Commercial leases in the UAE are governed by specific emirate-level rental laws. Here is the complete 2025 guide to UAE commercial leases and the Ejari system.
UAE Commercial Lease Laws
Dubai: commercial leases are governed by Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (the Landlord and Tenant Law) and its amendments. RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency) oversees rental disputes. Abu Dhabi: Law No. 20 of 2006 (Abu Dhabi Tenancy Law) governs commercial leases. Other Emirates: each has its own rental law, generally based on similar principles.
Ejari System (Dubai)
Ejari (meaning “my rent” in Arabic) is Dubai’s mandatory tenancy contract registration system operated by RERA. ALL Dubai tenancy contracts (residential and commercial) must be registered in Ejari. Ejari registration is required for: trade licence applications and renewals (DED requires Ejari), bank account openings (some banks require Ejari), utility connection (DEWA requires Ejari), and immigration/visa applications that require a physical office address. Ejari registration process: landlord or registered Ejari agent registers the tenancy contract online via the Ejari portal or via Amer Centres. Cost: AED 220-300 (Ejari registration fee). Timeline: same day or next day.
UAE Commercial Lease Key Terms
UAE commercial leases typically specify: rent amount (annual, payable by cheque — 1, 2, or 4 cheques for the year is common), fit-out period (landlord-free rent period for fitting out the office before trading begins — negotiate this upfront), break clause (UAE commercial leases often have minimum terms; check if there is an exit clause), and security deposit (typically 5-10% of annual rent, refundable at end of lease). UAE commercial rent payment by cheque: it is standard practice in UAE to pay commercial rent by post-dated cheques. Paying 12 months rent upfront by one cheque is common and often results in a discounted rent vs. multiple cheques.