How does renting an apartment in Dubai work?
Renting an apartment in Dubai follows a standard process. After agreeing terms with the agent or owner, you sign a tenancy contract (Unified Tenancy Contract), pay the rent typically in 1–4 post-dated cheques plus a 5% refundable security deposit, and pay the agent's commission (usually 5% of annual rent, one-time).
The landlord or agent then registers your Ejari (RERA's official tenancy registry) — this is mandatory and is what lets you activate DEWA (electricity/water) and chiller (cooling) accounts in your name. Expect a small Ejari registration fee and a refundable DEWA security deposit (historically around AED 2,000 for apartments and AED 4,000 for villas — check DEWA for the current amount).
On PropertyConnect, every rental listing shows whether it is furnished, chiller-included, and pet-friendly, plus the agent's RERA BRN and, where a Trakheesi permit applies, the permit number. You can contact the agent directly by call, WhatsApp, email, or in-app chat — there is no paywall.
Last reviewed 2026-10-01 by PropertyConnect Editorial. Sources: Dubai Land Department (DLD); Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
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