When a landlord and tenant cannot resolve a disagreement, the Rental Disputes Center in Dubai is the specialist forum to assess first. A clear claim, a well-organised tenancy record and a specific remedy help both parties present the real issue.
- The Rental Disputes Center (RDC) handles disputes arising from landlord-tenant relationships; a general complaint or a property ownership disagreement may need a different route.
- State the problem, the tenancy obligation in question and the remedy you want before you start case registration.
- Gather the tenancy contract, Ejari record, notices and evidence that supports each part of your claim.
- Use the RDC’s official filing route or seek help through an in-person service centre, then keep the case reference and follow official communications.
- Fees depend on the type and value of the claim. Use the current RDC schedule rather than treating an arrears calculation as a fee estimate.
- Conciliation, hearings, appeals and execution each have their own steps. A filed case does not itself pause an eviction or complete payment.
Check whether the Rental Disputes Center is the right forum
For a landlord-tenant dispute, the RDC is the specialist forum to assess. It sits within Dubai’s property administration framework: the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and RERA have regulatory and administrative roles, while the RDC considers disputes arising from tenancy relationships.
The right forum depends on the substance of the claim. Unpaid rent or other sums, a security-deposit disagreement, maintenance obligations, renewal terms, a rent increase or an eviction-related claim each calls for a clear explanation of what happened and what you want the RDC to decide.
A rental dispute case asks for a decision or settlement on a specific disagreement under a tenancy. A general complaint or request for information is different: it may need guidance from a relevant department rather than a case seeking a remedy.
Property disagreements that do not arise from a landlord-tenant relationship, such as a dispute about a sale or ownership, may fall outside the RDC’s jurisdiction. Check the rules that apply to your claim before choosing a forum; not every property complaint belongs at the RDC.
Try to resolve the issue directly and define the remedy
Before filing, send the other party a written request that describes the problem, the tenancy obligation involved and the resolution you seek. Written exchanges give you a clearer record than verbal discussions alone.
Match the remedy to the issue. A rent-payment claim seeks outstanding sums; a deposit claim concerns the return of the deposit or disputed deductions; a maintenance claim identifies the work or responsibility in question; and an eviction claim addresses the notice and possession issue.
Keep a dated timeline of the dispute and your attempts to settle it. Record when each request was sent, how it was delivered and how the other party responded.
Filing a case does not automatically pause an eviction or settle the underlying tenancy issue. Continue to respond to notices and follow the applicable process while the case proceeds.
Organise the tenancy record and evidence before filing
Start with the tenancy contract and the related Ejari record. Add identity documents or company-authority records, plus any notices connected with the claim, so the file shows who made the agreement and which terms apply.
For rent or deposit disputes, sort payment records, receipts, bank transfers and deposit communications by date. Label each document so it is easy to connect it to the amount or obligation in dispute.
For a maintenance or property-condition claim, preserve dated photographs, inspection records, repair requests and responses. Together, these can show both the condition and the communication history.
Keep messages in their original form where possible, name files consistently and prepare a short evidence index. If documents are not in Arabic or the claim requires formal proof of delivery, check the RDC’s current requirements for translation, certification and service evidence, as those requirements can vary by document and claim.
This infographic highlights questions to clarify when seeking rental-dispute support in Dubai. Use it to organise the information you need before asking for help.
Foreign capital is hesitating. The 3.9 million people inside the UAE have not. The asymmetry that defines 2026, and what it tells you to do about it.
Download free→Choose the case type and submit the application
Before starting the application, describe the dispute in plain language and identify the remedy you want. Choose the case type that matches the central issue, and explain how each request relates to the same tenancy if you are asking for more than one remedy.
Use the RDC’s official online filing route where it suits your case, or seek help at an in-person service centre if you need assistance with the application or supporting documents. Keep the submission confirmation and case reference.
Enter the parties’ details carefully and attach your organised evidence so each claim is easy to verify. Unclear descriptions, missing attachments or a mismatch between the claim and the tenancy record can make the case harder to assess.
If a company is a party, include documents that establish its legal identity and show the representative’s authority. Make sure the tenancy contract and claim name the correct contracting parties.
Understand filing fees and possible additional costs
Filing fees depend on the type and value of the claim, and service or document-related costs may also arise. Use the current official RDC fee schedule for your case rather than relying on a general estimate.
For a monetary claim, calculate 3.5% of the claimed amount; the fee is at least AED 500 and no more than AED 15,000, according to the Rental Disputes Center.
Follow conciliation, hearings and the decision
A case may go through conciliation first, giving the parties an opportunity to agree a resolution. Put any settlement terms in writing and make each party’s obligations clear.
If conciliation does not resolve the dispute, follow the hearing instructions and attend as directed. Be ready to point to the specific documents that support each part of your claim, rather than relying on a broad account of events.
Monitor official case communications and the case record for hearing details, requests for documents and the decision. Missed notices or deadlines can affect your ability to present your case.
The decision addresses the claim brought before the Center. Compare its terms with the remedy you requested and keep the formal decision for any appeal or execution step.
Check appeal eligibility and take action after the decision
If you are considering an appeal, read the decision’s appeal information and the current RDC rules on eligibility, grounds and filing deadlines. Appeal rights depend on the nature and value of the claim; check eligibility under the current rules.
Disagreeing with the outcome is not, by itself, enough to establish that an appeal meets the applicable legal conditions. Review the formal requirements and act within the relevant deadline.
If the other party does not comply, use the formal execution process and provide the decision with the supporting records the process requires. A judgment alone does not prove that payment has been made or another obligation completed.
Continue monitoring official communications after the decision, since appeal and execution steps can involve further notices and deadlines. For wider Dubai property context, our guides cover off-plan properties, property developers and property resources.
See also: Buy Off-Plan Property in Dubai: 2026 Guide, Dubai Golden Visa Property Guide, Best Areas Invest Dubai 2026, Dubai Property Tax What Should New Real Estate Investors Know, Locations.
A rental dispute in Dubai is easier to present when the claim identifies the tenancy issue, the remedy sought and the evidence supporting it. Check that the RDC is the right forum, keep a written record, file the case clearly and follow every official notice through to any appeal or execution step.
Can a landlord and tenant record a settlement made during conciliation so it can be acted on later?
Before leaving, ask for a copy of the signed settlement record and confirm what to do if either party misses an obligation.
Can I contact RERA for guidance before opening a case at the Rental Disputes Center?
Yes. When contacting RERA, describe the tenancy issue and ask which regulatory rule applies; take a contested claim requiring a formal decision to the RDC.
What should I do if the tenancy contract is in one person’s name but another person made the rent payments?
Keep the payment records and explain in writing how the payer is connected to the named tenant and the tenancy. If the landlord acknowledged the payments or gave payment instructions, preserve that correspondence as well.
Can a dispute about a property sale or ownership be filed at the Rental Disputes Center?
A property sale or ownership claim is not a tenancy dispute; identify the legal basis of the claim before choosing a forum.
Should a rent-increase disagreement go to RERA or the RDC?
Ask RERA about the applicable rent-adjustment rule; take an unresolved tenancy claim to the RDC, with the renewal offer and notices ready.
Can I name a property management company in a rental dispute?
Identify which party owes the obligation in dispute under the tenancy and related documents. If the management company has a separate contractual role or made a commitment relevant to the claim, explain that basis and check the RDC’s requirements for naming the correct party.
What are the rent laws in Dubai?
Dubai’s rental laws set the obligations that apply to a tenancy and provide for formal dispute resolution through the Rental Disputes Center.
