Smart Rental Index Guide: How Tenants and Landlords Check Legal Rent Increases in Dubai
Dubai's Smart Rental Index determines whether your landlord can raise your rent — and by how much. Here is how to check legal rent increases using the RERA calculator in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- If your landlord proposes a rent increase, the Smart Rental Index is the only legally binding reference.
- Neither party can rely on informal market comparisons — the RERA calculator output is what counts.
- The index matters because: - For tenants: It protects you from arbitrary increases.
What Is the Smart Rental Index and Why It Matters
The Dubai Smart Rental Index, administered by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) under Dubai Land Department (DLD), is the official benchmark that determines whether a rent increase is legally permissible.
If your landlord proposes a rent increase, the Smart Rental Index is the only legally binding reference. Neither party can rely on informal market comparisons — the RERA calculator output is what counts.
The index matters because:
- For tenants: It protects you from arbitrary increases. If the index says your current rent is within the market range, your landlord cannot raise it — regardless of what similar units are listing for.
- For landlords: It provides a defensible basis for increases. If the index supports an increase, you can implement it with legal backing.
- For both: It reduces disputes. When both parties reference the same objective standard, negotiations are faster and less adversarial. The index is updated regularly based on actual rental transaction data registered with DLD, making it the most reliable reflection of current market rents.
How the RERA Rental Increase Calculator Works
: Step-by-Step The RERA rental increase calculator is available at dubailand.gov.ae. Here is how to use it:
Step 1: Go to the RERA Calculator
Navigate to the DLD website and select the Rental Increase Calculator tool. The interface is available in English and Arabic.
Step 2: Enter Your Property Details
You will need:
- Area: Select your community (e.g., Jumeirah Village Circle, Business Bay, Dubai Marina)
- Property type: Apartment, villa, or commercial
- Number of bedrooms: Studio, 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, etc.
- Current annual rent: The rent amount on your current lease (Ejari)
Step 3: Submit and Review the Result
The calculator compares your current rent against the Smart Rental Index range for your property type and area. It returns:
- Your current rent position: Below, within, or above the market range
- Permissible increase: The maximum percentage increase your landlord can apply (if any)
- New rent amount: The calculated maximum rent after the permitted increase
Step 4: Cross-Reference with Your Ejari
The calculator result is only valid when your current rent matches your registered Ejari contract. If your Ejari shows a different amount, the calculator output may not apply.
Step 5: Document the Result
Screenshot or save the calculator output. If a dispute arises, this documentation supports your position — whether you are a tenant challenging an increase or a landlord enforcing one.
2026 Rental Increase Bands Explained
RERA uses a banding system based on how your current rent compares to the Smart Rental Index average for your area and property type:
| --- | --- | --- |
|---|---|---|
| More than 30% below average | Up to 20% | Largest permitted increase |
| 21–30% below average | Up to 15% | Significant below-market discount |
| 11–20% below average | Up to 10% | Moderate below-market |
| Up to 10% below average | Up to 5% | Near market rate |
| Within market range | 0% | No increase permitted |
| Important: These bands apply to the annual rent, not monthly. The percentage is calculated on the current Ejari rent, not the proposed new rent. |
Example: If your current rent is AED 80,000 and the index average for your unit is AED 100,000, your rent is 20% below average. Your landlord can increase by up to 10%, making the new maximum rent AED 88,000.
Tenant Rights: What Your Landlord Can and Cannot Do
Your Landlord Cannot:
- Increase rent mid-lease. Rent can only be adjusted at renewal, and only within RERA-permitted bands.
- Increase rent without notice. Your landlord must give you at least 90 days' written notice before the lease expiry date if they intend to increase rent.
- Evict you to re-rent at a higher price. If a landlord gives notice of non-renewal for personal use or sale, they cannot re-list the property for rent within two years (for personal use) or must genuinely sell it (for sale).
- Demand increases above RERA bands. Even if market rents have risen dramatically, the RERA calculator output is the legal ceiling.
- Withhold Ejari registration. Ejari is mandatory and cannot be contingent on accepting an illegal increase.
Your Landlord Must:
- Register the tenancy contract with Ejari. This protects both parties.
- Maintain the property. Structural and major maintenance (AC, plumbing, electrical) is the landlord's responsibility under Dubai Tenancy Law.
- Follow proper notice procedures. 90 days for rent changes, 12 months for non-renewal for personal use.
You Can:
- Challenge an illegal increase through the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre.
- Refuse to pay an increase that exceeds RERA bands — and your landlord cannot evict you for refusing an illegal increase.
- Request the RERA calculator result as evidence before agreeing to any increase.
Landlord Obligations: Proper Notice Periods and RERA Compliance
Notice Requirements
- Rent increase at renewal: Minimum 90 days before lease expiry, in writing, specifying the proposed new rent.
- Non-renewal for personal use: 12 months' notice via Notary Public, specifying the reason.
- Non-renewal for sale: 12 months' notice via Notary Public.
Compliance Best Practices1. Always run the RERA calculator before proposing an increase. Proposing an increase above the permitted band is legally unenforceable and damages the landlord-tenant relationship.
- Document everything in writing. Verbal agreements about rent changes are not enforceable.
- Register the new contract with Ejari. An unregistered contract cannot be enforced in disputes.
- Keep records of property maintenance. If a tenant disputes rent on the basis of poor property condition, maintenance records are your defense.
Dispute Resolution: Rental Dispute Settlement Centre
If you and your landlord cannot agree on a rent increase, the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC) at DLD is the official arbitration body.
How to File a Dispute1. Attempt direct resolution first. Document your communication with the landlord.
- Gather evidence: RERA calculator result, Ejari contract, written correspondence, maintenance records.
- File online via the DLD portal or in person at the RDSC office.
- Pay the filing fee: Typically 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500.
- Attend the hearing. Both parties present their case. Decisions are typically issued within 30 days.
What the RDSC Considers
- The RERA calculator result (primary evidence)
- The current Ejari contract terms
- Whether proper notice was given
- Property condition and maintenance history
- Previous dispute history between the parties
Outcomes
- Tenant wins: Rent increase is reduced or eliminated. Landlord may be ordered to cover the filing fee.
- Landlord wins: Rent increase within RERA bands is upheld. Tenant must comply or vacate.
- Compromise: The RDSC may set a rent between the current and proposed amounts, within RERA bands.
How Sophia Helps Tenants and Landlords with Rental Market Data
Whether you are a tenant checking if a proposed increase is fair, or a landlord setting a competitive rent, you need current market data — not last year's figures.
Sophia provides:
- Live rental data by community: See current asking rents and transaction rents for your area and property type, updated from DLD records.
- RERA calculator integration: Sophia can pull the Smart Rental Index range for your unit so you know the legal position before you negotiate.
- Rental yield estimates: For landlords, Sophia shows what similar units are renting for — helping you set a rent that is competitive and within RERA bands.
- Area comparison: Compare rental trends across communities to decide whether to renew, renegotiate, or relocate. Check your rent with Sophia — get the data you need before your next lease negotiation.
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Process and risk checklist
For legal, rental, mortgage, visa, and transaction topics, verify the current rule with the relevant authority or a qualified adviser before acting. Dubai procedures can change, and your nationality, financing method, property type, contract status, and ownership structure can affect the correct process. Keep written documentation, confirm all fees before transfer, and avoid relying on verbal promises when a permit, title deed, tenancy contract, or payment obligation is involved.
The safest approach is to compare the official requirement, the contract wording, and the practical timeline. If those three do not match, pause and clarify before paying a deposit or signing. Good process discipline protects buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants from avoidable disputes.