United Arab Emirates · property
How to File an Offer and Deposit in RDC Dubai, UAE
When a Dubai landlord refuses your renewal cheques or ignores communications to force an illegal rent increase, an Offer and Deposit motion shields you from wrongful eviction. Filing this summary petition before the Dubai Rental Disputes Center (RDC) legally proves your intent to pay under the law. This guide details how to safeguard your tenancy contract, deposit payments into judicial custody, and protect your home.
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I need more helpDubai Tenancy Law and the Purpose of Offer and Deposit
In the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, residential and commercial leases are governed by Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, alongside Decree No. 26 of 2013 establishing the Rental Disputes Center (RDC). Under Article 14 of the tenancy law, any amendment to contract terms—including rent increases—requires at least 90 days' written notice prior to contract expiry, capped strictly by the official RERA Rental Index under Decree No. 43 of 2013.
Landlords attempting to enforce unlawful rent increases or force tenants out often employ bad-faith tactics: refusing to collect renewal cheques, ignoring messages, or demanding signed leases with unauthorized price hikes. If the contract expires without payment, landlords exploit Article 25(1)(a) of Law No. 33 of 2008 by issuing a 30-day eviction notice for non-payment. The 'Offer and Deposit' motion (Ardh wa Idaa) before the RDC Provisional and Summary Actions Judge stops this maneuver. It allows the tenant to formally tender rent into official court custody, establishing on the judicial record that the tenant did not default.
Essential Documents and Evidentiary Thresholds
The RDC will not approve an Offer and Deposit motion without concrete proof that you offered payment and the landlord refused or evaded receipt. The judge evaluates summary motions strictly on documentary evidence. Because court proceedings in Dubai are conducted in Arabic, all supporting submissions must be in Arabic or accompanied by certified legal translations.
You must assemble: your valid Emirates ID (and trade licence for corporate leases), the current Ejari certificate, the expiring signed tenancy contract, a newly prepared tenancy contract reflecting identical terms (or legitimate RERA calculator updates), and copies of your renewal cheques matching the payment installments of the existing lease. Critically, you must provide written evidence of the refusal, such as unanswered written notices sent via registered mail, courier, notary public, or formal emails and WhatsApp records showing rejected handovers.
Judicial Outcome, Renewal Protections, and Legal Recourse
Once submitted, the Provisional and Summary Actions Judge reviews the motion without requiring an in-person hearing. If granted, the RDC issues an order authorizing you to deposit the physical cheques or monetary funds directly into RDC custody, after which the court formally notifies the landlord. Under RDC procedural rules, the tenant is deemed to have fulfilled their rental payment obligations from the precise date of judicial acceptance, neutralizing any pretext for eviction.
Keep in mind that while an Offer and Deposit shields you from eviction for non-payment, either party may still lodge a grievance within eight days or initiate a full First Instance lawsuit at the RDC to resolve ongoing contractual disputes. To review your tenancy rights, organize your communications into a structured record, or consult an independent UAE-licensed attorney, you can use Caunsel to research the law, manage your case files, or speak directly with independent legal counsel.
Steps
- Verify the permitted rent adjustments on the Dubai Land Department (DLD) Smart Rental Index calculator and send a written renewal notice to your landlord at least 90 days prior to lease expiry.
- Issue a formal written offer (via registered email, courier, or notary notice) requesting the landlord collect the renewal cheques as per the existing contract terms within a specific deadline.
- Compile the required bundle: Emirates ID, Ejari certificate, expiring lease, proposed new lease on the same terms, photocopies of the post-dated cheques, and documented proof of the landlord's refusal or non-response.
- Log into the DLD/RDC portal (rdc.gov.ae) or visit an authorized Real Estate Services Trustee centre to register an 'Offer and Deposit' summary motion and pay the statutory court fees.
- Receive the Provisional and Summary Actions Judge's decision, then physically submit the original cheques or funds to the RDC within the judicial timeframe to finalize legal tender.
Common mistakes
- Stopping rent payments or withholding cheques without an RDC order, which allows the landlord to serve a valid 30-day eviction notice for non-payment under Article 25.
- Submitting evidence exclusively in English without certified Arabic translations, causing summary rejection by the RDC registry.
- Failing to produce written proof of having formally offered the cheques and the landlord's explicit refusal or non-cooperation.
- Assuming an Offer and Deposit order permanently forces an Ejari renewal if the landlord formally contests the underlying contractual dispute through an RDC lawsuit.
- Paying illegal rent hikes under verbal pressure rather than asserting rights through the official RERA Rental Index and RDC summary mechanisms.
Questions people ask
What happens if the landlord refuses to collect the cheques from the RDC?
Once the RDC Provisional and Summary Actions Judge accepts your Offer and Deposit, your legal liability to pay rent is discharged. The cheques remain in judicial custody. If the landlord fails or refuses to collect them, they cannot claim rental default, and your lawful right of occupancy remains protected under Dubai law.
How much does it cost to file an Offer and Deposit motion in Dubai?
The direct government filing fee on the RDC portal is approximately AED 50, plus AED 20 for Knowledge and Innovation fees (AED 70 total). If you process the filing through a Real Estate Services Trustee centre, an additional administrative partner fee of approximately AED 130 plus VAT applies.
Can I use Offer and Deposit to return property keys when moving out?
Yes. If your lease has lawfully ended or you have fulfilled all contract terms and clearance requirements (such as DEWA final bill and move-out inspection) but the landlord refuses to take the property keys to extort additional rent, you can file an Offer and Deposit motion to deposit the keys with the RDC.
Ask Caunsel to review your tenancy communications and confirm whether your landlord's refusal meets the threshold for an immediate RDC Offer and Deposit filing.
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General information only, last updated 2026-10-27. 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.