How much can my landlord increase my rent in Dubai?

Under RERA Decree 43 of 2013, the permitted increase depends on how far your current rent sits below the RERA rental index: 0% if within 10% of the index, 5% if 11–20% below, 10% if 21–30% below, 15% if 31–40% below, and 20% if more than 40% below. NEST IQ Check calculates your exact figure from your rent and area.

How do I protect my security deposit in Dubai?

Create a signed move-in condition record with photographs of every room before you take the keys, and repeat it at move-out. A shared, timestamped record both parties signed is the primary evidence that prevents deposit disputes at the Dubai Rental Disputes Centre. NEST IQ produces a certified, tamper-evident record.

What notice period applies to a Dubai tenancy renewal?

Under UAE rental law, a landlord must give at least 90 days’ notice before renewal to change rent or terms, and eviction on specific legal grounds generally requires 12 months’ notice via notary public or registered mail. NEST IQ’s assistant Nia explains the rules for your situation; it is informational, not legal advice.

NEST IQ is a Dubai rental platform that landlords and tenants use together on one shared account — providing certified move-in/move-out condition records, a RERA rent-increase calculator, maintenance tracking, on-record messaging, and Nia, an AI assistant for Dubai tenancy law. It is free to start.

Dubai Rent Increase Calculator (RERA Decree 43)

Work out the maximum legal rent increase for your Dubai tenancy in seconds. Enter your current rent and the market rate to get the RERA Decree 43 cap — 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%.

Updated 13 July 2026 · NEST IQ · Informational, not legal advice

Your current annual rent (AED)Market rate / RERA index (AED)

Tip: find the market rate for your building on the Dubai Land Department / Dubai REST app rental index.

How the Dubai rent increase cap works

Dubai rent increases are governed by Decree No. 43 of 2013. The permitted increase is not a flat percentage — it depends entirely on how far your current rent sits below the market rate for your area and property type, as published in the RERA rental index.

The gap is measured against the market/index rent, not your current rent. The resulting cap percentage is then applied to your current rent.

The RERA Decree 43 rent-cap brackets

How far below market	Maximum increase
Within 10% of the index	0% — no increase
11–20% below	5%
21–30% below	10%
31–40% below	15%
More than 40% below	20%

A worked example

Say your current rent is AED 80,000 and the market rate for your building is AED 100,000. You are 20% below the index, which falls in the 11–20% bracket, so the maximum increase is 5% — your landlord can raise the rent to at most AED 84,000 at renewal, and not a dirham more.

What to do before your renewal

Check your number early, confirm the market rate on the official Dubai REST app, and make sure any increase notice arrives at least 90 days before renewal. If both sides agree the figure in advance, the renewal conversation is usually painless. NEST IQ keeps both landlord and tenant on the same number and the same timeline — start free.

Frequently asked questions

How much can my landlord legally increase my rent in Dubai?

It depends on how far your current rent is below the RERA rental index. Under Decree 43 of 2013: 0% increase if within 10% of the index, 5% if 11–20% below, 10% if 21–30% below, 15% if 31–40% below, and 20% if more than 40% below.

What is the RERA rental index?

The RERA (now DLD) Smart Rental Index is the official benchmark of typical rents for each area and property type in Dubai. Rent-increase caps are measured against this index, not against a landlord’s asking price. You can check it on the Dubai REST app or dubailand.gov.ae.

How much notice must a landlord give before increasing rent?

At least 90 days’ written notice before the tenancy renewal date. A rent increase cannot be imposed mid-term or with less notice.

Can a landlord increase rent by more than the RERA cap?

Not unilaterally. The cap is the legal maximum a landlord can impose. Both parties can, however, agree a different figure in writing if they choose.