What is Ejari in Dubai and The Procedure To Follow

Moving to Dubai can be the most important life decision you are about to make. If you have traveled all the way from another continent to seek exciting work opportunities in Dubai with your family, we understand how stressful it would be for you. Attuning to a new culture, getting accustomed to the bustling city of Dubai, and finding a new rental apartment, can be indeed daunting tasks. Even once you have found ‘the rental home’, there are some government-abided laws for claiming tenancy which you should be aware of, such as the ‘Ejari’. Through this blog, we aim to educate the common man about Ejari and how to go about the registration process. 

What Is Ejari in Dubai?

The word Ejari is referred to as ‘my rent’ in Arabic and it is a kind of mandatory registration that is required to execute your tenancy contract. Ejari came into effect in 2007 and was proposed by Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). Essential, it is a contract that regulates the commitment between two parties – landlords and tenants in Dubai. 

Execution of Ejari leads to transparency between the landlord and the tenants and avoids any misrepresentation of information or loopholes that might arise from an informal discussion between them. Everything that is agreed upon and disagreed upon is stated clearly in the contract and the terms of revision are also engraved for a mutually beneficial & trustworthy relationship. 

Process for Applying to Ejari being a Tenant 

Since Ejari is a mandatory process, it cannot be avoided. The initiation is done by the landlord via a Real Estate agent in Dubai, however, the tenant has to pay the fee and complete the formalities. To register for Ejari, you can visit this website here or download the Ejari app on your smartphone. 

Tenants have to pay a fee of AED 220 at the Ejari typing centers that you can find at; Al Barsha Mall, Al Manara Centre, Oud Metha, Port Saeed, or Zabeel. You might want to note the working hours – 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays and 8 am to 8 pm from Sunday to Thursday.

Carry the following documents along with you at the center: 

1. Copy of the trade license
2. Copy of title deed of the rented property
3. Original signed tenancy contract
4. Security deposit receipt
5. Tenant’s Passport  
6. Copy of landlord’s passport (if he’s an individual) 
7. Copy of a valid power of attorney document (if the contract has been signed by a PoA). Power of attorney documents must be renewed every year to remain valid.
8. The 9-digit DEWA Premise Number or Invoice of last month 
9. Copy of trade license 
10. Once the registration is complete, you will receive an official Ejari contract which includes a unique Ejari ID number that can be used for your DEWA (Dubai Electricity & Water Authority) account Online. 

To simplify the process here’s a summary for you: 

1. The landlord of the property management company initiates the Ejari process. 
2. The tenant has to pay a fee and furnish documents to enter into a legal contract with the landlord. 
3. The tenant has to visit the Ejari center (any of the 5 centers) with the documents for verification. 
4. At the time of renewals, the tenant has to re-visit with the original documents for amending the same. 

Can this process be done online? 

Yes, this can be done online using the Dubai Rest smartphone app where your documents are checked, and then you need to visit the designated center in person, thereby avoiding one step (verification) & getting your work done quicker.

With the above details, you are good to go. Just ensure you have a presentable demeanor and are ready to go through this stringent government procedure with ease. We wish you good luck and a happy tenancy!