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Rental Dispute Center case support in Dubai

Registering a rental case at the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) costs 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500, and every document must be in Arabic or legally translated. We prepare, translate and organise your case file so you can register it yourself, correctly, the first time.

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Overview

RDC fees and how they are worked out

The RDC is Dubai's specialist body for disputes between landlords and tenants. Its fee to register a first instance case is 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000. That rate covers the most common case types: eviction, lease renewal, rent claims, lease termination and the return of a property for demolition and reconstruction.

Money claims are calculated differently. For a money claim, the 3.5% is worked out on the amount you claim, with the same minimum of AED 500 and a lower maximum of AED 15,000. The RDC adds a few small fixed charges, such as the process service fee, and you see the full total before you pay. We check which basis applies to your case before you file.

Every document you upload must be in Arabic or legally translated into Arabic. This is where many tenants and landlords lose time: an English addendum, a bank letter or a chain of emails cannot simply be attached as it is. We arrange the translations, check them against the originals and put the file in the order the RDC expects.

You then register the case yourself on the RDC website, or at one of its Real Estate Services Trustees Centers, with us guiding you. The RDC alone decides the case, and hearings are held remotely through its tele-litigation system. We are a document service, so whether to claim and how to argue your case are questions for you or your advocate.

Who it's for

Who it's for

  • 01

    Tenants

    A deposit not returned, maintenance ignored, an eviction notice you dispute, or a rent increase you disagree with.

  • 02

    Landlords

    Unpaid rent, a tenant staying on after the lease ends, or an eviction on grounds the law allows.

  • 03

    Property managers and companies

    Firms managing units or leasing homes for staff, registering with a trade license and the signatory's ID.

  • 04

    Owners living abroad

    Landlords outside the UAE who need their file prepared and translated locally while they register online.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • Working out the expected RDC fee for your case type before you commit
  • A checklist of documents for eviction, renewal, rent or money claims
  • Legal Arabic translation of tenancy contracts, notices, emails and receipts
  • Typing a clear claim summary with dates, amounts and the outcome you want
  • Checking that names, Ejari details and amounts match across every document
  • Guiding you through registration and payment on your own RDC account
  • Help with documents the RDC requests after registration

Not included

  • Legal advice on your rights as a landlord or tenant, or your chances of success
  • Registering the case in our name or attending hearings for you
  • Serving notices on the other party for you
  • Paying RDC fees on your behalf; you pay them directly at cost
Documents

Documents the RDC asks for

  • A copy of the latest tenancy contract, registered with Ejari
  • Emirates ID copy for an individual, or the trade license and the manager's or owner's ID for a company
  • A bank letter or statement showing the claimant's IBAN (international bank account number)
  • For eviction claims, the notarised notice with the notification officer's report, or the notice sent by registered post with its acknowledgement receipt
  • Supporting papers such as a power of attorney, management contract, correspondence, notices, utility bills, cheques or letters
  • Arabic legal translations of anything written in another language

The RDC may ask for more depending on the claim, so we check the list against your case type before you register.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    RDC fee: 3.5% of the annual rent, minimum AED 500 and maximum AED 20,000. For money claims, 3.5% of the amount claimed, maximum AED 15,000. Small fixed RDC charges are added and paid at cost. Our service fee is quoted separately in writing.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    Preparation depends mainly on translations and how quickly you can send your documents. Once you register, the RDC sets the hearing dates and decides in its own time.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Send your tenancy papers

    You

    Share the Ejari contract, payment history, notices and messages, plus a short note of what you want the RDC to decide.

  2. Step 2: Confirm the fee and documents

    Global Sky PRO

    We identify your case type, work out the expected RDC fee and list any missing documents.

  3. Step 3: Translate and organise

    Global Sky PRO

    We arrange legal Arabic translations, type the claim summary and order the evidence so each point is easy to find.

  4. Step 4: Register from your account

    You

    You sign in on the RDC website, enter the details and upload the file while we guide you, then pay once the RDC verifies the claim.

  5. Step 5: The RDC hears the case

    Authority

    The RDC schedules a hearing, held remotely through its tele-litigation system, decides the case and issues its judgment through its website.

  6. Step 6: Help with further requests

    Global Sky PRO

    If the RDC asks for more documents or a translation, we prepare it with you so you can respond on time.

Good to know

Details that save time

Mistakes that delay RDC cases

Most delays at the RDC come from the file, not the dispute. These are the issues we look for before you register.

  • Uploading an English addendum, email chain or bank letter without an Arabic translation
  • An eviction claim with no proof that notice was served by notary or registered post
  • A tenancy that was never registered with Ejari, or a registration that has lapsed
  • Claim amounts that do not match the cheques, receipts or bank records
  • A company claim without the trade license and the signatory's ID

What happens after you register

Once the RDC verifies your claim and you pay, the case is registered and the other party is notified. Hearings take place through the RDC's tele-litigation system, so you usually attend remotely rather than in a courtroom. Keep your phone and email active, because notices and requests arrive through them.

If the RDC asks for more documents, a translation or a written reply, the time to respond can be short. We help you prepare these quickly, but you submit them, and you or your advocate speak at the hearing. The judgment is issued through the RDC website, and any appeal or enforcement is a separate step we can prepare documents for.

FAQs

Rental Dispute Center: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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How much does it cost to file a case at the Rental Dispute Center?

The RDC fee is 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000. For money claims, the 3.5% is calculated on the amount claimed, with a maximum of AED 15,000. Small fixed RDC charges are added on top. Our service fee is separate and quoted in writing before we begin.

Which documents do I need for an RDC case?

You need the latest Ejari-registered tenancy contract, your Emirates ID (or a trade license and the signatory's ID for a company) and a bank letter or statement showing your IBAN. Eviction claims also need proof of notice by notary or registered post. Everything must be in Arabic or legally translated, with supporting evidence such as cheques and emails attached.

Can I file an RDC case online?

Yes. You can register a first instance rental case on the RDC website by creating an account, uploading your documents and paying once the claim is verified. You can also register at a Real Estate Services Trustees Center. We prepare and translate your file in advance and guide you through the online registration on your own account.

Do I need a lawyer for an RDC case?

Not necessarily. Landlords and tenants regularly register RDC cases themselves, and well-prepared paperwork does much of the work. If the dispute is complex, the sums are large or the other side has a lawyer, a licensed advocate's advice is worth having. We prepare documents only and do not represent you at hearings.

Can you register the RDC case for me?

No. You register the case from your own RDC account, or at a trustee centre, with us guiding you. We prepare the full submission, including translations and a claim summary, so registration is straightforward. Keeping the case in your name also means hearing notices and RDC requests reach you directly.

Can I appeal a Rental Dispute Center judgment in Dubai?

Yes, in many cases, within 15 days of the first instance judgment, or of being notified of it if you were absent. The RDC's FAQs state that an appeal on a financial claim alone needs a claim of AED 100,000 or more, while defendants can appeal eviction judgments whatever the amount. Where money was awarded, the appellant deposits a refundable security of half the amount awarded. Whether to appeal is a legal decision, so take advice from a licensed advocate first.

Source: Rental Dispute Center: frequently asked questions

How soon is the first hearing after I register an RDC case?

The Rental Dispute Center books the first session automatically once you pay, on the earliest available date at least seven days later, according to its FAQs. A case left unpaid is cancelled automatically after five days, so pay as soon as the claim is verified. Hearings run through the tele-litigation system, and new documents cannot be added once the case is reserved for judgment, so upload everything in good time.

Source: Rental Dispute Center: frequently asked questions

How do I enforce an RDC judgment if the other party does not comply?

You open an execution file at the Rental Dispute Center, which its FAQs say can start 15 days after the judgment, or 15 days after an absent defendant is notified. There is no fee to execute a financial claim, while enforcing an eviction carries a fee of 1% of the annual rent, capped at AED 5,000. Requests such as instalments, exit bans or arrest warrants go through the RDC e-request service, at AED 20 each, and the execution judge decides them.

Source: Rental Dispute Center: frequently asked questions

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Global Sky PRO is not a law firm and does not give legal advice or court representation. We prepare, type and translate your documents and guide you through filing; for representation, please consult a licensed advocate. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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