Commercial leases in Dubai use the same DLD Unified Tenancy Contract as residential — with key differences in financial terms, contract length, and Additional Terms. Here's what commercial-specific clauses should go in your lease.
Same form, different rules
Dubai uses one unified contract format. For commercial leases (offices, retail, warehouses), Property Usage = 'Commercial' and the Additional Terms section carries fit-out, signage, and restoration clauses that residential leases don't need.
Key differences from residential
- Security deposit: typically 10% (vs 5%/10% residential)
- Contract term: 2-5 years common (vs 12 months residential)
- Rent escalation: often pre-negotiated annual % (e.g. 5%/year)
- Notice periods: longer (often 12 months) given fit-out investment
- Subletting: generally prohibited without written consent
- Fit-out approval clauses
- Restoration at end of term
- Trade licence required for Ejari registration
Commercial-specific Additional Terms (Section 6)
- Permitted use ('office only' or 'F&B with late-night licence')
- Tenant fit-out approval timeline
- Restoration at end of term
- Service charge / common area maintenance allocation
- Signage rights (exterior, interior, building directory)
- Operating hours and 24/7 access
- Subletting / assignment requirements
- Rent escalation formula
Commercial rent benchmarks (2026)
- Grade A office (Downtown / DIFC / Business Bay): AED 130-220 / sqft / year
- Grade B office (JLT / Internet City): AED 80-130 / sqft / year
- Suburban office (Tecom / Barsha): AED 60-100 / sqft / year
- Retail (mall / high street): AED 200-800+ / sqft / year
- Warehouse (DIP / JAFZA / DIC): AED 30-60 / sqft / year
Ejari for commercial tenancies
- Signed DLD contract (Commercial Property Usage)
- Landlord's Emirates ID or passport
- Tenant's trade licence (mandatory for commercial)
- Title deed copy
- Power of attorney if signing via representative
- AED 220 registration fee
For more detail on commercial tenancy law, see commercial tenancy contract Dubai.