RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency) is the regulator under the Dubai Land Department that enforces rental law in Dubai. The 'RERA tenancy contract format' is the DLD Unified Tenancy Contract v1.4 — the only rental contract format RERA recognises. Here's the complete breakdown.
What does RERA require in a tenancy contract?
- Use the official DLD Unified Tenancy Contract v1.4 format (no custom contracts)
- Bilingual Arabic + English layout
- All 6 required sections completed
- Both parties' wet-ink signatures on every page
- Property details matching the title deed exactly (plot, property number, DEWA premises)
- Security deposit within the legal cap (5% unfurnished, 10% furnished)
- Contract period (typically 12 months for residential)
- Registered with Ejari within 30 days of signing
RERA's role in tenancy contracts
RERA doesn't just set the format — it enforces it. RERA-related responsibilities in tenancy contracts:
- Issues the official DLD Unified Tenancy Contract format
- Maintains the RERA Rent Index for rent-increase caps
- Operates the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC)
- Approves typing centres and Ejari registration agents
- Publishes annual updates to Dubai rental law (Law No. 26/2007)
The 6 sections of the RERA-mandated format
- Section 1: Owner / Landlord details (name, ID, contact)
- Section 2: Tenant details (name, ID, contact, nationality)
- Section 3: Property details (plot, property no., DEWA premises, size, type, usage)
- Section 4: Contract period (start, end, sign date)
- Section 5: Financial terms (rent, deposit, mode of payment, cheque dates)
- Section 6: Additional terms (8 slots for negotiated clauses)
Why custom contracts get rejected by RERA
- Cannot register on Ejari (no exception)
- Cannot be enforced at the RERA Rental Dispute Centre
- Cannot be used for residence visa proof
- Cannot connect DEWA or other utilities
- Cannot enrol children in Dubai schools
For format requirements in detail, see our DLD format requirements guide.