Dubai Rent Increase Calculator
Find the maximum increase a Dubai landlord can apply when your lease is renewed, based on how your rent compares with the average market rent. Uses the bands in Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013.
- Your rent vs average
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- Maximum increase
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- Maximum new yearly rent
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Estimate only. Not legal advice. The Dubai Land Department's Rental Index is the reference if there is a dispute.
The rules (Decree No. 43 of 2013)
| Your rent compared with the market average | Maximum increase |
|---|---|
| Less than 10% below (or above the average) | None |
| 11% to 20% below | 5% |
| 21% to 30% below | 10% |
| 31% to 40% below | 15% |
| More than 40% below | 20% |
How it is worked out: gap = (market average − your rent) ÷ market average. The decree leaves small gaps between bands, such as between 10% and 11%, so we treat anything above 10% and up to 20% as the 5% band, and likewise for the others.
Examples
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Dubai?expand_more
It depends on how your rent compares with the average market rent for similar units. If your rent is less than 10% below the average, there can be no increase. If it is 11% to 20% below, the increase is capped at 5%. For 21% to 30% below it is 10%, for 31% to 40% below it is 15%, and for more than 40% below it is 20% (Decree No. 43 of 2013, Article 1).
Where do I find the average market rent?expand_more
The decree says the average market rent is set by the Rent Index approved by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Article 3). The Dubai Land Department publishes it as the Rental Index e-service on its website, where you enter your property details. Use the average it gives you in the calculator.
Does this apply to free zones and all landlords?expand_more
Yes. The decree applies to all landlords, public and private, in Dubai, including special development areas and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (Article 2).
When does the cap apply?expand_more
When the lease is renewed. The decree sets the maximum increase "upon renewing" the lease (Article 1). It does not apply in the middle of a lease.
What if my rent is above the average?expand_more
Then there is no increase allowed. The zero-increase band covers any rent that is less than 10% below the average, which includes rents at or above the average.
How much notice must a landlord give of a rent increase?expand_more
At least 90 days before the lease expires, unless the parties agree otherwise. The Dubai tenancy law (Law No. 26 of 2007, Article 14, as published by the Dubai Land Department) says a party who wants to change any term must tell the other at least 90 days before the lease ends. The calculator shows the most the rent can rise, not whether proper notice was given.
Did the 2025 Smart Rental Index change these percentages?expand_more
Not according to the Dubai Land Department. Its January 2025 announcement of the Smart Rental Index describes the same increase bands, starting at 0% and reaching 20%. The index changes how the market average is worked out, not the bands.
Source
Government of Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013 Determining the Increase in the Real-Estate Rentals in the Emirate of Dubai, Articles 1 to 3, published by the Dubai Land Department. The Dubai Land Department's Smart Rental Index announcement (2 January 2025) describes the same increase bands. The 90-day notice rule is from Article 14 of Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (Dubai Land Department Tenancy Guide). Disputes are handled elsewhere, so check with the Dubai Land Department or the Rental Dispute Centre. Checked against the official text on 1 October 2026.
Read the official text:Dubai Land Department Tenancy Guide (PDF) · Dubai Land Department Rental Index