Property owners in Dubai are now required to declare any modifications made to their units before proceeding with Ejari rental contract registration or renewal, according to a new directive issued by the Dubai Land Department (DLD).
This update is linked to Dubai’s new smart Rental Index, launched earlier this year. The updated system determines rental values based on a building’s star rating, which is influenced by facilities, maintenance standards, and shared amenities, a departure from the earlier model that relied on average area rents.
What Landlords Need to Do
Landlords must log into the Ejari portal and visit the property details section before starting a tenancy contract. They are required to update key fields such as:
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Property type
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Usage field
If the revised usage details match official records held by Dubai Municipality, the system will accept the updates, and the contract process can continue.
Impact on Rental Values
The move aims to bring transparency and structure to rental pricing. Since the introduction of the smart index, many landlords have begun upgrading properties in hopes of achieving higher star ratings, and therefore better rent brackets. On the other hand, those with lower-rated buildings have had to adjust rents downward to comply.
“The new requirement for Ejari allows distinguishing between units that have been refurbished and those that have not,” said Eima Hajimalan, Manager at GCP Properties.
This process primarily affects non-freehold properties. The change signals Dubai’s continued push toward smart regulation and property market transparency.
