RERA RentCalculator
Check the most a Dubai landlord can raise your rent at renewal. Enter your rent and the market average from the DLD Rental Index, and the five bands in Decree 43 of 2013 do the rest.
- Five bands, 0% to 20%
- 90-day notice date from Law 33 of 2008
- Check the result on the DLD tool
- Free, no sign-up
Your tenancy
Free, instant, nothing is stored
Applies to renewals in Dubai. Service charges, fees and a negotiated discount are not included.
Your estimate
Enter your rent and the market average, then press Calculate.
About this RERA rent calculator
This RERA rent calculator works out the highest rent increase a Dubai landlord can ask for at renewal. Decree No. 43 of 2013 sets a maximum percentage that depends on how far your rent sits below the average rent for similar units. The Dubai Land Department publishes that average in its Rental Index.
Enter your current annual rent and the average from the index. The calculator finds your band and returns the maximum increase, the new rent and, if you add the expiry date, the last day for the landlord’s notice.
The five rent increase bands
The bands come from Article 1 of Decree No. 43 of 2013. The comparison is your rent against the average rental value of similar units, as set by the Rental Index.
| Your rent compared with the average | Maximum increase at renewal |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% less | No increase |
| 11% to 20% less | 5% of the rent |
| 21% to 30% less | 10% of the rent |
| 31% to 40% less | 15% of the rent |
| More than 40% less | 20% of the rent |
- Find the average rent for your area, property type and bedrooms on the DLD Rental Index.
- Enter your current annual rent and that average above.
- Read the band and the maximum increase it allows.
- Add your expiry date to see the last day for the landlord’s notice.
- Compare the figure with the landlord’s notice, then check it on the DLD tool.
Rent increase worked examples
These use an average rent of AED 100,000 a year. They are our arithmetic on the decree, not an official quote.
| Case | Your rent | Below average | Maximum increase | Maximum new rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent 5% below the average | AED 95,000 | 5% | None | AED 95,000 |
| Rent 12% below the average | AED 88,000 | 12% | 5% (AED 4,400) | AED 92,400 |
| Rent 25% below the average | AED 75,000 | 25% | 10% (AED 7,500) | AED 82,500 |
| Rent 35% below the average | AED 65,000 | 35% | 15% (AED 9,750) | AED 74,750 |
| Rent 45% below the average | AED 55,000 | 45% | 20% (AED 11,000) | AED 66,000 |
| Rent 10% above the average | AED 110,000 | At or above | None | AED 110,000 |
Assumptions this calculator makes
- Whole-percent bands. The decree names bands such as 11% to 20% and does not say what happens at 10.5%. The calculator moves to the next band at anything above a limit, and flags results within one point of a limit.
- The average comes from you. The Rental Index average depends on your area, property type and bedrooms, so the calculator does not store it. Copy it from the DLD tool.
- Renewals only. The decree applies when a lease is renewed. It says nothing in plain terms about a rent clause already written into your contract.
- Not included. Service charges, fees, a negotiated discount and the Smart Rental Index rules that decide which index applies after a change.
If the landlord’s notice does not match the index
A rent increase has to pass three checks: the notice came in time, the percentage fits your band, and the average used is the one for your unit. The table sets out what the law says about each.
| Check | What the law says | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Notice in time | Whoever wants to change a term must notify the other party no less than 90 days before the lease expires, unless the parties agreed otherwise | Law No. 33 of 2008, Article 14 |
| Percentage within the band | Maximum 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% of the rent, depending on the gap to the average | Decree No. 43 of 2013, Article 1 |
| Right average | The average for similar units comes from the Rental Index approved by RERA | Decree No. 43 of 2013, Article 3 |
| No agreement | The tribunal may set the fair rent, using the criteria in Article 9 | Law No. 33 of 2008, Article 13 |
How far over the cap is the landlord’s figure?
Compare the percentage in the notice with your band. These cases assume the average rent shown in the first column.
| Rent against average | Landlord asks | Decree maximum | Over the maximum by |
|---|---|---|---|
| AED 85,000 against AED 100,000 | 15% (AED 12,750) | 5% (AED 4,250) | AED 8,500 |
| AED 70,000 against AED 100,000 | 12% (AED 8,400) | 10% (AED 7,000) | AED 1,400 |
| AED 60,000 against AED 100,000 | 20% (AED 12,000) | 15% (AED 9,000) | AED 3,000 |
| AED 110,000 against AED 100,000 | 8% (AED 8,800) | 0% (AED 0) | AED 8,800 |
What renters on r/dubai are asking
The commonest question is whether a clause in the tenancy contract beats the index. One renter described the problem in July 2026.
“My landlord wants to increase my rent by 15%. However, according to the RERA Rental Index, my current rent does not qualify for any increase. The issue is that my tenancy contract has a clause stating that the rent will increase by 15% upon renewal.”r/dubai, July 2026 (1 upvotes). A single account, not an official source.
The top reply, with 13 upvotes, took a firm line.
“The 15% clause isn’t enough to override a 0% RERA result. DLD says the index becomes mandatory when landlord and tenant disagree over a renewal increase, and Decree 43 makes the index rate the maximum.”r/dubai, July 2026 (13 upvotes). A single account, not an official source.
A reply further down asked the opposite question.
“Does it matter whether signing the contract signifies tenant has agreed to renewal increase by signing the contract?”r/dubai, July 2026 (1 upvotes). A single account, not an official source.
Our take: the decree sets a maximum for each renewal, which supports the first reply on the percentage. It does not say what happens to a clause already in the contract, and we found no official page that does. That is a question for the tribunal, and the calculator only gives you the cap.
What to do next
- Run your rent and the Rental Index average above, and note the band and the cap.
- Add your expiry date and check the notice date against the day the notice reached you.
- Reply to the landlord in writing with your figures and ask for the rent they used as the average.
- Run the same details on the DLD Rental Index. Its page lists a support line, +971 8004488, if the result is unclear.
- If you still disagree, the tribunal can set a fair rent under Article 13. Khaleej Times’ legal column names the Rental Dispute Centre as the place to go, and several r/dubai replies mention an “offer and deposit” filing there. We did not verify that procedure, so ask the centre before you use it.
RERA rent calculator questions
How much can a Dubai landlord increase the rent?
Between 0% and 20% at renewal, depending on how far the rent is below the average for similar units. Up to 10% below the average, Decree 43 allows no increase.
Where do I find the market average rent?
On the Dubai Land Department Rental Index, which asks for your tenancy expiry date, property type, area, number of rooms and current annual rent.
How much notice must a landlord give?
At least 90 days before the lease expires, unless the parties agreed otherwise, under Article 14 of Law No. 33 of 2008.
Can a landlord raise the rent every year?
Only at renewal and within the band. The decree sets a maximum for each renewal, and we found no rule that lets a landlord raise rent mid-contract.
What if the landlord and tenant cannot agree?
Article 13 of Law No. 33 of 2008 lets the tribunal set a fair rent using the criteria in Article 9. Khaleej Times’ legal column names the Rental Dispute Centre as the place to take a dispute.
Sources and what we could not confirm
The bands come from the English text of Decree No. 43 of 2013, and the notice rule from Articles 13 and 14 of Law No. 33 of 2008, both read on 29 October 2026 on the Dubai Legislation Portal. The average rent is whatever the DLD’s Rental Index service shows.
- The portal says the English text is for guidance and the Arabic text prevails.
- We could not run the DLD tool, so we cannot confirm how it rounds between bands.
- We found no official statement on rent clauses already written into a contract.