The Unified Tenancy Contract is the only legally recognised rental contract format in Dubai. Issued by the Dubai Land Department, mandated by RERA, required for Ejari registration. Currently at version 1.4. This guide explains what it is, what's in it, and how to use it.
What is the Unified Tenancy Contract?
The Unified Tenancy Contract is a standardised rental contract template issued by the Dubai Land Department (DLD). 'Unified' means one single format applies to all rentals in Dubai — residential, commercial, furnished, unfurnished. There's no separate form per property type. The current official version is 1.4, last updated by DLD.
Why it exists
Before the Unified Tenancy Contract, Dubai had thousands of custom-drafted rental contracts in circulation, leading to inconsistent terms and frequent disputes. DLD standardised the format to:
- Eliminate custom contract loopholes that favoured one party
- Make Ejari registration possible from a single template
- Create predictable terms for the RERA Rental Dispute Centre
- Ensure all rental contracts meet Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007
The six sections of the Unified Tenancy Contract v1.4
Section 1: Owner / Landlord
Identifies the property owner and the contracting landlord (often the same person). Required fields: owner name, landlord name, Emirates ID, contact phone, contact email.
Section 2: Tenant
Tenant name (must match Emirates ID exactly), Emirates ID number, contact phone, contact email, nationality.
Section 3: Property Details
The most error-prone section. Fields must match title deed and DEWA bill exactly:
- Building name (per title deed)
- Location / Area
- Property number (unit number)
- Plot number (per title deed)
- DEWA Premises Number (from DEWA bill)
- Property size in square feet
- Property type (Apartment, Villa, Commercial, Other)
- Property usage (Residential, Commercial, Mixed)
Section 4: Contract Period
Contract From, Contract To, Sign Date. Standard residential contract is 12 months.
Section 5: Financial Terms
- Annual Rent (AED)
- Contract Value (typically same as Annual Rent for 12-month contract)
- Security Deposit — 5% unfurnished or 10% furnished (legal cap)
- Mode of Payment — 1, 2, 4, 6, or 12 cheques
- Cheque numbers and dates
Section 6: Additional Terms
Eight slots for clauses negotiated between the parties. Common entries: maintenance split, pet policy, parking, early termination, subletting permission, late fees, utility responsibility. Section 6 is where the contract becomes specific to your situation.
How to fill the Unified Tenancy Contract
Two options:
- Generate online at tenancycontract.com — free, 3 minutes, AI auto-fills every field
- Print blank template and fill manually at a typing centre — AED 150-300, 30-90 minutes
Online generation eliminates the typos that cause Ejari rejection (wrong DEWA premises, mismatched plot numbers, illegal deposit amounts).
For a field-by-field walkthrough, see our how to fill the DLD form guide.