Dubai’s Rental Disputes Center (RDC) resolved 2,350 rental disputes through amicable settlements between January and September 2026, with the cases valued at AED 401 million, according to a report published by Gulf News on October 13.
The reported results point to the role of conciliation in handling disagreements between landlords and tenants. Instead of moving directly through formal litigation, the parties can seek an agreement through the RDC’s supervised settlement process, which provides a legal framework for resolving rental conflicts.
Gulf News reported that the cases were settled in an average of six days. The figure relates to the reported amicable settlements during the first nine months of 2026, rather than the processing time for every type of rental dispute.
How Dubai’s rental dispute settlement process works
Dubai’s RDC provides a dedicated service for landlords and tenants seeking to resolve rental disagreements through conciliation. The process allows the parties to discuss their positions and work towards an acceptable outcome with the assistance of the centre.
If the parties reach an agreement, it is signed by them and the conciliator, then approved by a supervising judge. According to the RDC’s official service information, the resulting agreement can be enforced through the centre.
This legal approval distinguishes formal conciliation from a private verbal understanding between a landlord and tenant. It gives the settlement an enforceable status within the RDC framework.
The centre was established under Dubai Decree No. 26 of 2013 to provide a specialised system for rental dispute resolution. Its responsibilities include handling disputes between landlords and tenants, hearing eligible appeals and enforcing decisions that fall within its jurisdiction.
What documents do landlords and tenants need?
Residents planning to register a claim through the RDC’s amicable settlement service should prepare the relevant tenancy and supporting records before applying.
The centre lists the following documents among its requirements:
- A copy of the latest tenancy contract registered through Ejari.
- Emirates ID documents for individual parties, or the relevant company commercial licence and identification documents for company representatives.
- A bank letter or statement showing the claimant’s International Bank Account Number (IBAN).
- For eviction claims, the required notarised notice and evidence of service, or registered-post documentation and acknowledgement.
- Supporting evidence relevant to the dispute, such as correspondence, payment records, notices, cheques, utility bills or property management documents, where applicable.
The RDC says documents must be submitted in Arabic or legally translated into Arabic and uploaded through its online system. Applicants should check the current requirements for their specific claim before submitting the application.
How much does an amicable rental settlement cost?
The RDC’s published service schedule sets fees according to the nature of the claim.
For specified rental claims—including eviction, lease renewal, rent claims and termination of a lease in force—the listed fee is 3.5% of the annual rent or lease value, subject to a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000.
For monetary claims, the listed fee is 3.5% of the amount claimed, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 15,000. Other charges may apply, including process-service, knowledge and innovation fees. Additional service-centre charges may also apply when an application is submitted through a real estate services trustee centre.
Importantly, the RDC states that half of the court fee paid for basic claims is refunded if the parties reach an amicable settlement. The final cost depends on the claim and the channel used, so applicants should confirm the applicable fees through the official service before paying.
Where can residents apply?
Landlords and tenants can access the amicable settlement service through the Rental Disputes Center’s official website at rdc.gov.ae. The centre also lists Real Estate Services Trustee Centres as a service channel.
The online procedure involves registering or signing into an account, selecting the amicable settlement service, entering the claim details, uploading the required documents and paying the applicable fee after electronic verification. The parties then attend a conciliation session through the centre’s tele-litigation system.
The RDC lists one business day as the time required to complete registration. This is a registration service estimate, not a guarantee that the underlying dispute will be resolved within one day.
When is formal legal action still necessary?
An amicable settlement depends on the parties reaching an agreement. If the dispute cannot be resolved through conciliation, further proceedings through the RDC may be required, depending on the nature of the claim and the applicable procedures.
Dubai’s legal framework also recognises exceptions and jurisdictional limits. Decree No. 26 of 2013 sets out the RDC’s authority over rental disputes and excludes certain matters, including disputes within free zones that have their own competent tribunals, lease-financing disputes and specified long-term lease disputes.
For tenants and landlords, the practical first step is to keep the tenancy contract, payment records, notices and communications organised. Those documents can help clarify the disagreement and support the claim if formal proceedings become necessary.
The reported settlement figures show the scale of disputes handled through conciliation in Dubai, while the RDC’s published procedures give residents a formal route to seek an agreement that can be enforced under the centre’s legal framework.
1. How many rental disputes did Dubai settle in 2026?
Gulf News reported that Dubai’s Rental Disputes Center settled 2,350 rental disputes worth AED 401 million
2. Can landlords and tenants in Dubai settle rental disputes without full court litigation?
Yes. The RDC offers an amicable settlement service that allows the parties to seek a mutually acceptable resolution through formal conciliation. If an agreement is reached and approved by a supervising judge, it can be enforced through the centre.
3. Where can I apply for an amicable rental settlement in Dubai?
Applications can be made through the official Rental Disputes Center website at rdc.gov.ae or through a listed Real Estate Services Trustee Centre.
4. What documents are required for a Dubai rental dispute?
Common requirements include the latest Ejari tenancy contract, identification documents, the claimant’s bank details and evidence supporting the claim. Eviction cases may require additional formal notices and proof of service.
5. How much does it cost to register a Dubai rental dispute?
The published fees depend on the claim. Certain rental claims carry a 3.5% fee based on annual rent or lease value, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000. Monetary claims have a separate fee calculation and limits.
6. Is an amicable rental settlement legally binding in Dubai?
A settlement reached through the RDC’s formal process is signed by the parties and conciliator and approved by a supervising judge. The RDC states that the approved agreement can be enforced through the centre.
7. Does the RDC guarantee that every rental dispute will be settled quickly?
No. Conciliation depends on the circumstances of the case and whether the parties reach an agreement. The reported six-day average applies to the cases covered by the published report and should not be treated as a guaranteed timeline for every dispute.
8. What happens if a landlord and tenant cannot agree?
The matter may need to proceed through the applicable RDC litigation procedures. The correct route depends on the claim, the evidence and the centre’s jurisdiction.
