Your landlord can’t just pick a number. Each emirate has its own rule for how much your rent can legally rise at renewal — here’s exactly how to work out yours.

Dubai: the legal basis

The bands above come from Decree No. 43 of 2013. Your maximum increase depends entirely on how far your current rent sits below the official RERA/DLD benchmark rent for your area and property type — not on what the landlord thinks the market is doing.

Dubai landlords must give 90 days' written notice before the renewal date for any increase to apply.

Abu Dhabi: flat cap, currently frozen

Abu Dhabi (Law No. 20 of 2006, amended by Resolution 14/2016) uses a flat cap rather than tiered bands — normally 5%, regardless of how far below market your rent sits.

Currently this is overridden by a rent freeze in effect since June 2, 2026 — the legal maximum increase is 0% until further notice. This is a temporary measure, so confirm the current status with ADREC before relying on it. Notice period: 60 days written notice before renewal.

Sharjah: a 3-year freeze, then fair market value

Under Sharjah Law No. 5 of 2024, there's no fixed percentage table. Instead:

• Your rent cannot be increased at all for the first 3 years of your tenancy.
• After that, any increase must reflect “fair market value” as assessed by the Sharjah Rent Committee — there's no set percentage.
• Increases can only be applied once every 2 years after the freeze ends.
• 90 days' written notice is required for any proposed increase.

What to do if your landlord exceeds the legal maximum

1. Don't sign the renewal yet — signing can be read as agreement to the increase.
2. Calculate your maximum legal increase using the checker above.
3. Respond to your landlord in writing, citing the relevant law and your calculated maximum.
4. If they won't adjust, file a complaint with your emirate's rental dispute authority (Dubai: Rental Dispute Settlement Centre) using your registered tenancy contract (Ejari/Tawtheeq) and the landlord's notice as evidence.

Common questions

How much notice must my landlord give before raising the rent?

Dubai and Sharjah both require 90 days' written notice before the renewal date. Abu Dhabi requires 60 days. If proper notice wasn't given, the increase generally can't take effect for that renewal — the contract renews on the existing terms.

Does the cap apply when I'm signing a brand-new tenancy?

No. The percentage caps govern renewals of an existing tenancy. A first contract on a property is freely negotiated between you and the landlord — there's no legal ceiling on the opening rent. The caps start protecting you from your first renewal onward.

What if I already signed the renewal at the higher rent?

It's harder, but not always hopeless — a signed contract that breaches the statutory cap can still be challenged at the rental dispute authority. Your position is much weaker than if you'd queried it before signing, so raise it early where you can. Take specific legal advice before filing.

Can my landlord just evict me instead of raising the rent?

Not casually. Under Dubai's Law No. 26 of 2007 (amended by Law No. 33 of 2008), eviction of a tenant in good standing requires 12 months' written notice served through a notary public or registered mail, and only on specific grounds — such as the owner selling the property, needing it for personal or immediate-family use, or demolition and major reconstruction. A verbal warning or a WhatsApp message doesn't meet the requirement.

Where do I find the official benchmark rent?

For Dubai, the Dubai REST app (Dubai Land Department) and the DLD rental index are the official sources. Property-portal listings are not — asking prices on listing sites are what landlords hope to get, not the benchmark the law is measured against.

Last verified 21 August 2026. Reflects Dubai Decree No. 43/2013, Abu Dhabi Law No. 20/2006 and the June 2026 rent freeze, and Sharjah Law No. 5/2024. Rules and benchmark values change — verify your specific case with the relevant authority before relying on this for a dispute.

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