United Arab Emirates · property
How to File Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai, UAE
When a Dubai landlord refuses your rent cheques or demands an unlawful rate increase, delaying action can expose you to an engineered eviction notice for non-payment. Filing an Offer and Deposit application at the Rental Disputes Center (RDC) formally tenders your rent under judicial supervision and legally confirms your compliance. This guide outlines your statutory protections, filing requirements, and practical steps to secure your tenancy.
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I need more helpDubai Tenancy Law and the Landlord Default Trap
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, residential and commercial leases are governed by Law No. 26 of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008. Under Article 14 of this law, any amendment to contract terms—including rent increases—requires at least 90 days' written notice prior to lease expiration unless otherwise agreed. Furthermore, permissible rental adjustments are strictly limited by Decree No. 43 of 2013 and the official Dubai Land Department (DLD) Smart Rental Index.
A common pressure tactic by landlords seeking above-cap increases or vacant possession is to ignore renewal communications, refuse to collect replacement cheques, or refuse to sign standard Ejari renewal contracts. If a tenant simply waits past expiration without taking formal action, the landlord can attempt to issue a 30-day notary notice for non-payment under Article 25(1)(a) of Law No. 26 of 2007. Taking immediate legal control through Dubai's Rental Disputes Center neutralizes this threat before it turns into an eviction proceeding.
How the RDC Offer and Deposit Summary Motion Operates
To protect tenants from bad-faith landlords, the Dubai Rental Disputes Center provides an expedited judicial mechanism known as Offer and Deposit (العرض والإيداع). Filed before the Provisional and Summary Actions Judge at the RDC, this procedure allows a tenant to formally tender rent cheques, bank transfers, or even premises keys directly under the supervision of the court without surrendering any substantive lease rights.
Once the Summary Actions Judge approves the motion, Dubai tenancy practice establishes that the tenant is legally deemed to have satisfied their payment obligations as of the date of judicial acceptance. The court issues an official notification directing the landlord to collect the deposited payment. While an Offer and Deposit order effectively shields you against non-payment eviction claims, it does not automatically force the landlord to finalize an Ejari contract; if the landlord remains defiant, the tenant can use the accepted deposit order as primary evidence to file a First Instance lawsuit to compel contract execution.
Document Requirements and Next Steps with Caunsel
Submitting an Offer and Deposit requires verifiable proof that you attempted to renew under lawful terms. You must provide the expiring lease, a copy of the proposed unified renewal contract reflecting the lawful rent, clear copies of the drawn rent cheques matching previous payment schedules, and timestamped communications (emails, delivery notices, or registered letters) showing the landlord's refusal or lack of response. Because UAE judicial proceedings operate exclusively in Arabic, any supporting correspondence in English or other languages must be translated by a certified legal translator accredited by the UAE Ministry of Justice.
You do not have to confront landlord tactics or procedural deadlines on your own. You can use Caunsel to research Dubai tenancy rules, keep your rental contracts and refusal records organized inside an ongoing digital case, or connect directly with an independent UAE-licensed attorney to assess whether a full First Instance claim is needed.
Steps
- Verify your lawful renewal rent using the official DLD Smart Rental Index and save a dated copy of the calculator result.
- Send a formal, written renewal request to your landlord or property management company with the lawful rent amount, establishing proof of tender.
- Obtain UAE Ministry of Justice certified Arabic translations of all English correspondence, written notices, and refusal records.
- Prepare the standard DLD Unified Tenancy Contract along with signed cheques drawn according to the payment frequency of the preceding lease.
- Log into the RDC online portal (rdc.gov.ae) using UAE Pass or visit an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre to register an 'Offer and Deposit' application.
- Upload your documents, pay the court fees (AED 50 filing fee plus AED 20 innovation and knowledge fees), and monitor the RDC portal for the judicial order directing deposit into court custody.
Common mistakes
- Stopping rent payments or withholding cheques entirely while waiting for the landlord to negotiate, which enables a valid 30-day eviction notice under Article 25(1)(a).
- Relying solely on informal WhatsApp exchanges or phone calls without documented, formal written tender of renewal terms.
- Assuming an accepted Offer and Deposit automatically updates your Ejari registration without requiring a subsequent First Instance case if the landlord refuses to sign.
- Uploading untranslated English documents to the RDC portal, causing processing rejections or delays.
Questions people ask
Does filing an Offer and Deposit protect me from eviction in Dubai?
Yes. Once the RDC Summary Actions Judge accepts your Offer and Deposit motion, you are legally considered to have met your rent obligations as of that date, blocking any eviction claim based on failure to pay rent under Article 25 of Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007.
What are the official fees to file an Offer and Deposit in Dubai?
The statutory court fee through the RDC portal is AED 50, plus AED 10 Knowledge Fee and AED 10 Innovation Fee (AED 70 total). If processed in person through an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre, administrative service fees of approximately AED 130 plus VAT also apply.
Can I use the Offer and Deposit procedure to return keys to a landlord?
Yes. If your lease has ended and the landlord refuses to conduct an exit inspection or take back the property keys, you can file an Offer and Deposit motion to deposit the keys with the RDC, stopping further rent accrual.
What happens if the landlord ignores the RDC deposit notice?
If the landlord fails to collect the deposited cheques or refuses to execute the renewal contract, your payment remains secured with the court, and you can file a First Instance substantive lawsuit at the RDC to compel contract renewal and Ejari issuance.
Ask Caunsel to review your tenancy renewal timeline and help compile your RDC Offer and Deposit filing before statutory deadlines expire.
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General information only, last updated 2026-11-07. 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.