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Dubai Move-In Cost Calculator

Total upfront cost to rent in Dubai — Ejari, DEWA, security deposit, agent commission, first rent. All in one number.

Upfront Cost Breakdown

Annual rent (year 1)AED 100,000
Security deposit (5%)AED 5,000
DEWA security depositAED 4,000
Ejari registrationAED 220
Agent commission (5%)AED 5,000
Tenancy contract (online generator)FREE
Total upfrontAED 114,220
💰 You save AED 150–300 vs typing centre by using the free online generator

Cost Notes

  • Annual rent: typically paid via 1, 2, 4, 6, or 12 cheques. 1-cheque often gets a 5–10% rent reduction.
  • Security deposit: 5% unfurnished, 10% furnished. Refundable within 30 days of move-out.
  • DEWA deposit: AED 2,000 for apartments, AED 4,000 for villas. Refundable when you close the account.
  • Ejari: AED 220 (includes the AED 25 knowledge & innovation fee). Pay via Dubai REST app.
  • Agent commission: 5% of annual rent if you go through an agent. Skip if you find direct.
  • Tenancy contract: free online via tenancycontract.com. AED 150–300 at typing centre.

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What Ejari registration actually costs

Ejari registration costs AED 220 in total — an AED 195 registration fee plus an AED 25 knowledge and innovation fee. That is the government charge, and it is the same whether the property is a studio in Deira or a villa on the Palm. If you register through the Dubai REST app you pay exactly that. A typing centre will add its own service charge on top, typically AED 100 to AED 150, which is the only reason the same registration can end up costing AED 320 or more.

The wider cost of setting up a tenancy

  • Tenancy contract generation — free online, AED 150–300 at a typing centre
  • Ejari registration — AED 220
  • Agency commission, where an agent is involved — typically 5% of the annual rent
  • Security deposit — 5% unfurnished or 10% furnished, refundable
  • DEWA connection deposit — AED 2,000 for an apartment, AED 4,000 for a villa, refundable
  • District cooling deposit, in buildings that use it — roughly AED 1,000–2,000, refundable
  • Building move-in permit, where the community requires one — often AED 500–1,000

Why registration is not optional

Ejari is the government record that your tenancy exists. Without a current certificate you cannot open a DEWA account in your own name, you cannot complete a residence visa application or renewal, schools will not accept your address for admission, most banks will not open an account for you, and the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre has no registered contract to enforce if something goes wrong. Registration is due within 30 days of the contract start date, and it takes about fifteen to thirty minutes in the app.

What you need to hand

Have the signed tenancy contract, both parties' Emirates ID, a copy of the title deed and a recent DEWA bill for the unit ready before you start. The DEWA bill matters more than people expect, because Ejari validates the premises number against it. Collect the landlord's documents at signing rather than afterwards — chasing a landlord for a title deed copy weeks later is the most common reason a registration stalls past the deadline.

See also our complete Ejari registration guide and the full 2026 fee breakdown.