Rental Dispute Center Dubai (RDC): What It Is, What It Costs, How to File

Conciliation is a mediated settlement attempt, not a ruling: the Conciliation Department evaluates the claim and seeks a quick agreement, which the decree directs be attempted within a period not exceeding 15 days, and a settlement the parties sign and the Centre approves carries the force of a writ of execution. Only where no settlement is reached does the file move to a First Instance Committee — a chair who must be a judge, sitting with two members experienced in law and real property — which hears the evidence and issues a judgment, the decree requiring a referred claim to be decided within 30 days. Conciliation is part of the Centre's own routing, so it is a stage your claim passes through rather than one you choose.

The Rental Disputes Centre is a single specialist judicial body within Dubai Land Department, with jurisdiction over rental disputes for property across the emirate. It is not a municipal service with an office in each district, so there is no separate Dubai Marina, JLT or Deira branch to attend. Cases are registered through the Centre's own channels, which is why most filing steps are completed without travelling anywhere; if a step in your matter does require attendance, confirm the venue and timing with the Centre directly at rdc.gov.ae, since these arrangements change.

It is the specialised judicial body that settles rental disputes between landlords and tenants in Dubai. It is part of Dubai Land Department, was established by Decree No. 26 of 2013, and replaced the earlier Rent Committee created under Decree No. 2 of 1993.

The RDC has exclusive jurisdiction over rental disputes for property in Dubai, including free zones subject to stated exceptions, plus related counterclaims and provisional measures. Typical matters include rent increases, eviction, maintenance, deposit refunds, utility disconnection and subletting. Since Law No. 6 of 2019 it also handles certain jointly-owned-property disputes.

A first-instance rental lawsuit is filed setting out the parties, the tenancy and the remedy sought, supported by a valid Ejari-registered contract and evidence. The claim is first evaluated by the Conciliation Department for an amicable settlement; if that fails, it goes to a First Instance Committee. Our companion guide walks through the steps in more detail.

Yes. Under Article 31 of the tenancy law, filing an eviction claim does not exempt the tenant from paying rent; the tenant must continue paying until a final award is rendered and executed. Stopping payments during a case can weaken your position.

Enforcement is carried out by the Judgment Execution Department, covering eviction orders and financial claims. Under Article 21 of Decree No. 26 of 2013 every final and irrevocable judgment of the Centre is enforced there, and the Execution Department of Dubai Courts assists only where the chairman of the Centre asks it to. Article 35 still reads as a two-track split — eviction through a Committee the same Decree abolished, other awards through Dubai Courts — so it is repealed to the extent that it conflicts. Our enforcement guide explains the route in full.

Yes, within limits the decree sets. Under Decree No. 26 of 2013, judgments in rent claims worth less than AED 100,000 are as a rule final and cannot be appealed; where an appeal is available it must be filed within 15 days of the day after the hearing, and appealing a money judgment requires depositing half of the awarded sum with the Centre. Certain judgments — eviction orders among them — may be appealed even below that threshold. Because a decree can be amended, confirm the current position with the Centre or the full decree text before you rely on it.

Yes, on Dubai rental disputes. We give legal consultation, act for you and represent you before the Rental Disputes Centre committees. We also review documents, prepare and organise the file, provide legal translation and follow up procedures. What we never do is guarantee an outcome.

The official filing fee is generally 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000 for rent-value claims (AED 15,000 for purely monetary claims), subject to the current RDC schedule. A separate process-service charge and an enforcement fee may also apply. If the dispute settles at the conciliation stage, a partial refund of the basic fee is typically available. Always confirm the current amounts on the official RDC portal, as schedules may change.

RDC proceedings are generally handled through its remote (online) litigation system, so parties or their representatives usually attend electronically rather than in person, depending on the case and any directions from the Centre. Some steps, such as document submission and notifications, are also completed online. Check the current requirements for your specific case on the official RDC portal.

The RDC has exclusive jurisdiction over tenancy disputes for property situated in the Emirate of Dubai and, since Law No. 6 of 2019, over disputes relating to jointly-owned (strata) property. Certain free zones with their own independent judicial or regulatory frameworks may fall outside its remit, and DIFC-based arrangements can be treated differently. Whether a specific property falls within RDC jurisdiction depends on the facts and applicable law, so confirm before filing.

You are generally not required to appoint a lawyer to file at the RDC — parties can register and follow their own case — though representation helps in complex or high-value matters, depending on the facts. MANJAZ prepares and organises your Ejari contract, notices and supporting documents in the correct format, and on Dubai rental disputes it also gives legal consultation, acts for you and represents you before the Centre committees.