United Arab Emirates · property

How to File Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai, UAE

When a Dubai landlord refuses your renewal cheques to fabricate a payment default or impose an unlawful rent hike, you do not have to accept eviction or extortion. Filing an Offer and Deposit motion before the Rental Dispute Centre (RDC) creates an immediate, legally binding record of your compliance with lease terms. Acting quickly shields you from eviction notices while the court steps in to hold your payments formally.

What the Law Says in Dubai, UAE

In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, tenancy relationships are strictly governed by Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, alongside Decree No. 43 of 2013 regarding rent increases. Under Article 14 of Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007, any proposed amendment to a lease—including rent increases—must be formally communicated at least 90 days prior to contract expiry, adhering to the caps established by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) Smart Rental Index.

Landlords sometimes refuse to accept renewal cheques hoping the contract will lapse, or attempting to issue a 30-day eviction notice under Article 25(1)(a) for non-payment of rent. Under Decree No. 26 of 2013 establishing the Rental Dispute Centre (RDC), the law provides tenants with summary legal protection: the 'Offer and Deposit' motion (العرض والإيداع) submitted before the Provisional and Summary Actions Judge.

When the RDC judge accepts your Offer and Deposit application, you are legally deemed to have tendered the rent on the date of judicial acceptance. This extinguishes any claim that you defaulted on your rent, disarming bad-faith eviction tactics while preserving existing leasehold rights.

Why Landlords Refuse Cheques and When to File

Unfair rent hikes often come with an ultimatum: pay beyond the legal RERA cap or vacate the premises. When tenants rightly insist on their statutory renewal rights, landlords frequently cut off communication, refuse to sign renewal contracts, or reject tendered cheques.

Never hold onto rent passively. Failing to pay or tender rent puts you at severe legal risk, because the landlord can send a formal Notary Public notice alleging non-payment. An Offer and Deposit motion is an urgent defensive action: it places the rent (or keys, upon legitimate lease termination) formally into the hands of the judiciary, neutralizing landlord obstruction immediately.

Navigating RDC Procedure and Protecting Your Tenancy

The Offer and Deposit process does not automatically resolve a broader commercial lawsuit if the landlord disputes terms, but it secures your legal possession and proves beyond doubt that you honored your contractual duties. The landlord is officially notified by the RDC and given the opportunity to accept the deposited payment. Either party can file a grievance against the summary decision within eight days.

Navigating RDC motions under tight deadlines requires meticulous attention to filing requirements, Arabic translations, and statutory timeframes. You do not have to tackle tenancy battles blindly: you can use Caunsel to research this, save documents in a case, or talk to an independent lawyer.

Steps

• Compile written evidence showing your attempt to pay and the landlord's refusal or lack of response (such as courier receipts, emails, WhatsApp messages, and the RERA Rental Index calculation).
• Prepare required Arabic-translated documentation: your Emirates ID, trade license (for corporate tenants), existing Ejari tenancy contract, proposed renewal contract matching the lawful terms, and clear copies of the rent cheques.
• Log in to the official Dubai Rental Dispute Centre portal (rdc.gov.ae) or visit an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee Centre to register an 'Offer and Deposit' motion before the Summary Actions Judge.
• Pay the statutory RDC filing fees (AED 50 motion fee plus AED 20 Knowledge/Innovation fees, plus applicable trustee typing fees if applied in person).
• Monitor your case file for the judge's order; once accepted, deliver the original cheques or required payment to the RDC custody counter as instructed so formal notice is dispatched to the landlord.

Common mistakes

• Withholding rent payments entirely without filing through the RDC, which opens the door for the landlord to serve an enforceable 30-day eviction notice under Article 25.
• Uploading English-only communication without a certified legal Arabic translation, which leads to immediate rejection by RDC clerks.
• Filing after statutory lease deadlines or failing to issue written notice at least 90 days prior to expiry when disputing unauthorized contract modifications.
• Assuming that an Offer and Deposit order permanently bars the landlord from filing a substantive primary claim at the RDC to litigate contested rent values.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to file an Offer and Deposit at the Dubai RDC?

Filing online via the RDC website costs AED 70 (AED 50 court fee plus AED 10 Knowledge and AED 10 Innovation fees). Registering through a Real Estate Services Trustee centre adds an administrative partner fee of AED 130 plus VAT.

Does filing Offer and Deposit automatically renew my Ejari?

No, the Offer and Deposit order itself formally tenders the rent and shields you from default, but you must register the renewal or obtain a judgment compelling Ejari registration if the landlord still refuses to sign.

Can I use Offer and Deposit to return property keys if the landlord refuses handover?

Yes, if your tenancy has legally concluded and the landlord refuses to take back the property keys or sign a clearance form, you can submit an Offer and Deposit motion to deposit the keys with the RDC judge.

General information only, last updated 2026-10-28. Caunsel is not a law firm and does not practise law. AI answers and this guide are not legal advice. Verify filings, deadlines, and statutes with a licensed lawyer in United Arab Emirates.