United Arab Emirates · property
How to File Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai
When a Dubai landlord refuses your renewal cheques to force an unlawful rent increase or engineer an eviction, you face an urgent legal trap. The Rental Disputes Center (RDC) offers an official 'Offer and Deposit' procedure that legally tenders your rent and shields you from non-payment claims. Filing this motion immediately preserves your lawful tenancy status while the underlying dispute is reviewed.
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I need more helpDubai Tenancy Law and Unlawful Landlord Tactics
In the Emirate of Dubai, residential and commercial tenancy relationships are governed 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 conditions or increase rent must notify the tenant at least 90 days before the contract's expiry date, and any rent adjustments must strictly comply with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) Smart Rental Index under Decree No. (43) of 2013.
A common tactic used by property owners seeking excessive rent increases is simply refusing to accept the tenant's renewal cheques or sign the new lease on lawful terms. This creates a dangerous scenario: once the lease expires without payment, the landlord may attempt to claim you are in default under Article 25 and issue an eviction notice. The law does not require you to concede to illegal demands, but passive waiting will place you at immediate risk of judicial eviction.
How the RDC Offer and Deposit Procedure Works
To neutralize unfair landlord obstruction, the Dubai Rental Disputes Center (RDC) established the 'Offer and Deposit' (العرض والإيداع) motion. Filed before the Provisional and Summary Actions Judge, this mechanism permits a tenant to legally tender the undisputed rent cheques or property keys directly to the RDC treasury without forfeiting substantive rights.
Under RDC rules, the moment the judge approves the Offer and Deposit motion, you are legally deemed to have discharged your rent obligation on the date of acceptance. The RDC then officially notifies the landlord to collect the cheques from the court registry. While this order stops bad-faith eviction claims for non-payment in their tracks, it is a summary protective order—if the landlord continues to demand an unauthorized increase, the substantive dispute may still require an RDC conciliation or rental lawsuit.
Protecting Your Rights and Next Steps
Acting before your lease expires is vital. A successful Offer and Deposit petition requires an ironclad evidentiary paper trail demonstrating your timely compliance with the existing lease terms, written proof that you offered lawful payment, and documented evidence of the landlord's refusal or lack of response.
Because documentation must strictly follow Dubai court standards, preparing your motion correctly prevents immediate procedural rejection. You can use Caunsel to research your tenancy rights under Dubai law, organize and save your renewal correspondence and lease documents in an active case, or speak directly to an independent licensed lawyer to assess your strategy before filing.
Steps
- Compile written proof of the landlord's refusal: gather timestamped emails, WhatsApp records, or courier receipts showing you tendered renewal cheques compliant with the RERA Rental Index and that the landlord rejected them or demanded unlawful terms.
- Prepare Arabic legal translations: translate all non-Arabic correspondence, notices, and lease contracts into certified legal Arabic, as required for all submissions to the RDC.
- Draft the Offer and Deposit motion: outline the lease history, state the lawful rent amount, explain the landlord's refusal, and formally request the judge to accept the rent deposit and order the lease renewal.
- Submit the motion online or via a trustee center: file through the RDC portal (rdc.gov.ae) using UAE PASS or visit an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee (Al Adheed), uploading the motion, tenancy contract, Emirates ID, and cheque copies.
- Pay the statutory filing fees: pay the RDC fee of AED 50 plus AED 10 Knowledge Fee and AED 10 Innovation Fee (additional service trustee fees apply if filing in person).
- Comply with the judicial decision: track the judge's order via the RDC portal, ensure the physical rent cheques (or cash replacement, if directed) are deposited with the RDC treasury, and confirm formal notification is dispatched to the landlord.
Common mistakes
- Stopping rent payments entirely or assuming email protests protect you: withholding rent without an official court deposit gives the landlord lawful grounds to issue a 30-day eviction notice for non-payment.
- Submitting documents exclusively in English: the RDC operates in Arabic, and uncertified foreign language attachments will result in rejection or prolonged delays.
- Filing after the existing tenancy contract has already lapsed into arrears: waiting until after the lease expires exposes you to penalty claims and complicates summary judicial relief.
- Assuming an Offer and Deposit order settles a major rental increase permanently: the motion establishes payment compliance, but if the landlord challenges the terms, a substantive case may still need to be heard.
Questions people ask
What happens after the RDC judge accepts my Offer and Deposit?
Once approved, the RDC issues a formal notification to the landlord instructing them to collect the deposited cheques. Legally, your rent is considered paid from the date of the judge's order, barring the landlord from claiming rental default.
Can I file an Offer and Deposit to return property keys when moving out?
Yes. If a landlord arbitrarily refuses to inspect the unit or accept keys at the end of a lease to demand extra rent, tenants can use the Offer and Deposit procedure to deposit keys with the RDC and formally terminate occupancy.
How long does it take for the RDC judge to issue a decision on the motion?
Summary and provisional motions such as Offer and Deposit are typically reviewed and decided by the RDC judge within one to three business days after electronic filing and fee payment.
Ask Caunsel to review your tenancy renewal correspondence, verify your RERA Rental Index calculation, or connect with an independent UAE legal consultant today.
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General information only, last updated 2026-10-30. 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.