Drafting a tenancy contract in Dubai isn't like drafting a custom legal document. In Dubai, only the official DLD Unified Tenancy Contract format is legally recognised — and you don't draft it from scratch. You fill the government template. Here's how to do it quickly and correctly.
You can't legally 'draft' a custom Dubai tenancy contract
Many tenants and landlords ask how to draft a custom rental agreement in Dubai. The answer: you can't, not if you want it to be legally enforceable. The Dubai Land Department issues the only legally recognised tenancy contract format — the Unified Tenancy Contract v1.4. Any other format won't register on Ejari and has weak standing in the RERA Rental Dispute Centre.
What 'drafting' means in the Dubai context
In Dubai, drafting a tenancy contract means filling the official DLD form with your specific terms. The form is fixed but most fields are negotiable: rent amount, payment schedule, security deposit, and up to 8 Additional Terms for clauses you and the other party agree on.
How to draft a Dubai tenancy contract in 3 minutes
What goes in the Additional Terms (Section 6)
This is where you actually customise the contract. The 8 Additional Terms slots are where you record specific agreements. Common clauses:
- Maintenance responsibility split (who pays for AC servicing, plumbing repairs, painting)
- Pet policy (allowed / not allowed / specific limits)
- Parking allocation (specific bay numbers, visitor parking)
- Early termination clause (notice period + penalty amount)
- Subletting permission (allowed only with written consent / never)
- Late rent fee structure
- DEWA / chiller account responsibility
- Building amenities access (gym, pool, beach club)
What you can't change in the DLD form
The standard contract clauses (party rights, governing law, dispute resolution, etc.) are fixed government text — you cannot modify these. You also cannot:
- Set a security deposit above 5% unfurnished / 10% furnished (legal cap)
- Waive Ejari registration (it's mandatory)
- Override the 30-day deposit refund rule
- Set notice periods shorter than the legal minimums (90 days for rent increase, 12 months for personal-use eviction)
For a complete walkthrough of every field, see our field-by-field guide.