What Is Ejari?
Ejari — Arabic for "my rent" — is the Dubai Land Department's mandatory registration system for all tenancy contracts in Dubai. Every commercial and residential lease agreement in Dubai must be registered on the Ejari system.
An Ejari certificate is the official proof of tenancy used by government authorities, banks, and utilities.
Why Does Ejari Matter for Businesses?
For a UAE business, a valid Ejari certificate (or its Abu Dhabi equivalent, Tawtheeq) is required for:
- Residency visa applications — ICA requires proof of UAE address for visa stamping
- Emirates ID registration
- Corporate bank account opening — most banks require a valid Ejari or Tawtheeq as part of KYC
- DEWA connection (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) — requires Ejari before utilities can be activated
- Trade licence renewal in many cases
- VAT and corporate tax address registration with the FTA
Without a valid Ejari, several critical business processes cannot proceed. This is why the UAE office or flexi-desk address confirmation step is typically one of the first things Amara arranges.
What Types of Tenancy Are Covered?
- Commercial leases — office space, retail, warehouses, flexi-desk arrangements in non-freezone Dubai locations
- Residential leases — apartments and villas in Dubai
- Flexi-desk / serviced office agreements — even serviced office agreements from Dubai mainland providers should be Ejari-registered
Freezone entities do not use Ejari for their freezone address — the freezone authority's own establishment card serves as the equivalent proof of address within the zone. However, if the same individual needs a residential Ejari for personal visa purposes, the residential lease must still be registered.
How to Register Ejari
- Obtain the tenancy contract — the lease agreement must be signed by landlord and tenant and include all required information (unit number, landlord details, duration, rent)
- Register through an approved channel:
- Ejari online portal (ejari.ae)
- Dubai REST app
- Approved Real Estate Management Centre or typing centre
- RERA-registered real estate brokers can also file on behalf of parties
- Upload required documents: tenancy contract, landlord's title deed, Emirates IDs of both parties (or trade licence for commercial tenants)
- Pay the registration fee: AED 220 for residential; fees for commercial leases vary
- Receive Ejari certificate — issued immediately on approval
Abu Dhabi — Tawtheeq
The Abu Dhabi equivalent of Ejari is Tawtheeq, administered by the Abu Dhabi Municipality. All tenancy contracts in Abu Dhabi must be registered on Tawtheeq. The process and purpose are broadly the same — a Tawtheeq certificate serves as proof of tenancy for visa, banking, and utility applications in Abu Dhabi.
Renewal and Expiry
Ejari registration is tied to the lease duration. When a lease is renewed, the Ejari registration must also be renewed. An expired Ejari certificate will cause issues at visa renewal time and may block bank account reviews.
Amara tracks Ejari and Tawtheeq expiry dates as part of the compliance calendar for clients on retainer.