Before Signing a Dubai Tenancy Contract: Parties, Payments and Repairs

Check landlord, tenant, authority and Ejari details

Compare names with identification and the property details with the title deed and proposed registration information. If a representative signs, check their authority. Confirm the exact apartment and building, not just the development. Ask who will complete Ejari and which documents each party must provide.

Align the tenancy dates with access and permitted use

Read the start and end date, renewal provisions, permitted residential use and any occupancy conditions. Match them to the day you expect keys and permission to move furniture. Resolve differences before signing; paying rent from one date does not by itself establish that every building access arrangement is complete.

List annual rent, each cheque and the deposit recipient

Put each amount, date, payee and payment method into a schedule. Add unequal instalments rather than assuming annual rent divided by the number of cheques. Match commission to the brokerage’s invoice and retain receipts.

For planning, the usual agency fee is 5% of the annual rent, plus 5% VAT on that fee. The security deposit is typically 5% of annual rent for an unfurnished home or 10% for a furnished home. These are market conventions, not a fixed tariff: confirm the actual amounts, any minimum agency charge and the deposit refund terms in writing.

If the costs feel unclear, WhatsApp or call the agent before the viewing: “For this exact apartment, what is the total payable before I receive the keys? Please separate the first rent payment, security deposit, agency fee and VAT, registration, utilities and building charges.” A professional agent should explain their charges clearly and identify any provider amount still awaiting confirmation. Ask for the breakdown in writing after a call.

The upfront cost guide separates these payments from Ejari, DEWA and other move-in expenses. Do not let a single “total” obscure a refundable deposit or an unexplained administration charge.

Name the repair threshold, contact and responsibility for major equipment

Read any small-repair threshold and exceptions for air conditioning, appliances and tenant-caused damage. Dubai tenancy legislation places maintenance with the landlord unless otherwise agreed, so the actual clause matters. Ask who authorises work, who pays and how urgent faults are reported. Do not assume a universal AED threshold applies to every lease.

List appliances, keys, cards, parking and outstanding work

Attach an inventory and condition schedule. Record the parking space, number of keys and cards, promised repairs and completion dates. Ask how unresolved work affecting cooling, water or security changes the handover arrangements. The maintenance guide helps make those responsibilities concrete.

Keep signed documents and payment records together

Store the signed contract, addenda, invoices, receipts and registration certificate in a protected tenancy folder. At handover, compare keys and equipment with the agreed list and note anything outstanding. Retain your written correspondence as well as the final contract so you can reconstruct what was agreed.