A rental dispute in Dubai is filed with the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC), online through the DLD/RDC system or at a real estate trustee centre. Rent-based cases cost 3.5% of annual rent, between AED 500 and AED 20,000. Money claims cost 3.5% of the amount claimed, between AED 500 and AED 15,000. Every case starts with conciliation before a judge sees it.
Disputes are the last resort in a tenancy. For the steps that come before, see our complete guide to renting in Dubai.
What the RDC handles
The RDC is the specialised court for landlord-tenant cases in Dubai, set up under Decree 26 of 2013 and run alongside the Dubai Land Department. Typical cases:
- Rent increases above the RERA bands
- Unpaid rent and bounced rent cheques
- Security deposit refunds
- Eviction, including sale or personal-use notices
- Maintenance failures and disconnected services
- Lease renewal refusals
Some free zones have their own forums; DIFC leases, for example, go to the DIFC Courts’ small claims tribunal. Check where your building sits before filing.
Pick the right claim type, because it sets the fee
This is the decision most guides gloss over. The RDC has two fee bases:
| Claim type | Fee | Minimum | Maximum |
| Eviction, renewal, rent claim, termination of a lease in force | 3.5% of annual rent | AED 500 | AED 20,000 |
| Monetary claim (deposit, compensation, specific sum) | 3.5% of amount claimed | AED 500 | AED 15,000 |
Add AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees, a process service charge of about AED 100, and AED 25 if you register a power of attorney. At a trustee centre, a partner fee of AED 130 plus VAT applies.
A deposit claim is a money claim, so the fee follows the deposit, not the rent. A rent-increase challenge follows the annual rent.
Fee examples
| Annual rent or claim | 3.5% | Fee you pay |
| AED 12,000 claim | AED 420 | AED 500 |
| AED 60,000 rent | AED 2,100 | AED 2,100 |
| AED 90,000 rent | AED 3,150 | AED 3,150 |
| AED 600,000 rent | AED 21,000 | AED 20,000 (cap) |
If the case settles at conciliation, DLD refunds half of the basic fee. That is a real incentive to settle early. Use it.
Documents to prepare
- Emirates ID and passport copies
- The registered lease (Ejari certificate) and unified tenancy contract
- Title deed copy, if you have it
- Cheque copies, receipts and bank transfers
- Notices served, with proof of delivery (notary or registered post for eviction)
- Emails, messages and photos
- For money claims, a bank letter or statement showing your IBAN
Everything must be in Arabic or legally translated. Documents are uploaded to the RDC system in PDF; hard copies are not accepted. Translation is a real cost. Budget a few hundred dirhams per case, more if your evidence runs to dozens of pages of emails and messages.
Can you file without a registered lease? The RDC’s FAQ allows a case with a request to prove the rental relationship, but it is harder and slower. Register first if you can. Our Ejari registration guide shows how.
How to file a rental dispute in Dubai, step by step
- Send a written demand first. State the problem, the remedy and a deadline. It shows good faith and becomes evidence.
- Choose the channel: the RDC/DLD online system with UAE PASS, or a trustee centre.
- Select the claim type that matches your remedy.
- Upload translated documents.
- Pay the fee and keep the receipt and case number.
- Attend conciliation, usually remotely. A conciliator tries to reach a signed settlement.
- If it fails, the case goes to a first instance panel of a judge and two specialist members.
- Track the case online with your case number.
How long a case takes
| Stage | Typical time |
| Conciliation | Around 15 days, extendable |
| First instance decision | Around 30 days from referral |
| Appeal window | 15 days from the judgment |
These figures come from the RDC framework and published practice. Real timelines stretch when the other side cannot be served or documents are missing. A simple deposit case can finish in weeks; an eviction with an appeal can take months.
Appeals and enforcement
Money-only judgments below AED 100,000 are generally final; an appeal on a financial claim needs AED 100,000 or more. Eviction and other non-money cases have their own appeal rules.
If the other side ignores the judgment, you open an execution file. For eviction execution, the RDC lists a fee of 1% of annual rent, up to AED 5,000.
Eviction cases need the right notice first
Eviction is where most landlord cases fail, and where tenants have the strongest defences. The RDC checks the notice before it looks at anything else.
| Eviction ground (Law 26 of 2007, Art. 25 as amended) | Notice the landlord must give |
| Unpaid rent | Formal notice to pay; eviction possible if unpaid after 30 days |
| Breach of another lease term | Notice to remedy; 30 days to comply |
| Sale, personal use, demolition or major renovation at expiry | 12 months’ notice through a notary or registered post |
A WhatsApp message saying “please vacate” is not a valid 12-month notice. Neither is an email from the agent. If you are a tenant facing eviction for sale or personal use, ask to see the notarised notice and its date.
Two more protections are worth knowing. A landlord who repossesses for personal use cannot simply re-let the unit soon after, and the tenant can claim compensation if they do. And while a case is running, the tenant must keep paying rent, so do not stop payments as leverage.
Mistakes that sink RDC cases
- Untranslated documents. The panel works in Arabic. An English-only email chain is not evidence until it is translated.
- The wrong claim type. Filing a deposit claim as a lease case can cost you far more in fees.
- No proof of delivery. Notices without a courier receipt, notary stamp or read receipt are easy to deny.
- Suing the wrong party. The landlord on the title deed is not always the person who signed the lease.
- Stopping rent to force a repair. It hands the landlord an eviction ground.
- Ignoring the conciliation stage. Treat it as your best chance of a fast result, not a formality.
Most are avoidable. An afternoon of preparation fixes them. Build a single PDF bundle in date order before you open the filing screen.
When to settle and when to file
Our view: file when the money at stake is clearly more than the fee, translation and your time, and you have documents. Settle when the gap is small or your evidence is thin.
For deposits, the AED 500 minimum makes small claims less attractive; our security deposit guide runs the numbers. For rent increases, check the RERA rent increase calculator result first; a landlord shown the official figure often backs down without a case.
Lawyers are optional. For eviction or high-value claims, advice is usually worth paying for, because a single procedural slip, such as a notice served the wrong way or a claim filed under the wrong category, can cost you the case and the fee together.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file an RDC case?
Rent-based cases cost 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500 and maximum of AED 20,000. Money claims cost 3.5% of the amount claimed, minimum AED 500, maximum AED 15,000. Small knowledge, innovation and process fees apply, plus AED 130 and VAT at trustee centres.
Can I file an RDC case online?
Yes. You can register a case through the RDC and DLD online systems with UAE PASS, upload translated PDF documents and pay electronically. Hearings and conciliation sessions are often held remotely. Trustee centres can also file for you if you prefer help with typing and document checks.
Do I need a lawyer at the Rental Disputes Centre?
No, tenants and landlords can represent themselves. The process is in Arabic, so you need translations and must follow the procedure carefully. For eviction, appeals or large sums, a lawyer familiar with Dubai rental law can be worth the cost.
How long does an RDC case take?
Conciliation usually runs about 15 days, and first instance decisions typically come within about 30 days of referral. Delays happen when the other side cannot be notified or documents are incomplete. Simple deposit claims can finish within weeks; contested evictions with appeals take longer.
Is the filing fee refunded if I win?
The judgment often orders the losing side to bear court costs, so you may recover the fee. If the case settles at conciliation, DLD refunds half of the basic fee you paid. Translation and lawyer costs are usually not recovered in full, so factor them in.
Before you file a rental dispute in Dubai
Send a written demand, choose the right claim type, translate your documents and try conciliation in good faith. Fees and steps change, so confirm them on the RDC site on the day you file. This is general information, not legal advice. Explore more real estate guides on Live In Gulf.
