What Is a Tenancy Contract in Dubai? Meaning, Contents and the Addendum (2026)

A tenancy contract in Dubai is the written agreement between a landlord and a tenant: who rents which property, for how long, at what rent, and on what conditions. It is completed on the unified contract template from the Dubai Land Department, extended by an addendum with the agreed conditions, signed by both parties, and registered in the Ejari system. This guide covers what the contract is, what goes into it, and who prepares it.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A tenancy contract is the written agreement between landlord and tenant, governed by Dubai tenancy law. It records the parties, the property, the term, the rent, the payment terms, the security deposit, and, in its addendum, the conditions the parties agree beyond the standard form.
• The landlord or the tenant can prepare it, as can an agent or a property management company: complete the latest DLD unified template, draft the addendum, and sign.
• The signed contract is then registered in the Ejari system. Registration produces the certificate that DEWA, visa applications, and the Rental Disputes Centre ask for.

What a tenancy contract is in Dubai

The tenancy contract is the legal basis of renting in Dubai, for residential and commercial properties alike. The relationship it creates is governed by Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008. The contract records the parties, the property, the term, the annual rent, the payment mode and schedule, and the security deposit, and it is signed by both landlord and tenant.

The contract and the Ejari certificate

Ejari is the Dubai Land Department system where tenancy contracts are registered. Registration produces a certificate, commonly called simply "the Ejari". The two documents do different jobs: the contract is the agreement between the parties; the certificate proves the tenancy is registered, which is what DEWA, visa applications, and the Rental Disputes Centre ask for. The full comparison is in Tenancy Contract vs Ejari Certificate.

The unified tenancy contract template

Where to get the template. It is a free download from the DLD website. The template holds the essentials: the parties, the property, the term, the rent, the payment terms, and the deposit.

Use the latest template version. Older copies may be missing fields that registration now requires, so an outdated form means a returned contract.

The addendum: the agreed conditions

What the addendum carries. The additional conditions the parties agree on, attached to the contract and signed by both. Its conditions must not contradict current rental laws and regulations.

How the addendum is drafted. There is no official addendum form. The parties draft it themselves, adapt an example or a previous addendum, or have a lawyer prepare it.

What experienced landlords include:

• Payment schedule: written out cheque by cheque, so neither side faces ambiguity.
• Viewing access: so the property can be shown to prospective tenants or buyers near the end of the term.
• Early termination clause: the conditions and notice if one side needs to exit early.
• Payment protection: penalties for a bounced cheque or late payment.
• Utilities: who pays for what.
• Inventory list: complete, for furnished properties.

A well-drafted addendum answers in advance the questions landlords and tenants argue about later.

Language of the contract. Contracts are made in English or Arabic; English is the common choice for both the contract and the addendum. Arabic is the language of the courts, so documents are legally translated if a dispute reaches the Rental Disputes Centre.

The addendum on Habi. A contract created on Habi comes with the addendum included. The most important conditions are already covered and aligned with current rental laws and regulations, the terms are set out clearly, and the parties can add any further conditions they agree on.

Who can prepare the contract

There is no prescribed preparer; any of these routes works:

• Online platform: either party creates the complete contract with its addendum and shares it with the other for review, approval, and signing. On Habi this is free.
• Do-it-yourself: download the DLD template and draft your own addendum.
• Through an agent: the agent who found the tenant usually prepares the contract; agents also draft contracts for a fee outside their own deals.
• Through a property management company: for managed properties, the paperwork is part of the mandate.
• Trustee centres (typing centres): mostly handle Ejari registration. Some draft contracts for a fee, but typically only the standard template, without the addendum and its agreed conditions.

What changed recently: on a platform like Habi, a landlord and a tenant can create a correct tenancy contract themselves, with no drafting experience, and each side stays in control of what they sign.

Ready to make one?

The practical side, gathering the details, completing the template, signing, and registering the contract in the Ejari system, is covered step by step in our guide on how to make a tenancy contract in Dubai. It also includes the checklist of mistakes that most often get contracts returned at registration.

How rent is paid in 2026

Cheques remain the norm. Rent is paid by post-dated cheques in most tenancies. Four cheques a year is the common arrangement; many landlords prefer one or two cheques to reduce risk, and the market average shifts from year to year. Whatever the parties agree, the schedule belongs in the addendum, written out clearly.

Flexi Rent, the new option. In June 2026 the Dubai Land Department launched the Flexi Rent initiative: rent paid in monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual instalments instead of upfront cheques, depending on the participating company's offering. It applies to leases of one year or more on units owned or managed by the participating property management companies, so ask whether the unit is covered.

Sources

• Dubai Government. Dubai Real Estate Legislation: Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended by Law 33 of 2008) [PDF].
  URL: https://rdc.dubailand.gov.ae/Assets/img/Real_Estate_Legislation_en.pdf.
  Accessed: 05.07.2026.
• Dubai Land Department. Download Unified Ejari Tenancy Contract [e-service].
  URL: https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/ejari-templates/download-unified-ejari-tenancy-contract/#/.
  Accessed: 05.07.2026.
• Dubai Land Department. Flexi Rent Initiative [official page].
  URL: https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/flexi-rent-initiative/.
  Accessed: 23.07.2026.