The DLD Unified Tenancy Contract is the only legally valid tenancy contract in Dubai — but its 30+ fields trip up first-time landlords and tenants alike. Wrong plot numbers, mismatched DEWA premises, and missing party details are the top reasons Ejari registration gets rejected. This is a complete field-by-field walkthrough so you fill it right the first time.
Section 1: Owner / Landlord Details
These fields identify the legal owner of the property. The owner and the landlord can be the same person, or different — for example, when a property management company signs as landlord on behalf of the actual owner.
- Owner Name — must match the name on the title deed exactly
- Landlord Name — usually same as owner; if different (e.g. agent), include power of attorney reference
- Landlord Emirates ID / passport — copy attached to the contract
- Landlord Contact Phone — UAE mobile preferred
- Landlord Email — used for Ejari notifications
Section 2: Tenant Details
- Tenant Name — must match Emirates ID exactly (Latin spelling)
- Tenant Emirates ID / passport — copy attached
- Tenant Contact Phone — UAE mobile
- Tenant Email — required for Ejari and signed-PDF delivery
- Tenant Nationality — for non-residents, use passport country
Section 3: Property Details (Where Most Errors Happen)
These fields must match exactly with the title deed and the DEWA bill. Mismatches here are the #1 reason Ejari registration fails.
- Building Name — full official name as on the title deed
- Location / Area — e.g. Dubai Marina, JVC, Business Bay
- Property Number — unit number (e.g. Apt 1502)
- Plot Number — from title deed (format: e.g. 351-0)
- Premises No. (DEWA) — found on any DEWA bill, top right
- Property Type — Apartment / Villa / Commercial / Other
- Property Size — in square feet (sq ft), per title deed
- Property Usage — Residential / Commercial / Mixed
If you can't find your property number, plot number, or DEWA premises number, see our guide on locating the DLD field references — it covers exactly where to look on the title deed and DEWA bill.
Section 4: Contract Period
- Contract From — start date (must be in the future for new contracts)
- Contract To — end date (typically From + 12 months)
- Sign Date — actual date of signing (today's date when generating)
Section 5: Financial Terms
- Annual Rent (AED) — the agreed yearly rent in dirhams
- Contract Value — typically same as Annual Rent for a 12-month lease
- Security Deposit — 5% of annual rent (unfurnished) or 10% (furnished)
- Mode of Payment — 1, 2, 4, 6, or 12 cheques
- Cheque Numbers and Dates — listed if more than 1 cheque
Section 6: Additional Terms (Optional but Recommended)
The DLD form includes 8 fields for additional terms. Use them. Common clauses to add:
- Maintenance responsibility split (who pays for AC servicing, plumbing, etc.)
- Pet policy (allowed / not allowed)
- Parking allocation (specific bay numbers)
- Renewal notice period (e.g. 90 days)
- Early termination clause (notice period + penalty amount)
- Subletting permission (allowed / not allowed)
- Late rent fee structure
- DEWA / chiller account responsibility
Top 5 Mistakes That Cause Ejari Rejection
- Property Number on contract doesn't match title deed exactly
- DEWA Premises Number missing or wrong
- Tenant name spelt differently than Emirates ID (e.g. with vs without middle name)
- Contract dates overlapping with previous Ejari (the previous contract must be cancelled first)
- Security deposit exceeding the legal cap (5% / 10%)
The fastest way to avoid all of these is to use our AI-powered tenancy contract generator — it reads your title deed and Emirates ID directly and auto-fills every field correctly. Free. Under 3 minutes.