Dubai Rent Increase Calculator
Find out the maximum your landlord can legally raise your rent at renewal — and whether the increase you have been sent is allowed at all.
You need the official market average first. The legal cap depends on the benchmark rent for your exact unit, which only the Dubai Land Department can give you. Get it from the DLD rental index or the Dubai REST app, then enter it below. We deliberately do not guess this figure — a wrong benchmark gives a legally wrong answer.
Decree 43 bands
General guidance based on Decree No. 43 of 2013, not legal advice. The binding figure is the output of the official Dubai Land Department index for your specific unit on your renewal date. If in doubt, speak to a lawyer or the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre.
How the legal cap works
Dubai does not let landlords raise rent freely. Decree No. 43 of 2013 ties the maximum increase to a single question: how far below the market average is your current rent? The further below, the more a landlord may raise it — but never above 20% in one renewal.
| How far your rent sits below the market average | Maximum increase |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% below | No increase allowed |
| 11% to 20% below | 5% |
| 21% to 30% below | 10% |
| 31% to 40% below | 15% |
| More than 40% below | 20% (absolute cap) |
The percentage applies to your current rent, not to the index figure. This trips people up constantly. If you pay AED 60,000 against an AED 80,000 benchmark, you are 25% below market, so a 10% increase is allowed — that is 10% of 60,000, taking you to AED 66,000. Your landlord cannot simply move you to AED 80,000.
The 90-day rule that most tenants miss
Even a perfectly lawful increase fails if the landlord gives late notice. Any proposed change to the rent must be communicated in writing at least 90 days before the tenancy expires, unless your contract says otherwise. Miss that window and the existing rent simply rolls over for another term.
- Rent cannot be raised in the middle of a contract — only at renewal.
- Increases cannot be banked up over several years and applied in one jump.
- Refusing an unlawful increase is not, by itself, grounds for eviction.
- If you cannot agree, the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre decides, and the official index output is the main evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can my landlord legally increase my rent in Dubai?
It depends entirely on how far below the market average your current rent sits. Under Decree No. 43 of 2013, no increase is permitted if your rent is within 10% of the market average. From there the caps rise in steps: up to 5% if you are 11–20% below, 10% if 21–30% below, 15% if 31–40% below, and 20% if more than 40% below. Twenty per cent is an absolute ceiling — a landlord cannot exceed it in a single renewal no matter how far below market the rent is.
Where do I get the official market average rent?
From the Dubai Land Department directly — either the rental index calculator on the DLD website or the Dubai REST app. Since January 2025 the benchmark comes from the Smart Rental Index, which classifies buildings by quality, maintenance, location and facilities rather than using a broad area average. Use the official figure for your exact unit type, area and bedroom count. Do not rely on a third-party number, including this page.
Is the increase applied to my current rent or to the market average?
To your current rent. This is the single most common mistake. If you pay AED 60,000 and the market average is AED 80,000, you are 25% below market, which allows a 10% increase — and that 10% is calculated on your AED 60,000, giving a maximum of AED 66,000. It is not 10% of the AED 80,000 index figure, and the landlord cannot simply jump your rent to the market average.
How much notice must my landlord give?
At least 90 days in writing before the tenancy expires, unless you agreed otherwise in the contract. If the landlord misses that deadline, the increase is not valid and the rent rolls over unchanged for another term. Rent also cannot be raised mid-contract — an increase can only take effect at renewal.
What if my landlord demands more than the legal cap?
You can refuse. Reply in writing, cite Decree No. 43 of 2013, and include the official index output for your unit. If the landlord persists, you can file a case with the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre, where the official index result is the primary evidence considered. A landlord also cannot evict you simply for refusing an unlawful increase, although separate legal grounds for non-renewal do exist.
Can a landlord save up increases and apply them all at once?
No. Increases cannot be stacked across years into one large renewal. Each renewal is assessed on its own, against a fresh index reading, and each requires its own 90-day notice. A landlord who left rent below market for several years can still only apply the band that fits this year — though they may apply an increase again at each subsequent renewal until the gap closes.
Facing a rent dispute or looking to move?
Browse real estate agencies across the UAE who can advise on renewals, negotiate on your behalf, or find you somewhere better.