Dubai: Property rental, how does it work?

Dubai continues to attract more and more expatriates, who come here in search of a better standard and quality of life. Investors, retirees, freelancers, or simply employees, they all settle in the megacity in search of better opportunities. The absence of taxes, luxurious and comfortable lifestyle, and political stability are all factors that encourage people to take the plunge. In the United Arab Emirates, properties on the market are highly sought after. That is why you always need to be on the lookout and, above all, have your residency status in order to rent the property of your dreams in Dubai. A property rental in the United Arab Emirates is only possible if you have an Emirates ID and a residence visa. Without residency in Dubai, it will therefore be impossible for you to rent a property, since you will not be able to register the EJARI (the tenancy contract) in the RERA system.

How do you obtain residency in Dubai?

Residency in Dubai can be obtained in several ways, namely:

• by being employed by a company
• by setting up your own company: mainland or free zone
• by being sponsored by a family member (subject to conditions)
• by purchasing a property

As a resident of Dubai, many people choose to rent accommodation in the United Arab Emirates. Click here to learn more about our residency packages.

How do you rent a property in Dubai?

Finding accommodation in Dubai

There is no shortage of accommodation in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. From a simple studio in Deira to a villa on Palm Jumeirah, there are homes available for every budget. The first and most important step will be to define your search criteria. First, you will need to decide which neighborhood you would like to live in, your annual budget, and the type of accommodation you would like to rent (apartment, villa, penthouse, hotel apartment, etc.). With this information, you can conduct your own searches or entrust the search and organization of viewings to a real estate agent. There are hundreds of them in Dubai, from different nationalities and speaking different languages. If you decide to conduct your searches and viewings alone, you will find a wide range of properties on sites such as:

• propertyfinder.ae
• dubizzle.com
• bayut.com
• Etc.

The “tenancy contract”: the lease agreement

Once you have found the property of your dreams, you will first need to sign the “Tenancy Contract.” This document will be provided by the landlord if you negotiate directly, or by your real estate agent. This document includes the following details:

• The lease start date and end date
• The annual rent amount
• The payment method: cash, checks
• The security deposit amount

The landlord or real estate agent must provide you with a photocopy of the landlord’s passport as well as the property’s “title deed.” In return, you must provide the payment.

            THE EJARI

The step following the signing of the tenancy contract is registering the EJARI. EJARI is a government system governed by RERA for registering residential and commercial leases. Once the EJARI has been registered, you will receive a link by email to activate DEWA (Dubai Electricity & Water Authority: water and electricity). You will need to pay a deposit based on your property (AED2 000 for an apartment and AED4 000 for a villa). Once the EJARI has been issued and the DEWA connection completed, you will finally be able to move into your home. If you are new to the United Arab Emirates and are not familiar with the laws and your rights as a tenant, here is an article that answers all your questions: Renting in Dubai: the 8 rules you need to know Our firm specializes in company formation and residency in Dubai. We also offer other services, such as a relocation package to help you settle in the Emirates. This package includes assistance with finding a property, renting, or purchasing. Contact us for more information: support@merritt.group .