Month 1
Time
15 min online · same day
Cost
AED 120 to 220
Difficulty
Easy
What to bring
Signed tenancy contract
Emirates ID
Passport + visa copies
Landlord's title deed copy and passport/ID copy
Not needed: The landlord in person. Either party can register
Your options
Dubai REST app (online)
DIY in 15 minutes
AED 120
Upload the contract, title deed, and IDs in the app; the certificate lands in a day or two. Cheapest route by far.
Typing centre / Amer
They do the upload for you
AED 200 to 220
Walk in with the documents and they handle it while you wait. Useful if the app rejects a blurry title deed scan.
Your real estate agent
Often bundled into the deal
Included or AED 200
Many agents register Ejari as part of closing. Confirm who pays. It's commonly the tenant.
Prices checked June 2026
Do it
- 1
Collect the document set
Tenancy contract, title deed copy, landlord ID copy, your Emirates ID, passport and visa pages. Chase the landlord's docs at signing, not after.
- 2
Register on Dubai REST
Create an account, pick "Register Ejari", upload everything, pay the fee.
- 3
Download the certificate
A PDF with your Ejari number. This number is what DEWA, du/e&, and the school system actually ask for.
- 4
Renew it every year
Ejari doesn't auto-renew with the lease. Re-register at each renewal or utilities can be suspended.
Words you'll hear
Ejarieh-JAR-ee
RERA's official tenancy register. An unregistered lease barely exists legally. No DEWA, no family visas, no disputes.
RERA
The rental regulator. Its free rent calculator (in the Dubai REST app) shows the legal rent band for any building.
Common questions
The agent says they'll handle Ejari, trust them?
Usually fine, but verify the certificate exists in week one, it's your name that suffers without it. The Dubai REST app shows it in minutes.
What actually needs the Ejari?
DEWA activation, family visa sponsorship, school enrolment, internet install, and any rental dispute. An unregistered contract barely exists legally.
I'm renewing, again?
Yes, every renewal needs a fresh Ejari registration. Same AED 220-ish, same ten minutes online.
Read more
Renting in Dubai and the Ejari system
Full guide · 3 min read
Full checklist tracking and task completion live in the Settli app for Dubai.