United Arab Emirates · property
How to File Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai, UAE
When a Dubai landlord refuses your rent cheques, ignores renewal requests, or demands an unlawful price hike, an Offer and Deposit application with the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC) legally shields you from eviction. By formally tendering your rent through the RDC, you satisfy your statutory obligations under Dubai tenancy law and keep your lease valid. This guide walks you through the procedure, required filings, and key steps to protect your home.
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I need more helpDubai Tenancy Law and Landlord Refusals
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 Articles 13 and 14 of this law, any amendment to contract terms—including rent increases—requires at least 90 days' written notice prior to lease expiry unless otherwise agreed. Permitted rental adjustments are strictly bounded by Decree No. 43 of 2013 and the official Dubai Land Department (DLD) Smart Rental Index.
A common pressure tactic by landlords seeking to force out tenants is to go silent at renewal time, reject standard payment cheques, or insist on an unverified rate hike. If you simply stop paying or wait past your expiry date, an aggressive landlord can try to issue a 30-day notice for non-payment or claim unlawful overstaying under Article 25. The law prevents this through the 'Offer and Deposit' (العرض والإيداع) mechanism overseen by the Judge of Provisional and Summary Actions at the Dubai Rental Disputes Centre (RDC).
How the Offer and Deposit Mechanism Protects You
Filing an Offer and Deposit motion allows you to formally tender your rental payment or property surrender keys directly to the court without compromising your statutory rights. The moment the Summary Actions Judge accepts your motion, Dubai judicial guidelines confirm that you are legally deemed to have satisfied your rent obligation as of the acceptance date. This completely neutralizes any bad-faith claim that you failed to pay rent on time.
Once accepted, the RDC issues an official judicial notification to the landlord informing them that the rental cheques (or replacement funds) have been submitted to the RDC treasury. The landlord is given a formal deadline to collect the payment and sign the renewal lease. If the landlord refuses or files a grievance within the statutory 8-day window, your tenancy remains shielded while the matter advances to full adjudication.
Next Steps: Enforcing Your Renewal and Ejari
While an Offer and Deposit protects you from immediate eviction for non-payment, it is a summary motion rather than a final judgment ordering the issuance of an updated Ejari certificate. If your landlord continues to stonewall after being served by the RDC, you must escalate the matter by filing a substantive First Instance lawsuit before the RDC to legally compel the registration of the renewal contract under the prevailing statutory terms.
Do not leave critical communications to informal phone calls. Preserve all written delivery receipts, notary public notices, and WhatsApp or email transcripts confirming the landlord's refusal. You can use Caunsel to research your rights, organize your evidence in an encrypted case file, or connect with an independent UAE property lawyer to review your RDC application before filing.
Steps
- Compile your evidence: Gather your current Ejari contract, your Emirates ID, the draft renewal contract on unchanged terms, copies of your rental cheques, and documented proof (emails, registered mail, or WhatsApp messages) demonstrating the landlord's refusal or non-responsiveness.
- Verify the statutory rate: Generate a rent report from the official DLD Smart Rental Index calculator to confirm that the landlord's requested increase violates Decree No. 43 of 2013.
- Prepare certified Arabic translations: Ensure any non-Arabic documentation, including English correspondence, is translated by a Ministry of Justice-certified legal translator, as RDC filings must be in Arabic.
- Submit the motion: Log into the Rental Disputes Centre online portal (rdc.gov.ae) or visit an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre, choose 'Register an Offer and Deposit', enter your Ejari and DEWA numbers, upload the documents, and state the landlord's refusal.
- Pay court fees and monitor status: Pay the RDC statutory fee (AED 50 plus AED 20 innovation and knowledge fees; additional trustee fees apply if filed via a service centre) and download the Judge's decision issued through the portal within 1–2 business days.
Common mistakes
- Withholding payment passively: Assuming that an uncooperative landlord frees you from paying on time, which allows the landlord to issue an Article 25 default notice.
- Paying illegal rent hikes under verbal threats: Surrendering to demands made without the required 90-day statutory notice or beyond the RERA index cap.
- Failing to translate documents into Arabic: Submitting English contracts and messages directly into the RDC portal without certified Arabic translation, which leads to immediate rejection.
- Assuming Offer and Deposit replaces the Ejari: Believing that deposit approval automatically generates a new Ejari, without preparing to file a First Instance case if the landlord refuses to sign.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to file an Offer and Deposit in Dubai RDC?
Direct online filing on the RDC portal costs AED 70 (AED 50 application fee, AED 10 Knowledge fee, and AED 10 Innovation fee). If filed through an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre, an additional partner service fee of AED 130 plus VAT applies.
Does filing an Offer and Deposit protect me against eviction?
Yes. Once the Provisional and Summary Actions Judge accepts your motion and the rent is deposited, you are legally considered to have satisfied your payment obligations from that date, preventing an eviction claim based on non-payment under Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended).
What should I do if the landlord ignores the RDC deposit notice?
If the landlord fails to collect the cheques or refuses to sign the renewal lease, you must file a First Instance lawsuit at the RDC to obtain an enforceable judicial order that mandates contract renewal and Ejari registration.
Ask Caunsel to review your tenancy renewal timeline and confirm whether an Offer and Deposit filing is your best next legal step.
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General information only, last updated 2026-10-29. 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.