Can My Landlord Increase Rent in Dubai? Decree 43/2013 Caps Explained
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Rent increases in Dubai are capped by law, not by the market. Decree 43 of 2013 sets the maximum based on how far your current rent sits below the official benchmark for comparable units: 0% if you're within 10% of it, then slabs of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%.
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An increase is only possible at renewal, at most once every 12 months, and only with 90 days' written notice before your contract expires.
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The cap is a maximum, not an entitlement. Even a tenant paying 35% below market can only be increased 15% in one cycle; closing the gap takes multiple renewals by design.
"The market has gone up" is not a legal basis for a rent increase in Dubai. The legal basis is a specific decree with a specific table, and it usually permits far less than landlords ask. Here is exactly how it works.
The Decree 43/2013 slabs
Your maximum permitted increase depends on the gap between your current rent and the average rent for similar units in the official index:
| Your rent vs the official benchmark | Maximum increase |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% below average | 0% |
| 11% to 20% below | 5% |
| 21% to 30% below | 10% |
| 31% to 40% below | 15% |
| More than 40% below | 20% |
Worked example from the official tenancy guide: benchmark AED 80,000, your rent AED 60,000. You are 25% below, which lands in the 21 to 30% band, so the maximum increase is 10% (new rent at most AED 66,000). Not AED 80,000; the slabs deliberately prevent rent shock by forcing gradual convergence over multiple cycles.
What the benchmark is
The "average rent of similar units" comes from the official DLD index, which since January 2025 runs on the Smart Rental Index: building-level benchmarks based on a 1 to 5 star rating, replacing the old area-wide averages. Your comparison group is now buildings like yours, not the shiniest tower in your neighbourhood.
The procedural gate: 90 days
Even a slab-compliant increase is invalid without proper notice. Any change to contract terms, rent included, requires written notification at least 90 days before expiry (unless your contract says otherwise). Notice on day 89 means renewal at the old rent. The mechanics, including what counts as valid notice, are in the 90-day notice rule.
How to check your own number
Run your details (area, property type, bedrooms, current rent, expiry date) through the official DLD calculator via dubailand.gov.ae or the Dubai REST app, or use our free RERA Rent Increase Calculator to see your slab and maximum instantly. You'll need your Ejari details for the official tools; if you don't have Ejari, that's a separate problem worth fixing first, explained in Ejari and why it matters.
If the landlord asks for more than the slab allows
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Reply in writing with the calculator result and the permitted figure.
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Keep everything: the notice, your reply, the calculation screenshot.
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If they insist, the Rental Dispute Centre treats the official index as authoritative evidence, and tenants prevail in clear over-cap cases. The filing process, fees, and timelines are in how to file a case at the RDC.
Until a dispute is resolved or a new agreement is reached, you generally continue on existing terms; an over-cap demand does not become enforceable by repetition.
Two things tenants get wrong
First, the slabs work both ways: if your rent is above the benchmark, the same index supports a request for a reduction at renewal. Second, the decree governs renewals; a landlord cannot raise rent mid-contract, and a new tenancy (new tenant) is priced freely by the market. The full picture of your protections beyond rent, including deposits and eviction, is in tenant rights in the UAE.
Sources and References
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Decree No. 43 of 2013 Determining Rent Increases for Real Property in Dubai (dubailand.gov.ae official tenancy guide)
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Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008 (notice requirements)
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Dubai Land Department, Rental Index and Smart Rental Index services (dubailand.gov.ae)
This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice.
Published on 9 September 2026.