Rental Dispute Centre Dubai: How Tenants and Landlords File a Rental Case
Published 3 months ago
Rental disputes can happen for many reasons, including unpaid rent, eviction notices, renewal disagreements, maintenance issues, or deposit claims. In Dubai, the Rental Disputes Center is the specialised judicial body for landlord and tenant rental disputes.
Where to Access RDC Services
RDC has announced that its services have migrated from the Dubai Land Department portal to the dedicated RDC portal. Customers should access services through the official RDC website rather than old saved DLD links.
Registering a First Instance Rental Lawsuit
The RDC service page states that the Register First Instance Lawsuit service enables customers to sue in first instance over disputes arising between landlords and tenants. It can be done through Real Estate Services Trustee Centres or through the RDC website.
Documents Commonly Required
RDC lists documents such as the latest lease or Ejari, Emirates ID for individuals, commercial licence and manager or owner photo ID for companies, a bank letter or statement showing the plaintiff's IBAN, and supporting documents such as notices, correspondence, cheques, DEWA bills, power of attorney, or management contracts. Documents must be in Arabic or legally translated into Arabic.
Fees and Process
For many rental claims, the service fee is calculated as 3.5% of annual rent, lease value, or claimed amount depending on the claim type, with minimum and maximum limits. The website process includes account registration, entering data, uploading documents, paying fees after verification, attending the hearing through tele-litigation, and receiving the judgment through the website.
Final Note
Before filing a case, tenants and landlords should collect evidence, review the tenancy contract, check notice requirements, and consider amicable resolution where possible. For legal strategy, consult a qualified professional or RDC's official guidance.