Rental Dispute Resolution Committee in Dubai: How It Works

Committee Rental Dispute Resolution in Dubai: How It Works

If you're stuck in a fight with your landlord or tenant over rent, eviction, or a contract breach, committee rental dispute resolution is probably where you'll end up. In Dubai, that means the Rental Disputes Center (RDC) — a judicial tribunal attached to Dubai Courts. Here's what actually happens.

Quick answer

Committee rental dispute resolution in Dubai is handled by the Rental Disputes Center (RDC), established under Decree No. 26 of 2013. You file a case at the RDC in Deira (or online via the Dubai Courts portal), pay a fee of 3.5% of the annual rent (minimum AED 500, maximum AED 20,000), and a judge issues a first-instance ruling — typically within 30 to 45 days. Appeals go to the RDC Appeal Tribunal within 15 days. Mediation is attempted first. Most rent and eviction disputes in Dubai go through this exact channel. ^[1][2]

Who handles committee rental dispute resolution and where to file

In Dubai, there's no longer a separate "rental committee" — Decree No. 26 of 2013 replaced the old committee structure with the Rental Disputes Center, a specialised judicial body. So when people say "rental committee" today, they usually mean the RDC. ^[1]

You file in one of three ways:

• In person at the RDC headquarters in Deira, near Dubai Courts.
• Online through the Dubai REST app or the Dubai Courts e-services portal.
• Through a registered legal typing office.

You'll need: the tenancy contract, a valid Ejari registration certificate (the official tenancy registration system run by RERA, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency), Emirates ID, proof of payments or notices, and any eviction notice served through a notary public or registered mail.

No Ejari, no case. Honestly, this is where half the disputes die before they start — tenants assume a signed contract is enough. It isn't.

Outside Dubai, the system differs. Abu Dhabi runs its rental disputes through the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee under the Department of Municipalities and Transport, and Sharjah uses its own committee at the Sharjah Municipality. The principles are similar, but fees and timelines vary.

How the process actually moves

Once you file, committee rental dispute resolution follows a fairly predictable path:

1. Mediation stage (around 15 days). The RDC pushes both sides to settle. A mediator reviews the file and tries to broker a deal. If you agree, it's recorded as a binding settlement.
2. First instance hearing. If mediation fails, the case moves to a judge. You'll get a hearing date, submit written memos, and attend (or send a legal representative with power of attorney). Judgments usually land within 30 days of the first hearing.
3. Appeal. Either side can appeal within 15 days of the judgment, but only if the claim value exceeds AED 100,000 or it involves eviction. The Appeal Tribunal's decision is final. ^[1]
4. Execution. A favourable ruling doesn't enforce itself. You file an execution case at the RDC's execution department to recover money, force vacating, or unlock deposits.

The whole thing — filing to final ruling — typically runs 45 to 90 days. Execution can add another 30 to 60.

Watch out: Eviction notices for non-renewal must be served 12 months in advance through notary public or registered mail, per Article 25(2) of Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008). Email and WhatsApp notices have been rejected repeatedly. ^[3]

Fees, evidence, and common mistakes

The court fee is 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000. Add roughly AED 100–300 for translation if your contract isn't in Arabic — all submissions must be Arabic or accompanied by a certified translation. ^[2]

Evidence that actually wins cases:

• Ejari certificate (non-negotiable).
• Signed tenancy contract and any addenda.
• Bank transfer records or cheque copies — not cash receipts scribbled on paper.
• The 12-month eviction notice with notary stamp, if relevant.
• Photos and inspection reports for maintenance or damage disputes.
• RERA rent index printout if you're contesting a rent increase.

Where people slip up: thinking a verbal agreement modifies a written contract (it doesn't), assuming the security deposit covers unpaid rent automatically (it doesn't — you have to claim it), and serving eviction notices by SMS (the RDC will throw it out).

One more thing. Rent increases are capped by the RERA Rental Index, and any increase must follow the percentages in Decree No. 43 of 2013 — 0% if rent is within 10% of market, scaling up to 20% if rent is more than 40% below market. Landlords who try to push beyond that lose at the RDC almost every time. ^[4]

When committee rental dispute resolution isn't the right venue

Not every property fight belongs at the RDC. Skip it if:

• The property is in a DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) freehold zone — DIFC Courts handle those under DIFC laws.
• It's a commercial lease in a free zone with an arbitration clause — you'll be pushed to arbitration.
• The dispute is about sale and purchase, not tenancy — that goes to Dubai Courts' civil division or the off-plan property committee.
• You're outside Dubai — use your emirate's rental committee instead.

For most residential and commercial tenancy fights in mainland Dubai, though, the RDC is your only road. Mediation works in maybe a third of cases. The rest get decided by a judge, and the judge will follow Law No. 26 of 2007, the RERA index, and the contract — in that order.

If the dispute involves unpaid rent and the tenant has already left the country, you can still file and get a judgment in absentia, but enforcement gets messy fast.