Is my rent fair?

Under Decree 43 of 2013 the increase depends on how far your rent is below the average for comparable homes: nothing if it is within 10%, 5% if it is 11–20% below, 10% if 21–30% below, 15% if 31–40% below, and 20% if more than 40% below. The landlord must give written notice at least 90 days before the lease ends.

No. Since January 2025 the official benchmark is the Dubai Land Department’s Smart Rental Index, which rates your specific building. This page uses the typical new-lease rent for the same kind of home in the same area from registered Ejari contracts, which is a close guide but not the figure a dispute would use. Check the DLD rental index before agreeing or contesting an increase.

Renewal rents are held back by the cap, so they lag the market. New leases show what the same home lets for today, which is what the index measures.