase = current annual rent × permitted percentage ÷ 100. The estimate rounds the increase to the nearest fils, then adds it to current annual rent. Article 1 applies the percentage to the rent of the unit, not to the index's market value.
Worked example: current annual rent of AED 60,000 and a verified 10% band give AED 60,000 × 10 ÷ 100 = AED 6,000. Annual rent after that increase is AED 66,000. These are example inputs, not a valuation of your home.
What are the RERA rent-increase bands?
Decree No. 43 of 2013, Article 1, sets these maximum increases when a lease is renewed. Article 3 links the comparable average rent to RERA's approved Rent Index.
| Current rent below the comparable average | Maximum increase on current rent |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% | 0% |
| 11%–20% | 5% |
| 21%–30% | 10% |
| 31%–40% | 15% |
| More than 40% | 20% |
The table reproduces the bands in the decree. Use DLD's result to resolve your property's band, including any boundary or rounding question. This independent tool does not infer a percentage from a rent range or round a market gap into a higher band.
A maximum increase is a ceiling for the applicable band. It does not mean the landlord must charge that amount. You can discuss a lower renewal figure and record any agreement clearly in the renewed contract.
What changed with the Smart Rental Index?
DLD launched the Smart Rental Index on 2 January 2025. It uses a building classification system that considers factors such as structural characteristics, finishes, maintenance, location, services and facilities. A neighbourhood-wide advertised average is not a substitute for the official result.
The launch announcement describes residential coverage across Dubai, including special development zones and free zones. DLD's November 2026 Dubai REST update continues to identify the Smart Rental Index among its services. Use the current official service for your renewal, rather than an old saved result.
The index determines the relevant rental reference; the decree sets the increase bands. Those are different parts of the check. A new index does not, by itself, mean that your landlord can move your rent straight to a listing price.
Keep the property details with the result. Save the official output and the information used to obtain it. If the landlord's result differs, compare the property and contract inputs before debating the percentage.
How do you check the official rental index?
- Open DLD's Rental Index service. Start from the official DLD website or its Dubai REST channel.
- Use your actual tenancy information. Have your contract and Ejari record ready, then follow the fields shown by the service.
- Check the property match. Make sure the result relates to your home and renewal circumstances, not another building or unit type.
- Save the result. Keep a dated copy with the renewal notice and existing lease.
- Check the proposed amount. Apply the official percentage to current annual rent, then assess the notice and any other changed terms separately.
If the service cannot identify your home, ask DLD how to correct or verify the record. Do not choose a nearby building to produce a result. Our Ejari registration guide explains the tenancy-registration step and the documents to keep together.
Does a landlord need to give 90 days' notice?
Article 14 of Law No. 26 of 2007, as replaced by Law No. 33 of 2008, requires at least 90 days before the lease expires for notice of an intended amendment, unless the parties agree otherwise.
That final qualification matters. Read the signed lease and addenda before assuming the default notice period settles your case. Check when the notice was received, what change it proposed and which expiry date applies.
Notice and the permitted increase are separate checks. A notice delivered in time does not establish that its amount is allowed. Equally, a figure within the index band does not by itself establish that the notice or all other proposed terms are valid.
A rent-renewal notice is also different from an eviction notice. Do not treat a request for more rent as a complete explanation of your rights if the landlord also asks you to leave. Seek advice on the actual documents and reasons.
How is the market gap different from the increase?
DLD's Tenancy Guide gives an example with an official average of AED 80,000 and current rent of AED 60,000. The gap is (80,000 − 60,000) ÷ 80,000 × 100 = 25%.
That 25% gap falls in the 21%–30% band, giving a maximum 10% increase. Apply 10% to AED 60,000, producing AED 6,000 and a resulting annual rent of AED 66,000. The landlord does not add 25% simply because the gap is 25%.
Use the same distinction when reviewing a landlord's calculation: the gap selects the band; the band applies to your current rent. The official index result remains necessary because this page cannot determine the correct average for your building.
What if you disagree with the proposed increase?
Reply in writing and keep the exchange factual. Identify your contract rent, expiry date, the proposed change and the official index result. Ask the landlord or agent to explain a different percentage or property reference.
- Keep the signed contract, addenda and Ejari record.
- Save the notice and evidence of when it arrived.
- Retain the official index output and the details used.
- Separate the rent increase from other charges or contract changes.
- Ask DLD or the relevant dispute authority which process applies if agreement is not possible.
DLD's official tenancy FAQs discuss rent increases and rental disputes. Check the appropriate route before taking a formal step. This calculator does not file a dispute, validate a notice or tell you to stop paying rent.
Budget using the annual rent and any separately verified costs. If you are comparing renewal with a move, also consider the tasks in our DEWA connection guide and moving-to-Dubai checklist. Do not treat this estimate as a quote for all renewal or moving expenses.
Common questions
How does the Dubai rent increase calculator work?
Enter current annual contract rent and the permitted percentage from your official DLD result. The estimate multiplies current rent by that percentage and adds the increase to current rent. It does not retrieve a building valuation or validate a notice.
What are the RERA rent increase bands?
Decree 43 of 2013 sets maximum increases of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%, depending on how far current rent is below the official comparable average. Get the applicable percentage from DLD rather than substituting an advertised rent.
Is the Smart Rental Index being used in 2026?
DLD launched the Smart Rental Index in January 2025 and continues to identify it in its November 2026 service guidance. Use the current official Rental Index for your property and renewal circumstances.
Can my landlord raise rent by 20% every year?
A 20% increase is the highest band, not an automatic annual entitlement. Article 1 places it where current rent is more than 40% below the comparable average. The applicable index result, notice and contract still need checking.
Is 90 days’ notice required for a Dubai rent increase?
Article 14, as replaced by Law 33 of 2008, requires notice of intended lease-term amendments at least 90 days before expiry, unless the parties agree otherwise. Check the signed contract, addenda and actual notice.
Can I use a property-listing average instead of the DLD index?
No. Article 3 links the comparable average to the RERA-approved Rent Index. A listing price or neighbourhood average does not establish the official result for your tenancy. Use DLD’s service and save the output.
Official sources
- Dubai Legislation Portal — Decree 43 of 2013 — checked
- Dubai Legislation Portal — Law 33 of 2008 amending tenancy law — checked
- DLD — Rental Index — checked
- DLD — Smart Rental Index launch — checked
- DLD — Dubai REST digital services, November 2026 — checked
- DLD — Tenancy Guide — checked
- DLD — Frequently asked questions — checked
SettleUAE is an independent guide, not a government website, and is not affiliated with any UAE authority. This is general information, not personal legal, financial or immigration advice.