Answers and guides
Rules by emirate, read from the source and datedHala's decision for you
Hala is reading the figures on this page…
Can my landlord raise the rent this year?
Abu Dhabi from the record · corroborated
Rent increases are currently FROZEN. Since 2 June 2026 the permitted annual increase has been 0% on residential, commercial and industrial property, replacing the 5% cap that had applied since 2016. Renewals must use the rent recorded on the most recent registered contract. The freeze is temporary, is not retrospective, and has no announced end date.
Notice to raise it: 2 months before the contract ends for a home, in writing.
Source: Law 20 of 2006 · Executive Council Resolution 14 of 2016 · the 2026 freeze circular · read 7 Sept 2026 · khaleejtimes.com, lexology.com, lexismiddleeast.com
This is the rule, not your case — no tenancy of yours is read here.
Guides, by kind
Buying a home that is ready — A home that already exists and already has a title deed. This is the route most buyers take.
Buying off-plan from a developer — A home that has not been built yet. Your money goes into escrow, and the handover date is the thing to watch.
Renting a home — Finding a place, agreeing the terms, and getting the lease registered.
Letting your place as a holiday home — Short stays are licensed separately from long lets. This is what that licence involves.
Booking a licensed stay — What a licensed short stay looks like from the guest's side.
25 of 29 answers confirmed across 7 emirates
By emirate
| Dubai | Abu Dhabi | Sharjah | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent increase | the rule, read 7 Sept 2026 | the rule, read 7 Sept 2026 | the rule, read 7 Sept 2026 |
| Tenancy registration | Ejari | Tawtheeq | Sharjah Municipality attestation |
| Advertising permit | Trakheesi | Madhmoun | SRERD written advertising approval |
| Transfer fee | 4% | not documented here | not documented here |
| Owner may hold the permit | yes | no | yes |
Every cell comes from the emirate record the listing flow uses, or the tenancy rules with their sources. Where a fact is not confirmed, that is what is published. The other four emirates
What the specialists did on this page
2 ran · 0 stopped to ask · 0 did not run · each row opens its sources
Tenant Intelligencerental.tenantThe tenancy rules for Abu Dhabi, with their sourcesThe rent rule, corroborated; read 2026-09-072026-09-07
The tenant's side: their rights under the emirate's tenancy law, and coordinating the let.
- khaleejtimes.com
- lexology.com
- lexismiddleeast.com
Regulatory Intelligencetrust.regulatoryThe emirate record the listing flow uses4 of 4 answers confirmed for Abu Dhabi; the rest are marked not confirmed—
The rules of each emirate, retrieved and cited: tenancy law, short-stay rules, cross-border rules for NRI buyers - marked where we have not confirmed them.
- Department of Municipalities and Transport · ADREC