United Arab Emirates · property
How to File Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai, UAE
When a Dubai landlord refuses to accept your renewal cheques to fabricate a default or force an illegal rent increase, an Offer and Deposit filing protects your tenancy. This legal procedure with the Rental Dispute Centre (RDC) legally tenders your payment and preserves your right to remain in your home. Learn how the process works, the required documents, and how to execute it before your lease expires.
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I need more helpDubai Tenancy Law and Landlord Refusals to Renew
In the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, residential and commercial tenancies are governed by Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, alongside Decree No. 43 of 2013 governing rental increases. Under Article 14 of Law No. 33 of 2008, any amendment to tenancy terms—including rent increases—must be communicated at least 90 days prior to contract expiry, and any rent increase must strictly comply with the official RERA Rental Index calculator.
A common tactic used by property owners seeking above-index rent increases or unlawful vacancies is refusing to receive renewal cheques or cutting off communication near the renewal deadline. If you do nothing, the landlord may attempt to claim you failed to pay rent within 30 days of the due date, seeking summary eviction under Article 25(1)(a) of the tenancy law. Filing an 'Offer and Deposit' motion (Arad wa Ida'a) before the Provisional and Summary Actions Judge at the Dubai Rental Dispute Centre (RDC) legally neutralizes this trap by demonstrating that you tendered lawful payment on time.
How the Offer and Deposit Mechanism Operates at the RDC
The Offer and Deposit service allows an applicant to request an order from the RDC Judge of Urgent and Summary Matters to formally tender rental payments (or surrender property keys upon lease termination) without prejudice to their substantive leasehold rights. Once submitted, the RDC issues an official notification to the landlord demanding acceptance of the deposit within a set notice window.
Under RDC practice, the date the judge approves your Offer and Deposit motion serves as the legal date of payment. This legally bars the landlord from claiming rental default. However, tenants must remember that an Offer and Deposit is an urgent provisional measure: if the landlord refuses to collect the cheques or refuses to sign the Ejari renewal, you must follow up by filing a substantive lease renewal dispute before the RDC First Instance Circuit to compel contract execution and registration.
Managing Your Evidence and Preparing for Legal Action
Do not rely on verbal assurances or unrecorded phone conversations. The RDC operates strictly on documentary proof. You must maintain an unbroken paper trail consisting of written renewal notices, proof of delivery via registered mail or verifiable email, your calculation from the RERA Rental Index, and the exact copies of your replacement cheques.
Navigating RDC proceedings requires precise Arabic documentation and adherence to procedural timelines. You can use Caunsel to research Dubai tenancy rules, organize and store your lease correspondence in a dedicated case file, or connect directly with an independent licensed UAE legal practitioner to evaluate your claim.
Steps
- Compile written proof of your timely renewal offer and the landlord's refusal or lack of response, including emails, WhatsApp correspondence, and the official RERA Rental Index certificate.
- Draft the standard tenancy contract for the upcoming term on the same terms (or with the legally permitted RERA increase) and write out the required post-dated cheques matching the payment terms of your previous lease.
- Log into the Rental Dispute Centre portal (rdc.gov.ae) via UAE Pass or visit an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre in Dubai.
- Submit the 'Offer and Deposit' motion with Arabic translations of your supporting documents: Emirates ID, previous lease, proposed lease, cheque copies, and proof of landlord communication.
- Pay the statutory RDC filing fees (AED 50 basic fee, AED 10 Knowledge fee, AED 10 Innovation fee, plus any trustee service fee if filed via an authorized typing centre).
- Monitor the RDC portal for the judge's summary decision, deliver the physical cheques to the RDC cashier upon judicial approval, and confirm that the formal notice is dispatched to the landlord.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until after the current tenancy contract has already expired before initiating the Offer and Deposit filing at the RDC.
- Submitting documents solely in English without obtaining certified legal Arabic translations as required by Dubai judicial procedures.
- Assuming an approved Offer and Deposit automatically generates an active Ejari certificate without taking follow-up enforcement or filing a substantive renewal case if the landlord remains uncooperative.
- Altering the payment schedule unilaterally (such as switching from four cheques to twelve cheques) without prior contractual agreement or written consent.
- Failing to retain certified bank confirmation or photocopies of the deposited cheques prior to lodging them with the RDC.
Questions people ask
Does filing an Offer and Deposit automatically renew my Ejari in Dubai?
No. The Offer and Deposit protects you against default and eviction claims by legally tendering your rent. If the landlord still refuses to sign the contract or register the renewal on the Ejari system, you must file a formal lease renewal case before the RDC First Instance Circuit using the judge's Offer and Deposit order as proof.
What happens if my landlord refuses to collect the cheques from the RDC?
If the landlord fails to collect the deposited cheques within the statutory period after receiving RDC notice, the cheques remain securely in RDC custody. You are legally protected against claims of non-payment, and you can proceed to file a substantive lawsuit requesting a court order to force the Ejari renewal.
Can I use the Offer and Deposit service to return keys when moving out?
Yes. If your tenancy has ended lawfully and the landlord refuses to accept handover of the premises or sign the clearance documents, you can file an Offer and Deposit motion to deposit the property keys and final utility clearance bills (DEWA) with the RDC.
Ask Caunsel to review your tenancy renewal timeline and RERA calculation, or connect with an independent UAE lawyer to draft your RDC Offer and Deposit motion.
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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.