Dubai Rent Increase Calculator (RERA Index)
This calculator applies Dubai’s RERA rental increase index to work out the maximum legal rent hike your landlord can apply. Enter your current annual rent and the average market rent for similar properties in your area, and it shows the maximum percentage increase and the maximum new rent allowed under Decree No. 43 of 2013.
Find the average market rent for your area and property type using the Dubai REST app or the DLD Rental Index, both free to use.
The RERA rental increase bands
Dubai does not leave rent increases to negotiation alone. Decree No. 43 of 2013 set a fixed formula, tied to how far your current rent sits below the average market rate for similar properties in your area. The further below average you are, the more your landlord is allowed to raise it, up to a hard ceiling of 20%.
| Your rent vs market average | Maximum increase allowed |
|---|---|
| At or above average | 0% |
| Up to 10% below average | 0% |
| 11% to 20% below average | 5% |
| 21% to 30% below average | 10% |
| 31% to 40% below average | 15% |
| More than 40% below average | 20% |
If your rent already matches or beats the market average, your landlord has no legal basis to increase it at all, no matter what they ask for. Any figure above the ceiling for your band is not enforceable, and you can challenge it at the Rental Disputes Centre if it comes to that.
Finding the average market rent
The calculator needs one figure you have to look up yourself: the average market rent for a property like yours, in your specific area. The Dubai Land Department publishes this through its official Rental Index, which you can access free through the Dubai REST app or the DLD website.
Search using your area, property type, and number of bedrooms, and the index returns the current average. Use that figure alongside your existing rent in the calculator above to see your exact band and maximum increase.
The 90-day notice rule
A landlord cannot simply announce a rent increase whenever they like. They must give you written notice at least 90 days before your contract’s renewal date. If that notice does not arrive in time, your rent stays the same for the coming year, regardless of what the RERA index would otherwise allow.
Keep a copy of your renewal notice and the date you received it. If your landlord tries to increase rent with less than 90 days’ notice, that increase is not valid for the coming term.
Rent increases outside Dubai
This calculator and the banded index above are specific to Dubai, regulated by RERA. Other emirates, including Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, run their own tenancy rules and do not use the same index or bands, so do not apply this calculator to a property outside Dubai. Confirm the applicable rules for your emirate directly with the relevant municipality or tenancy authority.
Frequently asked questions
How much can my landlord increase rent in Dubai?
It depends entirely on how far your current rent sits below the average market rate for similar properties in your area. If you are within 10% of average, no increase is allowed. Beyond that, the maximum rises in bands from 5% up to a ceiling of 20% for rents more than 40% below average.
Where do I find the average market rent for my area?
Use the official Dubai Land Department Rental Index, available free through the Dubai REST app or the DLD website. Search by your area, property type, and number of bedrooms to get the current average rent, which you then compare against your own rent using this calculator.
How much notice must my landlord give before increasing rent?
At least 90 days’ written notice before your contract’s renewal date. If you do not receive proper notice in time, the increase does not apply for the coming term and your rent stays the same. Keep a record of when you actually received the notice in case of a dispute.
Does this calculator work for Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?
No. This calculator applies the Dubai-specific RERA rental increase index under Decree No. 43 of 2013. Other emirates have their own separate tenancy rules that do not use the same banded index, so check directly with the relevant authority in your emirate instead.
Last verified: November 2026
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Dubai Land Department; Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA); Decree No. 43 of 2013
