'Rent contract' and 'tenancy contract' mean the same thing in Dubai — the official DLD Unified Tenancy Contract that governs every rental in the emirate. Whether you call it a rent contract, tenancy contract, lease, or rental agreement, you need the same document. Here's how to get it free.
Rent contract vs tenancy contract vs lease agreement — what's the difference?
In Dubai, all three terms refer to the same legally-recognised document: the DLD Unified Tenancy Contract (currently version 1.4). There are no separate forms for 'rent contract' vs 'tenancy contract'. Different countries use different terminology — Dubai uses one official template that covers everything.
The free Dubai rent contract template
The blank template is a free government document — issued by the Dubai Land Department. It has six sections:
- Section 1: Owner / landlord details
- Section 2: Tenant details
- Section 3: Property details (number, plot, DEWA premises, size, type)
- Section 4: Contract period (start, end, sign date)
- Section 5: Financial terms (rent, deposit, mode of payment)
- Section 6: Additional terms (up to 8 negotiated clauses)
How to get the free rent contract template
Two options:
- Generate online (recommended) — tenancycontract.com produces a fully-filled official DLD PDF free in 3 minutes
- Download the blank template from the Dubai REST app and fill manually
The online generator is faster, free, more accurate (AI catches DEWA premises typos), and unlimited re-generation.
What goes in a Dubai rent contract
Mandatory fields:
- Owner name (from title deed) and Landlord name (often same)
- Landlord Emirates ID, contact phone, email
- Tenant name (matching Emirates ID exactly), Emirates ID number, phone, email, nationality
- Building name, location/area, property number, plot number, DEWA premises number, size in sq ft, property type, property usage
- Contract dates: from, to, sign date
- Annual rent in AED
- Security deposit — 5% unfurnished or 10% furnished (legal cap)
- Mode of payment — 1, 2, 4, 6, or 12 cheques with dates
Common Additional Terms in Dubai rent contracts
- Maintenance responsibility split
- Pet policy
- Parking allocation (specific bay numbers)
- Early termination clause (notice + penalty)
- Subletting permission
- Renewal notice period
- Late rent fee
- Utility account responsibility (DEWA, chiller, internet)
After signing the rent contract
- Both parties keep an original signed copy
- Tenant exchanges post-dated rent cheques + security deposit
- Tenant registers Ejari within 30 days (AED 220)
- Tenant applies for DEWA connection (AED 2,000-4,000 deposit, 24h activation)
For the full upfront cost breakdown, use our move-in cost calculator.