Tenancy Contract

A tenancy contract is the lease agreement between landlord and tenant setting out the rent, term, payment schedule, deposit, maintenance responsibilities and renewal terms. In the UAE it is far more than a private document: it must be registered with the relevant emirate's system (Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi) to be fully effective, and tenancy laws override contract clauses that conflict with them — for example, a clause allowing eviction without the statutory notice is unenforceable. Key points to negotiate and check before signing include the number of rent cheques, who pays for minor versus major maintenance, early termination conditions and penalties, subletting permissions, and renewal mechanics. The registered contract is the foundational document in any rental dispute, visa application or utility connection. Both parties should keep the signed contract, registration certificate, and proof of all payments, since these decide most cases at the Rental Disputes Centre.