Rental Index
Rental Index: The official Dubai rental index published by RERA, setting legal maximum rent increases on contract renewal.
What is Rental Index?
The Dubai Rental Index is published quarterly by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) and shows the average rental rates for residential and commercial properties by area, building age, and unit type. The index is legally binding: when a tenancy contract comes up for renewal, the landlord cannot increase rent above the percentage allowed by the index for that property. The rules: if current rent is within 10% of the index average, no increase is allowed; within 11–20% below, max 5% increase; within 21–30% below, max 10%; within 31–40% below, max 15%; more than 40% below, max 20%. Tenants can check the official rent calculator on the Dubai REST app — entering the property details and current rent shows the legally permitted increase. The Index is updated quarterly to reflect market shifts. Disputes about rent increases are resolved through the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC).
Example
A tenant currently pays AED 80,000/year for a Marina 1BR. The RERA index average for the building is AED 95,000. Since current rent is ~16% below index, the landlord can increase by up to 5% at renewal — max new rent AED 84,000.
FAQ — Rental Index
How often is the Dubai rental index updated?+
Quarterly. RERA publishes Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 updates each year reflecting recent rental transactions registered on Ejari.
Can a landlord increase rent above the rental index cap?+
No — the cap is legally binding. If a landlord demands more, the tenant can refuse and file at the RDSC. If the landlord serves a 12-month eviction notice (the only legal alternative), the tenant gets a full year to relocate.
Related terms
Last refreshed: 2026-05-26