United Arab Emirates · property
How to File Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai, UAE
When a Dubai landlord refuses your renewal cheques to force an illegal rent increase or manufacture a payment default, an Offer and Deposit stops them in their tracks. This official summary procedure at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC) puts your compliant rent into judicial custody and shields your tenancy under UAE law. Acting quickly establishes clear legal evidence that you fulfilled your lease obligations.
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I need more helpDubai Tenancy Law and Unlawful Eviction Tactics
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, residential and commercial leases are governed by Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008). Landlords frequently attempt to bypass statutory caps set under Decree No. 43 of 2013 by refusing to accept renewal cheques unless the tenant capitulates to an inflated rent or demanding that you vacate without the mandatory 12-month notarised notice.
Under Article 25(1)(a) of Law No. 33 of 2008, a landlord can initiate eviction proceedings if a tenant fails to pay rent within thirty days of formal notification. Bad-faith landlords exploit this clause by dodging phone calls, refusing delivery of cheques, or rejecting registered mail, hoping you will run out of time so they can claim a payment default. Filing an Offer and Deposit at the Dubai Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC) legally halts this tactic by placing the payment under judicial authority.
How the Offer and Deposit Motion Works at the RDC
Established under Decree No. 26 of 2013, the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre operates an 'Offer and Deposit' (عرض وإيداع) procedure overseen by a Provisional and Summary Actions Judge. This expedited petition allows you to tender rent cheques or keys directly to the court without prejudice to your wider tenancy rights.
When the judge approves your motion, RDC records that payment was legally tendered on the date of submission. The RDC then serves formal notice to the landlord to collect the cheques or cash. This removes any legal ground for the landlord to allege non-payment or file a summary eviction case against you. While it does not automatically force the landlord to sign an updated Ejari, it preserves your possession of the property and protects you against lockouts or utility disconnections, which are strictly illegal under Article 34 of Law No. 26 of 2007.
Securing Your Rights and Preparing Your Case
Time is critical. Any proposed rent revision by a landlord must strictly comply with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) Smart Rental Index and must be communicated at least 90 days prior to contract expiry under Article 14 of Law No. 33 of 2008. If your landlord failed to give proper 90-day notice, the lease automatically renews on the exact same financial terms and conditions.
To protect yourself, assemble all written correspondence showing your willingness to pay and the landlord's refusal. Keep clear records of emails, courier receipts, and RERA rental index certificates. If you need to evaluate whether your landlord's demands comply with the law, organize your documentation, or consult an independent UAE-licensed attorney to navigate the RDC portal, Caunsel provides self-help tools and a network of legal advisors to guide your next move.
Steps
- Compile written proof of refusal: Send a formal written offer (via email or registered post) offering the compliant rent cheques per your existing contract or valid RERA index calculation, and preserve proof that the landlord rejected or ignored it.
- Draft the new lease terms and prepare the payment cheques: Prepare renewal cheques matching the legally permitted rent and terms of your last signed tenancy contract.
- Translate supporting evidence into Arabic: All documents submitted to the Dubai RDC—including prior Ejari contracts, Emirates IDs, and WhatsApp or email correspondence—must be legally translated into Arabic.
- Submit the Offer and Deposit motion: Register online through the Dubai Land Department (DLD) / RDC portal or visit a licensed Real Estate Services Trustee centre in Dubai to file the summary motion.
- Pay the statutory filing fee: Pay the AED 50 court fee plus standard knowledge, innovation, and trustee processing charges to submit the file to the Summary Actions Judge.
- Follow the judicial directive: Once the judge issues an order accepting the tender, deposit the physical cheques or equivalent funds at the designated RDC counter so official notice is dispatched to your landlord.
Common mistakes
- Withholding rent payments entirely while disputing an illegal increase, which gives the landlord a statutory ground to serve a 30-day eviction notice for non-payment.
- Failing to translate non-Arabic text messages, emails, or lease addenda into certified Arabic before uploading them to the RDC system.
- Accepting a landlord's verbal or non-notarized demand to vacate rather than insisting on formal legal notices required by Dubai Law No. 33 of 2008.
- Assuming the Offer and Deposit automatically generates a new Ejari certificate; if the landlord refuses to sign after the order, you may need to file a substantive claim for contract renewal.
Questions people ask
What are the court fees for filing an Offer and Deposit in Dubai?
The primary judicial filing fee is AED 50, alongside a AED 10 Knowledge fee and AED 10 Innovation fee. If you submit through a Real Estate Services Trustee centre rather than directly online via UAE Pass, additional trustee handling fees (around AED 130 plus VAT) apply.
Does filing an Offer and Deposit settle the entire rent dispute?
No. The Offer and Deposit is an urgent summary measure that legally proves you tendered rent on time and prevents eviction for default. If the landlord still disputes the rent amount or refuses to issue an updated Ejari, either party must file a dispute with the RDC Amicable Settlement Department.
Can my landlord cut off my water or electricity if I file at the RDC?
No. Article 34 of Law No. 26 of 2007 explicitly prohibits landlords from disconnecting utilities or preventing tenants from using the property. Doing so exposes the landlord to immediate police intervention and RDC penalties.
Ask Caunsel to review your tenancy renewal timeline and organize your evidence before filing an Offer and Deposit motion at the RDC.
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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.