How to use this calculator
- Find the average rent for a comparable property in the official RERA Smart Rental Index and note the figure.
- Enter your current annual rent and that market average.
- Click Calculate to see your band, the maximum allowed percentage and the maximum new annual rent.
Formula — how it is calculated
Decree No. 43 of 2013 ties the renewal increase to the gap between your rent and the market average in the RERA Rental Index:
| Your rent compared with the market average | Maximum increase |
|---|---|
| Within 10% below the average | 0% — no increase allowed |
| 11–20% below | 5% |
| 21–30% below | 10% |
| 31–40% below | 15% |
| More than 40% below | 20% |
The percentage is applied to your current rent, not to the market average and not to the size of the gap — a detail the official worked examples make clear. If your rent is already at or above the market average, no increase is permitted at all. Two more rules matter in practice. First, the 90-day notice rule: the landlord must notify you in writing at least 90 days before the contract end date; without timely notice, the rent renews at the same amount even if a Decree 43 increase would otherwise apply. Second, this calculator's bands are the legal formula, but the exact market figure for your specific building comes only from the official DLD index — since 2025 the Smart Rental Index also takes building quality ratings into account, so treat any third-party average (including indicative ones) as a guide and confirm on the official index before a dispute.
Worked example
The Dubai Land Department's own style of example: the market average for a flat is AED 95,000 and your current rent is AED 80,000. Your rent is (95,000 − 80,000) ÷ 95,000 = 15.8% below the average, which lands in the 11–20% band. The maximum increase is therefore 5% of your current rent: 80,000 × 5% = AED 4,000, giving a maximum new rent of AED 84,000 a year — and only if you were given proper 90-day written notice. Enter those same defaults above and the calculator returns exactly this result.
Frequently asked questions
How much can my landlord increase my rent in Dubai?
At most 0–20%, depending on how far your rent is below the RERA index average: within 10% below means no increase; 11–20% below allows 5%; 21–30% allows 10%; 31–40% allows 15%; more than 40% below allows the maximum 20%.
Where do I find the official market average for my flat?
In the Dubai Land Department's Rental Index — through the Dubai REST app or the DLD website — searching by area/community, property type and number of bedrooms. Since January 2025 it is published as the AI-driven Smart Rental Index.
My landlord gave me notice 30 days before renewal. Can the rent still go up?
No. An increase requires at least 90 days' written notice before the contract end date. Without it, the tenancy renews at the existing rent regardless of the Decree 43 bands.
Is the increase calculated on my rent or on the market average?
On your current rent. The bands only decide which percentage applies; the percentage itself is multiplied by what you currently pay.
What if my landlord demands more than the calculator allows?
The Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC) treats the RERA index as the primary evidence in rent disputes. Save your index result and your tenancy contract (Ejari) if you take the matter there.