What a management company does
- Finds and screens tenants and shows the unit.
- Prepares the tenancy contract and registers it in Ejari.
- Collects rent (often as cheques for the year), transfers it to the owner and reports.
- Arranges repairs, move-in and move-out inspections, and deals with building management.
The company must be licensed for this activity. Services and fees are set in the management agreement — read it before signing; see how to check a company.
Ejari: registering the contract
Dubai tenancy contracts are registered in Ejari, through the Dubai REST app, the DLD website or a service centre; the fee follows the DLD tariff. Tenants need a registered contract for visa and utility matters, and the Rental Dispute Center hears cases on registered contracts. Renewals are registered too.
Rent increases and eviction
- Changing terms. A party wishing to change the contract terms at renewal (such as the rent) must notify the other at least 90 days before the contract ends.
- Rent increases are allowed only within the RERA rental index. The index calculator on the DLD website and in Dubai REST shows the permitted increase for a specific unit.
- Eviction at the end of the contract (for example, to sell or to live in the unit) is possible only on grounds set by law, with 12 months' notice through a notary or registered mail.
Disputes with a tenant
If you cannot agree — unpaid rent, damage, eviction — a claim goes to the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) at DLD. A management company or a lawyer with a power of attorney can represent the owner. This is general information, not legal advice: for a specific dispute, consult a lawyer.
Short-term or yearly
Short-term letting needs a DET Holiday Home permit — see the Holiday Home permit. Yearly letting is simpler to manage. Owner costs are in the yearly cost of owning, taxes in Dubai property taxes.