How often can a landlord increase the rent in Dubai?

In Dubai, a rent increase is tied to contract renewal rather than to an automatic annual entitlement. A landlord can only seek to change the rent when the tenancy comes up for renewal, and even then only within the limits of the RERA rental index sliding scale set by Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013. Crucially, any proposed change must be agreed with the tenant at least 90 days before the contract expires, under the tenancy law (Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008), unless both parties agree otherwise. This means a landlord cannot raise the rent mid-contract, and at each renewal the permitted increase is recalculated against the current market index, so in many years the calculator may return 0% if your rent is already near market. There is no rule entitling a landlord to a guaranteed increase every single year. Run the official RERA calculator on the Dubai Land Department site at each renewal to see what, if anything, is lawful. For disputes over frequency or amount, the Rental Dispute Center decides. Compare verified UAE tenancy lawyers on LEXAI for advice on your renewal.