United Arab Emirates · property
How to File an Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai
When a Dubai landlord refuses to accept your rent cheques or sign a renewal in an attempt to force an illegal eviction or unlawful rent hike, you face serious legal exposure if you simply stop paying. Dubai's Rental Disputes Center (RDC) provides the 'Offer and Deposit' procedure to legally tender your payment, establish official proof of compliance, and stop wrongful eviction actions before they start.
You've read a few of these by now.
None of them were about you. That's how generic guides work. They have to cover everybody. On Caunsel you write down what's actually going on and get answers about your situation, or just talk it through out loud. If it needs follow-up, you keep it as a case, and when there's paperwork, it'll suggest what you need, write it up, and you can e-sign it right there.
I need more helpWhat the Law Says in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
In the Emirate of Dubai, tenancy relationships are governed by Law No. (26) of 2007, as amended by Law No. (33) of 2008. Under Article 14 of the law, any amendment to the contract—including rent increases—must be communicated at least 90 days prior to contract expiry, and any rent modification must strictly adhere to the RERA Rental Index pursuant to Decree No. (43) of 2013.
A common tactic used by property owners seeking above-index increases or vacant possession is to cut off communication, refuse renewal cheques, and subsequently issue a 30-day eviction notice for non-payment under Article 25(1)(a) of Law No. (33) of 2008. If you simply leave the money in your personal account, the law considers you in default.
Under Decree No. (26) of 2013, the Rental Disputes Center (RDC) provides an urgent summary remedy known as 'Offer and Deposit' (Ardh wa Eeda). By submitting a formal motion to the Provisional and Summary Actions Judge at the RDC, you place the rent or keys in official court custody, legally satisfying your payment obligations from the date the judge accepts the motion.
Why Landlords Refuse Rent and How the RDC Protects You
Unscrupulous landlords often exploit procedural loopholes. By rejecting your payment, they seek to manufacture an artificial rental default so they can evict you, re-list the unit at inflated market rates, or coerce you into an unauthorized rent hike.
Filing an Offer and Deposit deprives the landlord of this leverage. When the summary judge grants your motion, the RDC issues an official notification and accepts your rent into judicial custody. This formally records your commitment to perform the contract under identical statutory terms.
While an Offer and Deposit blocks immediate summary eviction for non-payment, it acts as a provisional shield rather than a full substantive ruling. If the landlord continues to refuse renewal or claims valid grounds for termination, the dispute moves toward RDC mediation or a formal First Instance lawsuit.
Strategic Steps and Resolving Your Tenancy Matter
To succeed before the RDC, you must establish an irrefutable paper trail demonstrating that the landlord deliberately obstructed lawful payment. Any ambiguity or uncertified English correspondence can delay your motion.
All legal submissions before Dubai courts must be in Arabic. Ensure that text messages, written notices, and email chains are preserved, organized, and translated through a certified legal translation agency recognized in the UAE.
You can manage this situation step-by-step using Caunsel. Use Caunsel's platform to research relevant RERA regulations, securely store and organize your lease documents and payment records in a single case file, or connect directly with an independent UAE-licensed attorney for bespoke legal representation.
Steps
- Compile written proof of tender and refusal: Send your landlord a formal renewal notice with the legally permissible rent (via registered email, courier, or notary) and retain delivery confirmations showing they ignored or rejected the cheques.
- Prepare your core documentation: Gather your existing Ejari certificate, latest signed tenancy contract, a draft renewal lease reflecting the correct rent, Emirates ID copies, and certified legal Arabic translations of all evidence.
- Submit the Offer and Deposit motion: Log in to the RDC online portal (rdc.gov.ae) or visit an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre, complete the petition form under Provisional and Summary Actions, and pay the statutory court fees.
- Comply with the judicial order and deposit funds: Once the summary judge accepts the motion, follow the exact instructions in the decision to deposit the physical cheques or replace prior dishonored instruments with cash/manager's cheques into RDC custody.
- Serve official notice to the landlord: Ensure the RDC notification of deposit is formally delivered to the landlord's registered address, preserving the court receipt as complete legal defense against eviction.
Common mistakes
- Keeping rent in your private bank account while waiting for the landlord to reply, which leaves you vulnerable to a summary 30-day notice of eviction for non-payment under Article 25(1)(a).
- Submitting English-only correspondence or unregistered chat logs to the RDC without certified Arabic translations.
- Assuming an Offer and Deposit order permanently resolves a contested rent hike without verifying whether the landlord has registered a substantive counterclaim before the RDC First Instance Court.
- Failing to review the official RERA Rental Calculator prior to filing, leading to an incorrect deposited amount that does not match statutory thresholds.
Questions people ask
Does filing an Offer and Deposit automatically renew my Ejari contract?
No. The Offer and Deposit order proves that you legally discharged your payment obligation and prevents non-payment eviction, but it does not generate a new Ejari certificate automatically. If your landlord still refuses to sign the contract, you must file a substantive lease renewal case at the RDC to obtain an executable judgment compelling registration.
What happens if I already gave cheques that the landlord refuses to bank or returned?
Under RDC rules, if rent for the period was represented by physical cheques that were refused or expired, you may be required to replace those cheques with cash or an approved manager's cheque deposited directly into RDC escrow upon the judge's order.
How much does it cost to file an Offer and Deposit in Dubai?
The filing fee for an Offer and Deposit motion before the RDC is approximately AED 50 court fee, plus administrative service fees (around AED 130 + VAT if processed through an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre).
Ask Caunsel to evaluate whether your landlord's rent increase violates the RERA Rental Index and receive a document checklist for your RDC filing.
Research it with the advisor, keep documents in a case, or talk to an independent lawyer. Start a subscription for AI tools.
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.