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Dubai Rent Increase Calculator
Find the maximum rent increase a Dubai landlord may apply at renewal under Decree No. 43 of 2013. Compare your current rent against the RERA average and see the legal cap in seconds.
How the Dubai rent increase cap works
Rent increases in Dubai are governed by Decree No. 43 of 2013, administered by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) through its regulatory arm RERA. The decree ties the maximum permitted increase to how far your current rent sits below the average market rent for a comparable unit. The further below market you are paying, the larger the increase a landlord may apply — but always within a fixed ceiling.
The calculation has two steps. First, work out the percentage your current rent is below the RERA average: ((average − current) / average) × 100. Second, map that gap to the decree's band table. If you are paying up to 10% below market, no increase is allowed. More than 10% and up to 20% below allows a maximum 5% increase; more than 20% and up to 30% allows 10%; more than 30% and up to 40% allows 15%; and more than 40% below market allows up to 20%, which is the absolute ceiling. Crucially, the allowed percentage is applied to your CURRENT rent, not to the market average.
On 2 January 2025 the DLD launched the AI-driven Smart Rental Index, which rates buildings on a 1-to-5 star scale across more than 60 criteria to produce a more accurate average rent. This improved the precision of the benchmark figure, but it did NOT change the Decree 43 percentage caps — the band table above still applies exactly as before. Because the official benchmark is now calculated at the individual building level, this calculator cannot reproduce it: you must check the binding average rent in the DLD Rental Increase Calculator inside the Dubai REST app.
Two conditions sit alongside the cap. A rent increase can only take effect at renewal and no more than once every 12 months. The landlord must give at least 90 days' written notice before the contract expires to change the rent or any other term; if they do not, the lease automatically renews on the same terms and at the same rent. The cap is a maximum the landlord may charge — not an amount you are obliged to accept — and disputes go to the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC).
Frequently asked questions
How is the maximum rent increase calculated?
- First the calculator measures how far your current rent is below the RERA average rent. Then it maps that gap to the Decree 43 bands: up to 10% below = no increase, 10–20% below = max 5%, 20–30% below = max 10%, 30–40% below = max 15%, and more than 40% below = max 20%. The allowed percentage is then applied to your current rent to give the maximum new annual rent.
Where do I find the RERA average rent to enter?
- Use the DLD / Dubai REST Rental Index. Since January 2025 the official benchmark is calculated per building using the Smart Rental Index, so the binding figure can only come from the DLD Rental Increase Calculator in the Dubai REST app. Any number you enter here is your own estimate.
Can my landlord raise the rent mid-contract or without notice?
- No. An increase can only take effect at renewal and only once every 12 months. The landlord must give at least 90 days' written notice before the contract expires to change the rent or terms. Without that notice, the tenancy automatically renews at the same rent and on the same terms.
Did the 2025 Smart Rental Index change the increase caps?
- No. The Smart Rental Index launched on 2 January 2025 introduced a 1-to-5 star building rating across more than 60 criteria, which made the average-rent benchmark more accurate. The Decree 43 percentage caps themselves are unchanged — only the quality of the benchmark figure improved.
What if I disagree with the increase my landlord demands?
- If a landlord demands more than the legal cap or you cannot reach agreement, you can file a case with the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC) in Dubai. A real-estate lawyer can review your tenancy contract and represent you, and you can confirm the binding average rent on the DLD / Dubai REST portal beforehand.
This is an estimate, not legal advice
This calculator applies the Decree No. 43 of 2013 percentage caps to the figures you enter. It cannot reproduce the official building-level benchmark — only the DLD / Dubai REST Rental Increase Calculator produces the binding average rent. Where your figure is close to a band boundary the allowed percentage can change, so always confirm the result on the official portal before agreeing to any increase, and consult a licensed lawyer for advice on your specific tenancy. Disputes are handled by the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC).
Facing a disputed rent increase?
If your landlord is demanding more than the legal cap, or you need help filing at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre, connect with a UAE real-estate lawyer or ask the LEXAI assistant.
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Open toolOfficial source:Dubai Land Department / Dubai REST
Last updated: 9 June 2026