Rental Dispute Lawyer Dubai
MBM represents landlords and tenants in Dubai tenancy disputes, from the first notice through to proceedings at the Rental Disputes Center and enforcement afterwards. Seventeen years in practice, and a free first consultation.
If you already know what the issue is, start here
Tenancy problems run on different timetables — some measured in a year, some in thirty days. Go straight to yours for a specific answer.
A notice has been served
Serving or challenging an eviction notice, Article 25 grounds, the 12-month notarised notice rule and RDC proceedings.
LandlordsRent unpaid, or the tenant will not leave
Arrears recovery, returned cheques, holdover tenants, property damage, subletting and possession claims.
TenantsYour landlord is doing something you dispute
Eviction defence, unlawful rent increases, withheld deposits, refused repairs, lock-outs and unauthorised entry.
Rent increasesThe increase looks too high
Decree No. 43 of 2013 index bands, the 90-day notice requirement, and challenging an increase that exceeds them.
Contracts & EjariBefore you sign or renew
Drafting, review and renewal of tenancy contracts, and resolving Ejari registration problems.
CommercialA shop, office or warehouse lease
Commercial lease disputes and commercial eviction, where the contract and the case value are materially different.
Dubai tenancy law, and where it is decided
The landlord–tenant relationship in Dubai is governed by Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008. Rent increases sit separately under Decree No. 43 of 2013, which caps any increase against the market rental index and requires 90 days’ written notice before the contract expires to change the rent.
Disputes are heard by the Rental Disputes Center, which as at September 2026 remains a distinct tribunal and has not been merged into Dubai Courts. Current legal publishers report typical timelines of roughly 30 to 60 days once a case is filed, with mediated matters resolving faster.
Sharjah is different. New tenancy contracts there are subject to a three-year rent freeze, after which increases are capped and may only recur every two years. MBM advises on both, but the Dubai rules should never be assumed to apply in Sharjah. All of this is subject to applicable UAE law on your facts.
Rental Disputes Center — rdc.gov.ae · Dubai Land Department — dubailand.gov.ae · UAE Legislation — uaelegislation.gov.ae
The tenancy work MBM does
For landlords and for tenants, residential and commercial.
Eviction, both directions
Drafting, notarising and serving notices on the correct ground; and testing, challenging and defending notices served on tenants.
Rent recovery and arrears
Quantifying arrears, formal demands, RDC claims and enforcement — including where a rent cheque has been returned unpaid.
Rent increases
Advising on what the index bands permit under Decree No. 43 of 2013, whether the 90-day notice was given, and challenging increases that exceed the cap.
Deposits and damage
Recovering withheld deposits, contesting deductions, and pursuing or defending property-damage claims.
Tenancy contracts and Ejari
Drafting, reviewing and renewing tenancy contracts, and resolving registration problems before they become disputes.
RDC representation and enforcement
Filing, defending and appearing at the Rental Disputes Center, then enforcing the award.
How an MBM tenancy matter starts
The first consultation is free and carries no obligation.
Free consultation
Tell us what has happened and which side you are on. We will tell you which timetable applies to you.
Document review
Tenancy contract, Ejari registration, notice and payment record — then your position and options in writing.
Notice or response
We serve a compliant notice or respond formally to one. Many tenancy matters resolve here.
RDC and enforcement
Where the matter proceeds, we file or defend at the Rental Disputes Center and enforce the outcome.
Tenancy disputes are won on documents and dates
Not on who is more aggrieved. What makes the difference is a lawyer who reads the file the way the tribunal will, and who is prepared to argue it if the matter does not settle.
- Both sides, separately. Landlord and tenant work in different matters — which is how we know where each side’s case is weak.
- RDC experience. We file, defend and appear there, and treat enforcement as part of the job.
- Straight answers on merits. If a notice is sound or an increase lawful, we say so at the first meeting.
- Dubai and Sharjah. Two offices, and two genuinely different tenancy frameworks.
Dubai rental disputes, answered directly
General information on the current framework, not advice on your tenancy.
How long does a rental dispute take in Dubai?
Once a case is before the Rental Disputes Center, current legal publishers report typical timelines of roughly 30 to 60 days, with simpler mediated matters resolving faster. Enforcement can add further time.
Where the dispute involves a landlord-initiated eviction on Article 25 grounds, the 12-month notice period runs before any filing, so the full timeline is considerably longer.
What is the Rental Disputes Center?
It is the tribunal that deals with Dubai rental disputes. As at September 2026 it remains a distinct tribunal and has not been merged into Dubai Courts.
Both landlords and tenants can file there, and MBM files and defends cases before it.
Which law governs tenancies in Dubai?
The landlord–tenant relationship is governed by Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008.
Rent increases are governed separately by Decree No. 43 of 2013, which caps increases against the market rental index and requires 90 days’ written notice before the contract expires to change the rent.
Does MBM act for landlords or tenants?
Both — but never on both sides of the same matter.
Acting for landlords and tenants in separate matters means we know how each side’s case is usually built, which is useful whichever side instructs us.
Do the same rules apply in Sharjah?
No. Sharjah operates its own distinct tenancy framework. New contracts there are subject to a three-year rent freeze, after which increases are capped and may only recur every two years.
MBM has a Sharjah office and advises on both frameworks, but the Dubai rules should not be assumed to apply.
Does my tenancy have to be registered with Ejari?
Ejari registration is the formal record of a Dubai tenancy and is routinely required when tenancy matters are dealt with administratively or before the Rental Disputes Center.
An unregistered tenancy can create practical difficulty for either party who later needs to enforce, so it is better resolved before a dispute than during one.
Can rent be paid monthly instead of by cheque?
The Dubai Land Department launched a Flexi Rent initiative in 2026 enabling tenants to pay rent in monthly instalments rather than through the traditional structure of one to four post-dated cheques.
Whether it is available for a particular tenancy, and how it interacts with an existing contract, should be checked against the DLD’s own current guidance.
Tell us about the tenancy
Tell us briefly about your matter. Our team will review your enquiry and advise you on the appropriate next step. Everything you send is treated as confidential.
If a notice period is running or a hearing is listed, please call rather than emailing.
- +971 4 570 0204Dubai office · Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00
- WhatsApp +971 54 596 1111Send a photo of the contract or notice
- info@mbm-co.comAttach the tenancy contract, Ejari and any notice
Thank you — your enquiry is with our team.
A member of the MBM team will review what you have sent and come back to you with the appropriate next step.
If your matter is time-critical, please call +971 4 570 0204 rather than waiting.
Tenancy deadlines run whether you act or not.
Whichever side you are on, the earlier the file is reviewed the more options remain open. The first consultation is free.