The Limits Of A Rent Increase

When your tenancy contract is nearing renewal and you begin negotiating with your landlord, it is useful to know your legal rights to avoid unknowingly being made to accept rental increases that are not enforceable. Unlike in many jurisdictions around the world where an annual rental increase is accepted due to normal inflationary trends, Dubai has defined regulations that determine whether a landlord can request an increase in the annual rental or not.

The applicable law is contained in Decree No 43 of 2013 — Determining Rent Increases for Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai — and applies to all properties in Dubai, including the free zones, and all landlords, including government entities.