New to DubaiWhere to live in Dubai: searching, renting and registering your home
How to find a flat or room in Dubai, what to check before you sign, and how to register your tenancy with Ejari, with links to each guide.
Where to live in Dubai is a personal choice, because every neighbourhood has its own feel, good points and drawbacks. Once you've picked an area, you need to find a flat or room, check the contract and the people behind it, and register the tenancy with Ejari.
Sort your home out early. DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) needs a valid Ejari number before it will switch on electricity and water for a tenant. That means a lot of your other setting up has to wait for this step.
Searching for a flat or a room
Think about your commute before the view. Rush-hour traffic changes what "close" really means, and living near a metro station makes life much easier if you don't drive yet.
A room in a shared flat is a good way to start when you first arrive. It's quicker to arrange and gives you time to learn the city before you sign a longer lease. Make sure the shared flat is legal, and meet all the flatmates before you decide. Our guide on how to find a place to live in Dubai covers where to look and how viewings work.
What to check before you sign
Most rental problems start with something nobody checked at the beginning. Go through these before any money changes hands, then read the renting rules you must know for the detail.
- Who owns the property, and whether the agent is licensed. On the Dubai Land Department website you can check that a title deed (the official proof of ownership) is genuine and look up brokers licensed by RERA, Dubai's property regulator.
- How the rent is paid. Most offers ask for one cheque covering the whole year. You can negotiate for 4, and sometimes 6 or 12, but expect to pay a little more if you do. Paying by cheque means you need a bank account, and you need your Emirates ID to open one.
- What the contract says about repairs, notice periods and renewal.
- What condition the flat is in. Take your own dated photos on the day you move in.
If something goes wrong
Problems with landlords do happen. RERA's rules protect tenants well, though. If you can't sort a problem out with your landlord, you can open a case with the Rental Disputes Centre, which is part of the Dubai Land Department.
Registering your tenancy
Ejari is the Dubai Land Department's system for registering rental contracts. You can do it online, in the Dubai REST app or at an approved service centre. Officially the landlord should register it. In practice, you or the agent will probably end up doing it. If you'd rather not deal with the paperwork, pay someone to do it for you.
After registration, your Ejari and contract appear in the apps automatically, and DEWA emails you with your new account number. Our guide explains how to register your tenancy with Ejari step by step.
It's different if you live in another emirate. Say your home is in Sharjah and you work in Dubai: Ejari doesn't cover your flat, because Sharjah City Municipality attests (officially registers) tenancy contracts there. Always follow the rules of the emirate where you live.
Ask around, then get a second opinion
People who already live here can save you a lot of time. Ask them about areas, landlords and what caught them out.
But don't take what they say as the final word. Things in Dubai change quickly, and what was true for a friend two years ago may not be true now. Always check with a second source before you sign anything.
Your next step
Once you have the keys, read our guide to setting up your home for electricity, water, phone, internet and air conditioning.
- Ejari registration in Dubai: what it is, who does it and what you need What Ejari is, who registers your tenancy, which documents to have ready and why DEWA won't connect your home until it's done.
- Renting in Dubai: what to know about contracts, cheques, deposits and your rights What to check before you sign a Dubai lease: contracts, post-dated cheques, deposits, agent fees, shared rooms and your rights as a tenant.
- Apartment for rent in Dubai: how to find a flat, studio or room as a newcomer How to search for, view and secure a flat, studio or room in Dubai as a newcomer, from the first listing to registering your Ejari.