How to File a Case at the Rental Dispute Centre (RDC) in Dubai: Fees, Steps, Timelines

The RDC (formally the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre, established by Decree 26 of 2013 under the Dubai Land Department) has exclusive jurisdiction over Dubai tenancy disputes, free zones included. It is faster and cheaper than people expect, and built for self-representation. Here is the process end to end.

Before filing: the two prerequisites

1. Ejari. An unregistered contract is not enforceable at the RDC. You can technically file while asking the Centre to prove the leasehold relationship, but it adds cost and delay; register first (Ejari explained).

2. A paper trail. The RDC decides on documents: the Ejari contract, payment receipts or cheque copies, the disputed notice, your written replies, photos for maintenance claims, and the official calculator result for rent-increase disputes (run yours here).

Step 1: Register the case

File online through the RDC portal (rdc.gov.ae) or the Dubai REST app, or in person via a Real Estate Services Trustee centre (adds AED 130 + VAT service fee). You'll enter the lease details and parties, upload documents (Arabic or certified translation for key items), and pay:

Fee	Amount
Rental claim	3.5% of annual rent, min AED 500, max AED 20,000
Pure monetary claim	3.5% of amount, min AED 500, max AED 15,000
Eviction request	1% of annual rent, max AED 5,000
Process service	AED 100
Knowledge + innovation fees	AED 20
Power of attorney registration (if any)	AED 25

Step 2: Conciliation (mandatory)

The case first goes to a conciliation stage aimed at settlement within roughly 15 days; sessions are commonly held remotely. Two reasons to take it seriously: a large share of cases end here, and a settlement at this stage refunds half your filing fee. A signed settlement has executive force.

Step 3: First Instance

No settlement, and the case moves to a judicial panel. Hearings are largely remote, evidence-driven, and quick by court standards: the Centre targets resolution within about 30 days of referral, and most straightforward matters (over-cap increases, deposit deductions, defective notices) finish inside 30 to 60 days from filing. Rent-increase cases in particular are near-mechanical: the panel checks the official index figure and the 90-day notice, and rules accordingly; landlord arguments that "the market is higher than the index" do not carry.

Step 4: Appeal (limited)

Either party can appeal within 15 days of the judgment (or of notification, for judgments in absentia), but only if the claim is AED 100,000 or more, except eviction judgments, which are appealable regardless of value. The appellant deposits 50% of the awarded amount (refundable) or a bank guarantee. Appeal rulings are final in almost all cases.

Step 5: Execution

Final judgments are enforced by the RDC's own execution department: financial awards through asset attachment, eviction orders through a scheduled bailiff handover. There is no fee for executing financial claims; small per-request e-fees apply during proceedings.

Tactical notes

• Tenants: keep paying rent on time throughout the dispute; arrears hand the landlord an Article 25(1) breach ground that can flip the case. Your broader protections are catalogued in tenant rights in the UAE.

• Both sides: the RDC offers a rental case history service, letting you check the other party's litigation record before signing a lease at all; prevention is cheaper than 3.5%.

• Landlords: an increase filed with the index calculation and a clean 90-day notice attached is the difference between a one-session case and a dismissal.

Sources and References

• Rental Disputes Centre, official FAQ and fee schedule (rdc.gov.ae)

• Decree No. 26 of 2013 establishing the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre

• Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008 (DLD tenancy guide)

This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice.

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Published on 9 September 2026.