United Arab Emirates · property
How to File an Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai
When a Dubai landlord refuses your renewal cheques to push an unlawful rent hike or manufacture an eviction pretext, filing an Offer and Deposit with the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC) safeguards your tenancy. This summary procedure officially tenders your payment into judicial custody under existing terms, stopping any wrongful claim of non-payment. Acting promptly ensures your leasehold rights remain intact under Dubai rental regulations.
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I need more helpYour Rights Under Dubai Tenancy Law
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, residential and commercial tenancies are regulated by Law No. (26) of 2007, as amended by Law No. (33) of 2008. Under Article 14 of this law, any landlord seeking to amend tenancy terms or increase rent must provide formal written notice at least 90 days prior to contract expiration, unless both parties have agreed otherwise in writing. Furthermore, any proposed rent increase must strictly comply with the caps established by Decree No. (43) of 2013 and verified through the Dubai Land Department (DLD) Smart Rental Index.
Landlords frequently ignore these statutory constraints by demanding arbitrary increases at the eleventh hour and refusing to accept timely renewal cheques at the previous rate. Some go silent entirely, attempting to run down the clock so they can allege tenant default or abandonment. Under Dubai law, a landlord cannot unilaterally force you out simply by rejecting valid rent payments.
How the Offer and Deposit Motion Protects You
To counter bad-faith refusals, the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (established under Decree No. 26 of 2013) provides the Offer and Deposit procedure (العرض والإيداع). This mechanism allows a tenant to submit a motion to the Judge of Provisional and Summary Actions, requesting judicial permission to deposit renewal rent cheques or property keys directly with the court.
Crucially, judicial acceptance of the motion legally deems your rent paid as of the date the order is granted. This extinguishes the landlord's ability to serve a 30-day notice for non-payment under Article 25 of Law No. (33) of 2008. While an Offer and Deposit order does not resolve complex substantive disputes—such as whether a contested rent hike is lawful on the merits—it preserves your status quo and prevents unlawful eviction while negotiations or broader lawsuits continue.
Taking Action and Preparing Your Filing
You can lodge an Offer and Deposit motion either directly online through the RDC portal (rdc.gov.ae) using your UAE Pass or in person at an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre. The core of your application is clear documentation: you must establish that you attempted to pay according to your existing contract terms and that the landlord rejected or evaded the tender.
Every supporting document—including email trails, WhatsApp exchanges, and written notices—must be submitted in Arabic or accompanied by a certified legal translation. If the summary judge grants your motion, you must promptly comply with court instructions to deliver the cheques into RDC custody. If you need clarity on your timeline, want to organize your evidence into a structured case file, or wish to consult an independent Dubai-licensed attorney, you can use Caunsel to research your position and prepare your next steps.
Steps
- Compile written proof of tender and refusal: Gather your current Ejari certificate, your expiring tenancy contract, and dated records (emails, registered mail, or messaging screenshots) demonstrating that you offered renewal payment and the landlord rejected it or refused to respond.
- Draft the proposed lease and write the cheques: Prepare a renewal contract mirroring the terms, conditions, and installment schedule of your expiring lease, along with physical post-dated cheques matching the lawful rent amount.
- Translate non-Arabic evidence: Secure certified legal Arabic translations for all non-Arabic correspondence, notices, and documentation, as RDC electronic filings require official Arabic submissions.
- Submit the Offer and Deposit motion online or via Trustee: Log into the RDC e-services portal via UAE Pass (or visit a Real Estate Services Trustee centre), select 'Register an Offer and Deposit', upload all documentation, and pay the statutory filing fee (AED 50 plus AED 10 Knowledge and AED 10 Innovation fees online; trustee centres charge an additional service fee).
- Comply with the judge's order: Monitor your RDC account for the summary judge's decision (typically rendered within 1 to 2 business days) and deposit the physical cheques or keys at the designated RDC counter as instructed in the order.
Common mistakes
- Stopping rent payments while waiting for the dispute to settle, which hands the landlord legal grounds to claim non-payment default under Article 25.
- Filing uncertified English-language correspondence, causing the RDC registrar or judge to reject the motion for administrative non-compliance.
- Assuming an Offer and Deposit order automatically creates a renewed Ejari without further action; if the landlord still refuses to sign, you may need to file a formal First Instance rental lawsuit to compel lease execution.
- Ignoring the strict 8-day grievance window if the judge rejects the summary motion or imposes conditions you wish to contest.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to file an Offer and Deposit in Dubai?
Directly through the RDC website, the standard filing fee is AED 50, plus an AED 10 Knowledge Fee and an AED 10 Innovation Fee, totaling AED 70. If you use a Real Estate Services Trustee centre, an additional administrative processing fee of approximately AED 130 plus VAT applies.
Does filing an Offer and Deposit force my landlord to issue an Ejari certificate?
Not automatically. The Offer and Deposit order legally discharges your obligation to tender rent and prevents eviction for non-payment. However, if the landlord continues to refuse to sign the renewal lease or register it in Ejari, you must initiate an Amicable Settlement or First Instance lawsuit at the RDC to obtain an enforcement judgment ordering registration.
Can I use Offer and Deposit to return property keys if the landlord refuses handover?
Yes. If your tenancy has ended lawfully or under an eviction order and the landlord refuses to inspect the premises or accept the keys—often in an attempt to claim holdover rent—you can file an Offer and Deposit motion to deposit the keys and final utility clearance bills directly with the RDC.
Upload your expiring Ejari and landlord communications to Caunsel to verify your filing documents or connect with an independent Dubai tenancy lawyer before your renewal deadline passes.
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General information only, last updated 2026-11-02. 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.