According to the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), an individual arriving in the UAE and renting a property is required to register the documents with Ejari.
What is Ejari and How to Register Documents
Ejari is an electronic system for registration of rental and leasing agreements signed in the UAE. In accordance with the regulatory norms, such registration is mandatory to legalize the relationship between the landlord and the tenant.
The Ejari certificate is a ‘guarantee’ of adhering to the legal norms in the UAE applicable to any transactions and deals with real estate. If any dispute or disagreement arises between the landlord and the tenant, the court won’t consider any claim of any party without such certificate. If a person doesn’t register with Ejari in due time, he/she won’t be able to obtain a residence permit, a commercial license, or make a contract with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
Registration Procedure
The Ejari lease agreement can be issued in 2 ways: at the service center of the Land Department or through the Ejari / Dubai REST application.
When registering with the Land Department, you will need the following documents for Ejari:
- Photocopy of the application;
- Identification cards of the Emirates (original and copy) of each of the parties;
- Receipt confirming the sale or the mortgage;
- Title deeds for the property;
- The original of the contract;
- A photocopy of the tenant’s visa;
- Trading license (for commercial real estate only);
- Power of attorney (if any);
- The receipt confirming the registration fee payment (the cost of Ejari is 219.75 dirhams).
On average, the process takes 1-2 business days.
If you opt for the online registration, you must register in the system, scan documents for Ejari and pay the fee (175 dirhams).
The certificate is to be renewed every time the contract is renewed. At the end of the rental period, it is canceled by the property owner through the online portal or at the service center (the cost of cancellation is 40 dirhams).
It is often difficult for a foreign resident to understand the intricacies of bureaucratic procedures, therefore, if you have any troubles, contact Limitless Valley Company. We will provide assistance with real estate registration or completing RERA and consult on any questions arising.