How to Renew Ejari Online: Steps, Fees and Timing (2026)

Ejari renewal online means you register the renewed tenancy contract in the Dubai REST app or on the Ejari system of the Dubai Land Department (DLD), using the same service as a first registration. As of October 2026 the DLD lists AED 177.75 for the online route. Do it as soon as the renewed contract is signed, because Ejari does not renew itself when your lease does.

Does Ejari renew automatically?

No. Your tenancy may renew on the same terms if no notice is given, but the Ejari record is separate. The DLD service is titled Register / Renew Tenancy Contract, which means renewal is a filing you or your agent make. An unrenewed Ejari leaves you without proof of a current registered tenancy when you need it, for example for DEWA, a visa or a dispute. Our Ejari explainer covers why the record matters.

When should you renew Ejari?

Renew once the new contract or the renewal addendum is signed. The DLD FAQ says early renewal, before expiry, is allowed, so you do not need to wait for the last day. A lease can also be renewed and registered for under a year.

Read the order of events in our guide to renewing your tenancy in Dubai:

1. Three to four months before expiry, ask about renewal.
2. The landlord must give written notice of any change to rent or terms at least 90 days before the contract ends.
3. Check the maximum increase on the RERA rent increase calculator.
4. Sign the renewed contract.
5. Register it on Ejari.

Here is an example timeline for a contract that ends on 31 December. The dates are simple arithmetic, not official deadlines beyond the 90 days.

How to renew Ejari online, step by step

1. Log in to the Ejari system on dubailand.gov.ae or in the Dubai REST app.
2. Select the Register / Renew Tenancy Contract service.
3. Enter the contract details and upload a copy of the Unified Tenancy Contract.
4. Pay the service fees.
5. A DLD employee reviews and approves the request.
6. The e-Contract Registration Certificate arrives by email.

The DLD page gives no separate renewal steps, which is why the process follows the registration route. The official page is Register / Renew Tenancy Contract.

Which documents do you need to renew Ejari?

Keep the previous Ejari certificate handy. Our guide to Ejari and tenancy contracts shows how to download it if you have lost it.

What the guides describe in the Dubai REST app

Betterhomes describes a Renew Ejari option in the app. You open the active contract, update the dates or rent if they changed, upload the renewed contract and your latest DEWA bill, pay, and the landlord approves in the app. The renewed certificate then saves to your account. Other guides say renewal is handled like a new registration, with the same register option. Both descriptions fit the DLD's combined Register / Renew service, so look for either label.

On the DLD website

Sign in to the Ejari system, choose the same service, upload the renewed contract and pay. The DLD lists credit card, cash and Noqodi Wallet as payment methods. A DLD employee reviews the request and the certificate is emailed to you.

At a trustee centre

Take the original renewed contract and your Emirates ID. Staff check the papers, enter the request and approve it, you pay and keep the receipt, and you receive the certificate. The DLD lists about 25 minutes, excluding waiting. A centre works only where the property is not managed by a real estate company or an owner with Ejari system access.

How long does Ejari renewal take?

The DLD describes a review by an employee, followed by an emailed certificate, and gives no online time. Published guides say it is often done the same day when the papers are in order, but treat that as typical rather than guaranteed. A landlord who is slow to approve in the app is the usual reason it takes longer. Start early, and avoid doing it on the last day of the old contract.

How much does Ejari renewal cost?

The DLD FAQ quotes the trustee fee as AED 120 plus partner fees, so check the payment screen. Our explainer and tenant guide use about AED 220 as the typical figure.

What if you stay on without a new contract?

PropSpace says that if a tenant stays after expiry without objection from the landlord, the tenancy can continue on the previous terms under Article 6 of the tenancy law, even though the Ejari record has expired. That can leave the legal tenancy and the DLD record out of step, and our own guide to renewing your tenancy says a tenancy renews on the same terms when no notice is given. The safe course is the same either way: register the renewed term so the record matches what you pay.

Why Ejari renewal fails and how to fix it

• The previous year was never registered. The DLD says earlier years must be registered first. If they were missed, the previous contract must be terminated and a new one registered.
• The landlord has not approved. A tenant can start the request, but the landlord must approve it. Ask them to open the app or their DLD account.
• The system says the property is already leased. The earlier tenancy needs to be cancelled first. The DLD says a new tenant's Ejari cannot be created until the previous one is cancelled.
• Details do not match. The rent, dates or names differ from the signed contract. Correct them before you submit, because active details cannot be modified.
• A company manages the unit. Ask the manager to file the renewal.

Who can renew Ejari, the tenant or the landlord?

Either can start it. The DLD says a tenant can initiate and the landlord must approve it. Where a property management company manages the building, it usually files for you. App registration is limited to cases where the tenant and landlord are both individuals and the owner's data is up to date. If the landlord is a company or the unit has a manager, use the Ejari system through the company, or a trustee centre.

Renewing with the same landlord or moving on

Checklist before you press submit

• The renewed contract is signed by both parties.
• The rent, dates and unit details match what you agreed.
• The landlord or manager knows to approve the request.
• You have a card, cash or Noqodi Wallet ready for the fee.
• You know whether the fee is yours or the landlord's. Our renting process page shows how the costs usually split.

Owners who want renewals handled for them can read about our property management service.

What if the Ejari expired or a year was missed?

The DLD FAQ says earlier years' rents must be registered first. If a year was missed, the previous contract must be terminated and a new one registered. That means a lapsed renewal can cost you extra steps and fees, so do not leave it. See our guide to getting your deposit back if you decide to leave rather than renew.

Does a rent increase change the Ejari?

The renewed contract carries the new rent, so the registration should show it. The DLD says active Ejari details cannot be modified, which is why changes mean a fresh registration. Always register the figure you actually pay.

What do you do with the new certificate?

Save the PDF and print a copy. If you need a copy later, you can pull it from the DLD website or the Dubai REST app. We explain this in our renting process page. Tenants who want to compare homes at renewal can browse apartments for rent.