It is one of the most common tenant questions in Dubai: can the landlord just walk in? The short answer is that Law No. 26 of 2007 does not contain an entry or inspection rule at all. What it does contain are landlord obligations that protect your use of the home, and those, together with your contract, shape the answer.
What the law says, and what it does not
There is no article in Law 26 of 2007 (as amended by Law 33 of 2008) that sets out when a landlord may enter, how much notice is required, or how often inspections can happen. Anyone quoting a fixed legal notice period for entry is not quoting the rental law. These points are left to the tenancy contract and any addendum you signed.
What the law does cover is the landlord's duty to let you actually use the property you are paying for.
The landlord's obligations (Articles 15 to 17)
- Article 15: the landlord must hand over the property in good condition that allows the tenant full use as stated in the contract.
- Article 16: unless otherwise agreed, the landlord is responsible during the lease for maintenance works and for repairing any defect or damage that may affect the tenant's intended use.
- Article 17: the landlord may not make changes to the property or its amenities that would preclude the tenant from full use as intended, and is responsible for such changes whether made by the landlord or someone they authorise.
Together these give tenants a practical form of quiet enjoyment: the landlord's role during the lease is to keep the property usable, not to interfere with your use of it.
Read Article 15, Article 16 and Article 17.
Maintenance access: the common case
Most legitimate visits are for repairs. Because Article 16 puts maintenance on the landlord by default, they or their contractor will sometimes need to come in. Agreeing a time in writing protects both sides: the landlord can do the work, and you have a record if repairs are delayed. Your own duty is to look after the property as an ordinary person would their own and not to do repairs or changes without permission (Article 19).
Who fixes what: landlord and tenant maintenance responsibilities.
Inspections, viewings and sale
Periodic inspections and viewings for new tenants or buyers are contract matters. If your contract has an inspection clause, it applies. If it does not, there is no statutory right or rule either way, so agree terms in writing. If the property is sold, your fixed-term tenancy continues with the new owner (Article 28).
More: landlord sells the property: tenant rights.
What to do if the landlord enters or interferes
See our Rental Disputes Centre guide or ask a Dubai tenancy law question.
Put access terms in your next contract
Because the law is silent, a clear clause is the best protection: a minimum notice period, reasonable hours, emergency-only exceptions, and whether the tenant must be present. You can add these as additional terms when you create your contract.
This guide summarises the official English translation of Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008; the Arabic text prevails. For a live dispute, get advice from a lawyer or the Rental Disputes Centre.